{"id":16605,"date":"2023-05-04T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/04\/what-a-92-year-old-retiree-in-new-mexico-spends-on-a-weeks-worth-of-groceries\/"},"modified":"2023-05-04T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-04T14:30:00","slug":"what-a-92-year-old-retiree-in-new-mexico-spends-on-a-weeks-worth-of-groceries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/04\/what-a-92-year-old-retiree-in-new-mexico-spends-on-a-weeks-worth-of-groceries\/","title":{"rendered":"What a 92-Year Old Retiree in New Mexico Spends on a Week\u2019s Worth of Groceries"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__affiliate-slot\">\n<p>We independently select these products\u2014if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__image Post__item--first\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure Figure--mobile-full-bleed\">\n<div class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure__image\"><a href=\"#pinit\" data-pin-url=\"https:\/\/www.thekitchn.com\/grocery-diary-florence-new-mexico-23529666?utm_source=pinterest&amp;utm_medium=tracking&amp;utm_campaign=inline-img-share\" data-pin-do=\"buttonPin\" data-pin-tag=\"inline\" data-pin-custom=\"true\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.apartmenttherapy.info\/image\/upload\/f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_1000\/k%2FDesign%2F2023-04%2FGrocery-Diaries-May-Florence\" data-pin-description=\"graphic collage of the grocery diary author surrounded by asparagus, russet potatoes, white mushrooms and cheddar crackers from her shopping list\" data-gtm-placement=\"inline\" data-gtm-ignore-outbound-link=\"true\" aria-label=\"Pin It button\" class=\"jsx-1709149633 PinItButton\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure__image-info\"><figcaption class=\"jsx-1605011749 jsx-485434604 ImageCaption\">\n<div class=\"jsx-1605011749 jsx-485434604 ImageCaption__credit\">\n<p>Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Florence, Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p><strong>Name<\/strong>: Florence<br \/><strong>Location<\/strong>: Alamogordo, New Mexico<br \/><strong>Age<\/strong>: 92<br \/><strong>Number of people in household<\/strong>: 1<br \/><strong>Occupation<\/strong>: Retired\/Writer<br \/><strong>Salary<\/strong>: Social Security<br \/><strong>Where you shopped<\/strong>: <a rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored noreferrer\" data-link-type=\"product\" data-product-id=\"TextLinkProduct:4695819192107008\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/atmedia.link\/product?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2F&amp;referralSource=%7BREFERRAL_SOURCE%7D&amp;id=23529666&amp;site=KT&amp;refUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thekitchn.com%2Fgrocery-diary-florence-new-mexico-23529666\" class=\"product-link\">Walmart<\/a><br \/><strong>Weekly food budget<\/strong>: $55.00<br \/><strong>Amount spent<\/strong>: $64.06<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__image\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure\">\n<div class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure__image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.apartmenttherapy.info\/image\/upload\/f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_730\/k%2FEdit%2F2023-05-grocery-diaries%2Fmay-grocery-diaries-3\" alt=\"Grocery haul on countertop.\"\/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__heading Post__html\">\n<p><h2>Where did you shop?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>This week, I shopped at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thekitchn.com\/best-walmart-great-value-products-nutritionist-23516583\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Walmart<\/a>. I ordered online with curbside pickup from Walmart, as I have for several years. For meat specials my go-to is Albertsons Market and occasionally Lowe\u2019s Market, but I don\u2019t shop at those stores every week and didn\u2019t need to go this week. I also go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thekitchn.com\/best-snacks-dollar-tree-23285906\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dollar Tree<\/a> once a month for paper items and birthday cards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__heading Post__html\">\n<p><h2>What\u2019s your grocery strategy?\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>Because I am eligible for food bank items each month, my refrigerator and freezers are always full, and I have a variety of canned foods at home. The first of each month I order milk, eggs, butter, and fresh vegetables online, along with laundry supplies, pharmacy items (other than prescriptions), paper goods, and dog food for my tiny Chihuahua companion. I sometimes buy a rotisserie chicken and freeze the meat I don\u2019t use in the first day or two for future casseroles or soup. The carcass provides broth for cooking.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>Where I live, Albertsons Market has a section of the meat counter with discounted meat items that are approaching their \u201csell by\u201d date. These are often in smaller portions that are just right for one person. When I find a package I can use, I repackage and freeze as soon as I get it home. It\u2019s a surprising assortment and I have never had any problems with the quality of the meat I\u2019ve bought.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>Meal planning is easy because usually I have only myself to plan meals for. I subscribe to several cooking\/recipe newsletters and often print out recipes for future use. When I cook there is often at least an additional serving for the next day, or possibly to freeze.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>I make a batch of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thekitchn.com\/how-to-make-freezer-friendly-breakfast-burritos-234556\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">breakfast burritos<\/a> (hot sausage, refried beans, mild green chilis, and cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla) or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thekitchn.com\/how-to-make-pozole-recipe-instant-pot-mexican-pork-soup-22943658\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">posole<\/a> (pork, onions, green chilis, hominy, chicken broth) to freeze. I recently made a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thekitchn.com\/spinach-frittata-recipe-23173248\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spinach frittata<\/a> to use up a quantity of spinach passed along by a friend. Cut into squares, flash frozen and then wrapped for storage, these servings are easily heated for breakfast or lunch.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>I plan my meals to first use the fresh vegetables in my refrigerator. I always have pasta and vegetables to use as a base for a meal, again using fresh items first for stir-fry or angel hair with chicken, pork, or shrimp. I eat at restaurants a few times a month, always for lunch; the helpings are usually large, so my leftovers are enough for another meal at home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<ul>\n<li>Sliced sourdough bread, $2.48<\/li>\n<li>Russet potatoes, $2.97<\/li>\n<li>Asparagus, $3.96<\/li>\n<li>Cauliflower, $2.68<\/li>\n<li>Broccoli crowns, $1.68<\/li>\n<li>Whole white mushrooms, $2.08<\/li>\n<li>Bananas, $0.54<\/li>\n<li>Apple fritters, $1.97<\/li>\n<li>Sweet brewed iced tea, $2.98<\/li>\n<li>Chicken leg quarters, $6.72<\/li>\n<li>Hot premium sausage roll, $2.32<\/li>\n<li>Classic roast medium ground coffee, $3.92<\/li>\n<li>Cheese crackers, $2.23<\/li>\n<li>Toasted rice crisps breakfast cereal, $1.84<\/li>\n<li>Saltine crackers, $1.32<\/li>\n<li>Shredded kraut, $2.97<\/li>\n<li>Heavy whipping cream, $4.98<\/li>\n<li>Whipped topping, $0.98<\/li>\n<li>Fat-free half-and-half, $5.20<\/li>\n<li>Lower sodium pork bacon, $4.98<\/li>\n<li>2% Reduced Fat Milk, $5.24<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__image\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure\">\n<div class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure__image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.apartmenttherapy.info\/image\/upload\/f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_730\/k%2FEdit%2F2023-05-grocery-diaries%2Fmay-grocery-diaries-2\" alt=\"Burrito with orange slices on the side.\"\/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__heading Post__html\">\n<p><h2>Saturday: Coffee, Cereal, Half a Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with Cream Cheese, Chicken Sandwich, Sausage and Bean Burrito with Orange Slices and Asparagus<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>I start the day with coffee and a bowl of cereal before heading to Walmart to pick up groceries I had ordered the day before. When I get home, I finish my mug of coffee and eat half a cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese. At noon, I stop long enough for a chicken sandwich made with rotisserie chicken I had bought earlier in the week paired with sliced Swiss cheese on the sourdough bread from my grocery order and iced tea (also from this morning\u2019s order). Supper is a homemade sausage\/bean burrito with a sliced orange and asparagus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__image\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure\">\n<div class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure__image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.apartmenttherapy.info\/image\/upload\/f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_730\/k%2FEdit%2F2023-05-grocery-diaries%2Fmay-grocery-diaries-7\" alt=\"Meal of ham with green beans and mashed potatoes.\"\/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__heading Post__html\">\n<p><h2>Sunday: Coffee, Egg and Sausage Burrito with Fruit and Hash Brown Casserole at Church, Easter Dinner at My Son\u2019s Home<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>Sunday is Easter! I am invited to my son\u2019s for dinner. Before that, breakfast at church is an egg and sausage burrito with fresh fruit, a hash brown casserole, and coffee, of course. Our delicious Easter dinner features baked ham, mashed potatoes, green beans (from last summer\u2019s garden), fruit salad I brought to the feast, and a cherry-apple pie.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__image\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure\">\n<div class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure__image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.apartmenttherapy.info\/image\/upload\/f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_730\/k%2FEdit%2F2023-05-grocery-diaries%2Fmay-grocery-diaries-9\" alt=\"Ham sandwich with side of chips.\"\/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__heading Post__html\">\n<p><h2>Monday: Coffee, Zucchini Apple Bread, Grilled Ham and Swiss Sandwich, Half an Avocado, and Pasta with Asparagus<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>I start the day with the usual coffee and a slice of zucchini-apple bread courtesy of my daughter-in-law! For lunch at home I make another grilled sandwich \u2014 this time with ham and Swiss with a dill pickle and chips on the side, and a glass of iced tea. I want to use some of the fresh vegetables in my fridge, so supper is half an avocado plus angel hair pasta mixed with chicken broth, asparagus, and Parmesan cheese, with a glass of milk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__heading Post__html\">\n<p><h2>Tuesday: Coffee, the Rest of the Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with Cream Cheese, Ham and Swiss Sandwich Again, and Pork Chop with Vegetable Stir-Fry over Rice<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>Breakfast is coffee and the other half of that cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese. I have a ham and Swiss sandwich on sourdough for lunch again, with a small dill pickle and chips. For supper I slice and saut\u00e9 a small, thin pork chop (from my freezer) in butter and add frozen stir-fry vegetables and asparagus. The stir-fry is served over brown rice with low-sodium soy sauce.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__heading Post__html\">\n<p><h2>Wednesday: Coffee, Alabama Fire Crackers, Sausage and Bean Burrito, Orange Slices, Cheese Crisp, Leftover Ham and Fruit Salad, and a Ham, Asparagus, and Cheese Omelet<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>Coffee and four Alabama Fire Crackers start the day, followed mid-morning by a homemade sausage\/bean burrito and a sliced orange. (The Alabama Fire Crackers are Saltines combined with canola oil, dressing mix, and spices left to marinate overnight in a plastic bag. Really yummy!) Lunch is a cheese crisp, a small slice of ham from Easter, and fruit salad, also left over from Sunday. For supper I make an omelet with ham, asparagus, and cheese.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__heading Post__html\">\n<p><h2>Thursday: Coffee, More Fire Crackers, Sausage and Bean Burrito and an Orange, Saut\u00e9ed Salmon, Mashed Potatoes, Spinach, and Pecan Ice Cream<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>My usual mug of coffee, which lasts all morning and four of those fire crackers, followed mid-morning by one of my burritos and an orange \u2014 an early lunch. I make saut\u00e9ed salmon with mashed potatoes, spinach, and have a glass of milk for dinner, followed by the last of a small carton of pecan ice cream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__image\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure\">\n<div class=\"jsx-4058332174 Figure__image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.apartmenttherapy.info\/image\/upload\/f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_730\/k%2FEdit%2F2023-05-grocery-diaries%2Fmay-grocery-diaries-6\" alt=\"Cheesy baked casserole on table top.\"\/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__heading Post__html\">\n<p><h2>Friday: Coffee, Leftover Omelet Breakfast Burrito, Tangerine, Tuna and Crackers, and Chicken Enchiladas<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-3003912315 Post__item Post__html\">\n<div class=\"Html\">\n<p>The leftover omelet from Wednesday makes a delicious burrito tucked into a flour tortilla for breakfast with a tangerine and coffee. Lunch is a can of drained tuna with lemon and black pepper and plain Saltine crackers. For supper I make a large pan of green chili chicken enchiladas for a friend in the middle of moving, and a smaller casserole for myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>At Kitchn we believe setting a food budget for you and your family is an essential part in getting your financial life in order. Don\u2019t know where to start? <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thekitchn.com\/the-key-steps-to-making-a-food-budget-that-works-for-you-241854\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>We have a guide for that<\/em><\/a><em>. Want to share your Grocery Diary with Kitchn? <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thekitchn.com\/submit-your-food-budget-diary-for-kitchns-new-series-241426\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>See how here<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thekitchn.com\/grocery-diary-florence-new-mexico-23529666?utm_source=RSS&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=Category%2FChannel%3A+main\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We independently select these products\u2014if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Florence, Shutterstock Name: FlorenceLocation: Alamogordo, New MexicoAge: 92Number of people in household: 1Occupation: Retired\/WriterSalary: Social SecurityWhere you shopped: WalmartWeekly food budget: $55.00Amount spent: $64.06 Where [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16606,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-16605","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-food"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16605\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}