3 Squares Vermont Challenge: Grocery and meal planning

Consulting the Hannaford weekly circular, it was discovered that St. Patrick's Day was at the end of the week and therefore, all the components for Corned Beef & Cabbage or New England Boil Dinner were on sale.This was one of the major factors that lead to this examiner's success with the 3 Squares VT Challenge.The cost of three of the main ingredients was 3 lbs. of carrots at $1.99, 4 lbs. of red potatoes $1.99 and a head of cabbage $0.72.This is at least double the amount of vegetables that would have been at that price during an average week.This enabled this examiner to make both side dishes, roasted potatoes and colcannon (baked mashed potato with cabbage.)As well as coleslaw, carrot soup, carrot sticks and carrot in the meatloaf.This stretched the meals to last 2 and 3 days, if not more.Choosing foods with protein were the building blocks of the menu planning.At Hannaford, heading straight for the meat department made the most sense.Items sold by the pound or weight are one of the few areas where the price may fluctuate.On the product web page, 80/20 hamburger was the best price, but at the store, this 85/15 package came with $1.50 off coupon making it the better deal.Other items high in protein and can be made into multiple meals were cheddar cheese, peanut butter, eggs and tuna.All but the tuna were Hannaford/Essentials brand which are typically lower in cost.The Hannaford products page was helpful in verifying the prices for the shopping day.This examiner noted the price of each item on the grocery list.It did not take long to realize it would not be possible to purchase everything on the list with only $38.Making choices based on how many meals could be made with item, would the item work equally well for more than one time of day and overall nutrition, this examiner shortened the list.Treating yourself is recommended in a controlled situation over an extended period of time.With that in mind, I allowed myself three optional items on the list, in case anything sold by weight cost less than calculated.Green tea, raisins or fresh broccoli, see if any of these made it.Knowing HP Hood 1% Milk is only $2.39 per gallon at Rite Aid with a Wellness Card; this examiner picked that up first. View the list ยป
Groceries bought with $38 per week at Hannaford and milk at Rite-Aid.

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In honor of National Nutrition Month, this examiner took this challenge as a way of volunteering suggested on Hunger Free Vermont's website.

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Check it out for more details and other ways to get involved.

For a single person, the 3 Squares Vermont Challenge consists of having $38 to spend on food for a week.

This examiner chose the week of March 11 - 18, 2013.

This meant buying the groceries for the challenge that week and only using those groceries for meals.

A person is not allowed to use any food already in their pantry or refrigerator, except spices and condiments or food grown by the person.

Hannaford Supermarket and Phrmcy
44.506895 ; -73.244808

The receipts, types of foods and meals should be recorded during the week.

Hunger Free Vermont provided tips, suggestions and several recipes.

Once the decision was made to participate in the exercise, this examiner began my planning meals.

I chose comfort foods, meatloaf, tuna melt, and oatmeal. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, that were easy to make and satisfying.

The next step involved making the grocery list of all the main ingredients, ground beef, tuna, cheddar, milk, bread, orange juice, for example.

Making the list, this examiner put down all the types of meals or meal ideas that could possibly cost under $38.

Consulting the Hannaford weekly circular, it was discovered that St. Patrick's Day was at the end of the week and therefore, all the components for Corned Beef & Cabbage or New England Boil Dinner were on sale.

For those not familiar, that would include, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, to name a few.

Please see the list with photos for more details.

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  • The Hannaford products page was helpful in verifying the prices for the shopping day.This examiner noted the price of each item on the grocery list.It did not take long to realize it would not be possible to purchase everything on the list with only $38.Making choices based on how many meals could be made with item, would the item work equally well for more than one time of day and overall nutrition, this examiner shortened the list.Treating yourself is recommended in a controlled situation over an extended period of time.With that in mind, I allowed myself three optional items on the list, in case anything sold by weight cost less than calculated.Green tea, raisins or fresh broccoli, see if any of these made it.Knowing HP Hood 1% Milk is only $2.39 per gallon at Rite Aid with a Wellness Card; this examiner picked that up first. 
  • Choosing foods with protein were the building blocks of the menu planning.At Hannaford, heading straight for the meat department made the most sense.Items sold by the pound or weight are one of the few areas where the price may fluctuate.On the product web page, 80/20 hamburger was the best price, but at the store, this 85/15 package came with $1.50 off coupon making it the better deal.Other items high in protein and can be made into multiple meals were cheddar cheese, peanut butter, eggs and tuna.All but the tuna were Hannaford/Essentials brand which are typically lower in cost.
  • Consulting the Hannaford weekly circular, it was discovered that St. Patrick's Day was at the end of the week and therefore, all the components for Corned Beef & Cabbage or New England Boil Dinner were on sale.This was one of the major factors that lead to this examiner's success with the 3 Squares VT Challenge.The cost of three of the main ingredients was 3 lbs. of carrots at $1.99, 4 lbs. of red potatoes $1.99 and a head of cabbage $0.72.This is at least double the amount of vegetables that would have been at that price during an average week.This enabled this examiner to make both side dishes, roasted potatoes and colcannon (baked mashed potato with cabbage.)As well as coleslaw, carrot soup, carrot sticks and carrot in the meatloaf.This stretched the meals to last 2 and 3 days, if not more.
  • It was a bonus during the 3 Squares Vermont Challenge that I was able to buy 4 lbs. of red potatoes grown by a Vermont farmer.These were grown by Chappelle's Potatoes, 3242 South Hill Road, Williamstown.The size made them convenient, and this examiner left the skin on to make both side dishes, roasted potatoes and colcannon (baked mashed potato with cabbage) include more fiber. 
  • 3 Squares Vermont Challenge was suggestion on Hunger Free Vermont website. Check it out for more details.My first impression during the grocery shopping was to choose between buying green tea (which this examiner usually drinks two to three times a day,) 2 Gala apples, or frozen broccoli and a bag of small Red Delicious apples.Chose the latter but it was disappointing not having the tea.This lemon flavored the main beverage, tap water, for the week, as well as brightening the taste of both tuna salad and frozen broccoli. 
  • Both products were Hannaford store brand, "The Works" bagels and old fashioned oats.This made these items even more affordable, $2.79 for the bagels and $1.79 for the oats.The versatility of these foods made them an excellent choice.  The bagels could be used breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as toasted and cubed for meatloaf.Again, the oats had many uses.  Of course hot oatmeal, but also as a topping for baked custard, cookies, granola and in meatloaf, if desired for filler.
  • Frozen foods are an economical choice.Frozen Hannaford orange juice was $0.60 cheaper than Hannaford 64 oz. carton. This examiner added 5 cans of water instead of 3 to make a total of a gallon of juice.  I typically limit the amount of extra sugar consumed which the extra water accomplished.  Also, serving it over ice or as a flavoring to glass of water is another way to stretch the dollar.To do this again, this examiner would chose fresh broccoli.A 1/2 lb. broccoli crown was about $0.50 more than the frozen big bag, which were mostly stems and few crown pieces. 
  • After had added up Hannaford groceries plus Rite-Aid Hood milk, had $0.70 left to spend.Planned to buy a red grapefruit at Hannaford Supermarkets for $0.50 or 2/$1.The answer to the question whether this examiner would be able to afford a few optional items, a very small quantity of bulk raisins were $0.33, 1/2 lb. of fresh broccoli crowns were about $1.25 and Salada green tea with antioxidants was $2.49.None of these items were able to be purchased on the $38/week budget.Look for future installments of my 3 Squares Vermont Challenge describing surprise at basic ideas of meals tax, store policy and customer reaction. 
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, Colchester Farmers Market Examiner

Pamela Palmer Jacobs grew up on a farm in East Thetford, VT. Many of her relatives, family & friends, also had farms. She learned to respect and appreciate the hardwork, commitment and satisfaction most farmers exhibit everyday. She's also lived in Boston & Philly, where in the city the...

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