Grocery Haul - What I Buy & Planned To Cook
Back with another episode of grocery restock day. I usually do major grocery run every 2 weeks, and i like to plan my meals around ingredients that can be mixed and matched easily.
What I Bought:
1. Wawa Cabbage - No explanation needed - my forever go-to veggie. Convenient, versatile, and easy to cook.
2. Brown Shimeji Mushrooms - A great alternative to enoki mushrooms. Can be air fried, stir fried, added to soups or eaten cold.
3. Tau Kwa - Didn’t feel like having chicken this round, so tofu it is! Much cheaper than chicken breast and filling too. I usually use 1/2 block to 1 block per meal depending on what I am pairing with.
4. Anchor Cheese Slices - My husband’s preferred brand - mainly for sandwiches.
5. Laughing Cow Cheese Cubes - Purely for the nostalgia 😂 Childhood snack memories unlocked.
6. Yakult Gold - Daily must-have.
7. Chicken Bulgogi - Easy weekend meals for 2
8. Frozen Prawns - On promotion, so obviously i grabbed it 😅 Perfect protein add-on for instant noodles.
9. Frozen Chicken Slices - For my solo hotpot meals.
10. Smoky BBQ Boneless Leg - Air-fryer ready. Easy meal preparation for 2.
11. Japanese Seaweed Chicken - Another husband’s favourite. Great for quick meals or simple pairings.
12. Lays Potato Chips - Just for snacking 🙊
13. Chicken Abalone - Yes, another husband’s favourite.
14. Shin Ramyum - Both of our all-time favourites.
15. Seaweed - I love this brand. And it feels like a slightly healthier snack option.
16. Canned Chopped Tomatoes - Gonna try out making soups with this
17. Minestrone Soup - I love minestrone soup. It’s one of my go-to comfort meals.
What i meal prepped:
For work lunches, I air-fried tau kwa with brown shimeji mushrooms. Air-fried mushrooms are surprisingly good — and yes, i ate this cold and still enjoyed it 😌.
🍚 Simple dinner idea
One night, i made ‘seaweed’ rice with chicken bulgogi and added some store-bought kimchi.
Just cook your rice as usual, season with a little sesame oil, mix in some hand-tore seaweed.
You can also use furikake or roasted seaweed from the supermarket — super flexible and low effort.
Nothing complicated.
Just small combinations, cooking as needed.
I like meals that don’t demand too much — food that fits into the day, instead of taking over it.
#budgetmeals #easymealideas #budgetgroceryhaul #lazydinner #mealprepideas
When it comes to grocery shopping, I’ve found that having reliable staple ingredients makes meal planning so much easier. For example, tau kwa (firm tofu) is a fantastic, affordable protein packed with versatility. I like that it can be air-fried or stir-fried and pairs well with mushrooms or simple seasonings. The brown shimeji mushrooms I picked up add a nice texture and flavor, and they’re a perfect swap for enoki mushrooms in soups or as a snack. I also tend to keep a few convenient protein options on hand like chicken bulgogi and frozen prawns, especially when I want quick meals after a long day. One tip I’d share is to look out for promotions on frozen proteins—they’re a great way to stock up without breaking the bank. For easy comfort food, I enjoy making seaweed rice by mixing cooked rice with a bit of sesame oil and hand-torn seaweed; it’s quick, flavorful, and pairs nicely with simple sides like kimchi or BBQ chicken slices. I’ve also found that incorporating nostalgic snacks, like Laughing Cow cheese cubes, adds a fun element to my grocery haul and keeps things interesting. The key to my grocery strategy is picking ingredients that can be easily mixed and matched to create a variety of meals without a lot of prep. It saves time, reduces food waste, and keeps me excited about cooking at home. If you’re on a budget or prefer simple, lazy dinner ideas, focusing on multi-use ingredients like tau kwa, cabbage, and frozen proteins can really help simplify your routine.
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