A Quiet Life with a border collie
Pantry Challenge
A pantry challenge means utilizing what you already have before purchasing additional groceries. By doing this, you minimize food waste, spend less time shopping, and save money by avoiding overbuying. It’s an excellent method to economize
At this point, I am not an expert in pantry challenges. I completed my first one last year in 2025. I took on a three-month challenge, starting from mid-May to mid-August. I notice many people take on their challenges during the winter months; however, I opted for summer because I prefer not to go out much during this season.
You don't need to commit to 3 months; if you're just looking to try it out, you can opt for 1 month. I would suggest that if you plan on doing more than one month and lack an extra freezer, it might be beneficial to consider getting one, as it's incredibly useful.
Last year, I managed to save approximately $400.00. While this may not apply to you, I discovered that because I visited the store every week or every two weeks, I wasn't focused on purchasing what I truly needed, resulting in me also acquiring unnecessary items.
For dinners --
The first step I take is to grab a calendar book, where I jot down all the meals that are simple and quick to prepare. These dishes are what we typically eat from Tuesdays to Fridays, such as tacos, pizza, and spaghetti.
Once I have that arranged, I focus on the weekends. We enjoy barbecuing on Saturdays and Sundays, and since we grill on both days, we have leftovers to use for Monday.
You may be curious about lunch, and we usually have leftovers during the week. If we run out, we opt for deli meats that can be frozen for making sandwiches.
For breakfast, we usually have a protein shake or a cottage cheese bagel (I have an excellent recipe for a cottage cheese bagel).
Your first task is to compile a list of all the ingredients needed for each meal. If you're preparing a dish multiple times, note the ingredients for each dish and indicate how many you'll need for every meal. For spices, I prefer to create a separate list for those.
Once you have your list, head to your pantry and freezer to check off the items you already possess. Some items may exceed what's necessary for one meal; for instance, if you're making tacos and have a box of 18 shells but only require 6, that means you can make 2 additional meals.
Baking can be tricky when estimating how much flour, sugar, oil, and other staples you'll need. For essential kitchen items, I prefer to purchase in bulk from Azure Standard and Sam's Club. Azure Standard does not charge a monthly fee, and their website is user-friendly. I tend to buy 25 lb bags of rice, sugar, flour, and oatmeal. Last year, during my challenge, I ran out of flour by the third month. If you enjoy baking frequently, consider these factors.
If you are using dairy in your baking, keep in mind that some dairy doesn’t freeze well. It’s advisable to bake it first, then freeze the baked goods.
Now that you have completed your list, it’s time to go shopping. I prefer to make four separate trips over different weeks. During the first three trips, I look for any discounts based on my list. I usually start in March, checking for items on sale while doing my regular shopping. On my fourth trip, I purchase whatever is still remaining on my list.
If you plan to order from Asher Standards, be sure to time it properly -https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/category/food/21244?subcategories=true
For Vegetables -
You can find frozen vegetables at the grocery store, but I suggest visiting a farmers market during your challenge. Since I do my challenge in the summer, I allow myself to go to the farmers market once every 3-4 weeks. I have a small garden, but this year we didn't receive much snow and we are under a water restriction. I am only permitted to water twice a week. This year, I am focusing on watering my strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. I also planted some lettuce. I will be picking up eggs and peaches and some vegetables, and because I can peaches, and some vegetables I make sure to get them when they are in season. Anything that I buy and can during my challenge I don't used until it is over.
Dairy -
I strongly suggest exploring what you can and cannot freeze when it comes to dairy. You are able to freeze cottage cheese, cheese, butter and cream cheese in block form. There are some items that do not freeze like yogurt, sour cream, and buttermilk. Not everyone lives on a farm so if you pick up Dairy that you can't freeze from the store I don't think that should count against you if you are ONLY picking up dairy that you can't freeze.
There is a lot of information available online regarding what can and cannot be frozen. There are also some vegetables that you should avoid freezing. I will share some links at the end of this post for you to refer to.
This is a simple outline for conducting a pantry challenge. You can modify it to suit your own requirements. I encourage you to give it a try, even if it's just for a month.
to look up on how to freeze dairy and veggies--
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/can-you-freeze-milk
https://www.natrel.ca/en/news/can-you-freeze-milk-and-other-dairy-products
https://www.mosaicfoods.com/blogs/main/the-ultimate-guide-to-freezing-vegetables
Reach out to us
