When I do local sits, I have some of my favorite recipes in mind that I will cook such as parmesan chicken and other chicken recipes, meatloaf, beef bourguignon, spaghetti sauce, chili. I bring the stapes for those meals and pick up the meat while at the sit to save me shopping for those. I also love fish so will pick that up fresh and alternate with meat recipes. For international sits, I usually just pack some of my favorite spices. I only use the homeowners spices, oil and condiments while on a sit.
Life works best for me if I create a weekly menu and then a shopping list to reflect the menu.
Perhaps make a list of meals that you like (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and then create a shopping list based on that list?
There are websites/blogs that I use to help me, but I won’t burden you with those, unless you want them. It can be overwhelming.
I like the shopping list provided by another member above; that is exactly the sort of list needed. But everyone’s list is different, based on preferences.
@mollsyA Congratulations on your first sits .
When we drive to back to back sits I have a basket of dried food and a few tinned staples -
Breakfast cereal
Stock cubes
Lentils
Tinned tomatoes , tuna, sweetcorn, beans
Some herbs and spices that I use often
Wholemeal pasta
Wholemeal rice
Tea bags
( also toilet paper and washing tabs for washing machine ) -(we do long sits)
At local shops or markets we will buy bread , milk, cheese, eggs, meat, vegetables and fruit. (We don’t expect it but occasionally hosts have already filled the fridge with these for us ) @mollsyA you can ask your hosts about local grocery stores.
We always request, ahead of time, for the hosts to leave us a clear shelf or two in the fridge , a space/ shelf somewhere to store our groceries and a small space in the freezer ( for a bag of peas or a tub of ice-cream ) @mollsyA you may want to ask your hosts for this (ahead of the sit) Not all all hosts think about this space the sitter will need to store their food items .
Usually, we can just place our basket of groceries straight from the car and into the space they have left for groceries. Then it’s all neatly contained in one spot for the stay and easily transported to the next one .
For autumn/ winter season I ask hosts if they have a crockpot/ slow cooker . If they don’t have one , I bring along my own for stews and casseroles, curries or chilli .
Next sit has an aga so I am looking online for tips and recipes.
Feel free to DM me if you’d like any Aga love & help @Silversitters #agaqueenattheready
@mollsyA
At the risk of oversimplyfying things, can you not just buy what you would buy when at home?
@Viajante 18 eggs a week !!
Have you done sits with hens ?
We have done a couple and it’s been a highlight each morning to collect and eat the freshest of eggs . We hope to do more sits with hens .
Ya don’t need to know what I like. I’m asking for YOUR (sitters) go to’s.
Giving you a list of what WE like does you no good if you don’t also like those things. Something just feels so off about this post. Feels like more someone doing research for something besides personal use, otherwise why would your personal preferences not matter?
It is completely relevant- you may be vegetarian or have food allergies or intolerances .
Of course we do otherwise how can we help you? Do some research on the sit area in the Rockies, ask the HO how she manages groceries, take the best bits of all the advice on here and off you go! #researchrocks
Twelve days up a mountain in a well-stocked house is hardly like you’re competing on ‘Alone USA’!
But for what it’s worth, apples, grapefruit and other citrus last longer than most fruits. If you run out of fresh veg, then tins/jars/packets of sun-dried tomatoes add flavour and vitamins, likewise dehydrated mushrooms. Hard cheese like Parmesan lasts well and packs a punch in flavour. Lentils are a good source of protein once you’ve run out of fresh meat, unless you’ve gone feral by then and start snaring squirrels… Enjoy!
I would say what ever grocery list you make for ur own home do for your sit. You said its local so that should tell you what store to go to. If your driving your own car just go buy what you need for a few days. If your looking for more things that sitters travel with when we fly to places. I always bring dental floss, tweezers,bandads, pen and paper. Theres just so many things to list . I buy groceries at a sit the same day they leave if early enough. Or early the next morning with out checking what the homeowner has.
I tend to take a precooked meal to reheat the first evening, then go grocery shopping with my regular shopping list as soon as I can. I take basics (spaghetti, couscous, cereal, coffee and store cupboard bits) and empty my own fridge before I leave home. I try to use local butchers, bakers & a farmers market if this is possible.
It’s off? Huh, how would you have worded it?
Thank you but it is not a well stocked fridge. Thus, my post.
So helpful and thank you for your kindness!
You seem like a pro at this. Thank you so much for your help @CreatureCuddler ! You have so much to offer!
Thank you so much! For being kind!
Thank you to those of you who were kind and respectful, offering what has helped you! You completed the assignment
I am excited for my first couple sits in the near future!
I would very much appreciate a website/blog or two. Very kind of you to spend time for me!