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Welcome back to Rose City Receipts, where we take you behind the scenes of how your fellow Portlanders manage their grocery budgets and meal plans. This week, fellow food writer Becca Knowlton is walking us through a week when she relied entirely on Trader Joe’s and her pantry. It’s a fascinating experiment to see if Trader Joe’s can be a cost-effective primary grocery stop for Portlanders.
Meet Our Shopper
Becca Knowlton is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in local publications such as Eater, Oregon ArtsWatch, Willamette Living, and other outlets. She resides in Gresham, Oregon. (Becca Knowlton)
Who are you? Becca Knowlton, a foodie and Portland-based freelance writer
Where do you live? Gresham
What’s your weekly grocery budget (roughly)? $100
How many people are you shopping for? 1
What are your favorite stores? Trader Joe's, Fred Meyer, Walmart, Costco
What’s your top priority when it comes to grocery shopping? Finding the sweet spot between cost, convenience, and items that are relatively healthy.
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Becca K's Shopping Philosophy
My relationship with the kitchen is complicated. I love food, but I hate cooking. Additionally, given my health challenges, I need grocery shopping to be simple and efficient, relying on prepared foods and versatile staples that stretch across multiple meals.
For one week, I tested whether Trader Joe’s could function as a one-stop shop during a low-energy stretch. Between the simple ingredients, pre-made meals, and globally inspired products, it has become my favorite grocery store. I set a $100 budget and focused on versatile items, incorporating a few pantry staples to avoid repetition with leftovers.
Honestly, I didn’t follow a rigid meal plan. When energy dips, elaborate meal planning goes out the window — the goal is simply to eat without overthinking it. If I can avoid takeout or junk food, that’s a win in my books!
Becca K’s Grocery Diary
Weekly total: $96.61
Eating out total: $0
Groceries total: $96.61
Most-expensive line item: Trader Joe’s Kung Pow Chicken, $6.49
Least-expensive line item: Trader Joe’s Organic Sour Cherry Fruit Wrap, $0.49
Number of grocery trips: 2
Number of meals out: 0
Stores visited: 1
My energy started crashing on Sunday, so I made a quick Trader Joe’s run to pick up a few basics to help me start the week. I leaned on ready-made items, so I wouldn’t have to cook the next day.
Trader Joe's frozen butter chicken with basmati rice, and a side of naan. (Becca Knowlton/Stumptown Savings)
Monday, I made an oatmeal breakfast with Trader Joe’s rolled oats, cocoa almond spread and frozen mango chunks which ended up being an easy meal I repeated several times during the week. For dinner, I heated up some Trader Joe’s butter chicken with basmati rice and a side of naan.
Monday total: $36.60 (purchased Sunday)
