How a Kerns Podcast Producer Balances Solo Cooking with Social Dining on $150 a Week

Hi, {{first__name | reader}},

Welcome to Rose City Receipts, a weekly feature of Stumptown Savings where Portlanders take us inside their grocery shopping and meal planning strategies.

Today, we hear from Giulia from Kerns. Giulia, a podcast producer with City Cast Portland, walks us through how she balances cooking for one with meals out with friends while juggling a busy summer travel season.

Who are you? Giulia
Where do you live? Kerns
What’s your weekly grocery budget (roughly)?: $150, but this varies a lot depending on the season, regarding social plans, travel, and personal mental health.
How many people are you shopping for?: Just me, but I like to account for a couple of meals for two to treat my partner when they visit throughout the week.
What are your favorite stores?: Fred Meyer for produce because it's closest to me and consistent, and Trader Joe's for snacks and protein because it's usually cheapest when shopping for a single person.
What’s your top priority when it comes to grocery shopping?: Good produce that will last, deals on healthy snacks, and discounts on protein. 

My shopping philosophy prioritizes meals for the week ahead. I make sure I have enough small meals for breakfast or lunch every day, and then a few larger meals for dinner. I like to account for the few times a week I'll go out to eat with friends and try not to over-buy. I like to purchase staple items like proteins I can freeze, plant-based milk, lettuce, and bread that are versatile and can be used for a variety of meals. 

The biggest challenges for me are not having a car and planning for a spontaneous social calendar. I have to walk home with my groceries, so I can't buy too much, and I typically prioritize meals outside the house with friends because I work from home, which can feel isolating at times. This week was particularly challenging because it was sandwiched between two trips out of town, which means I ate out the majority of the time.

Weekly total: $225.54
Eating out total: $166.75
Groceries total: $58.79
Most-expensive line item: $13.98 for 2 lbs. of frozen raw shell-on shrimp from Fred Meyer 
Least-expensive line item: 50 cents for 1 lime at Fred Meyer
Number of grocery trips: 1 trip on Sunday to both Fred Meyer and Trader Joe's
Number of meals out: 7
Stores visited: 2

Coffee with brown sugar oat milk creamer and a yogurt in the morning, a quesadilla from Saint Burrito for lunch, and pho from the Zipper's Hello Pho for dinner. I just came home from a trip over the weekend, so I didn't have much food in the fridge or motivation to cook. This was one of those days when I was getting caught up on work and just eating what's easiest right in my neighborhood. 

Monday total: $29.40 

Leftover pho for breakfast, and I skipped lunch this day because I was too busy with work and anticipating a big dinner. I had dinner and drinks at the new neighborhood Korean street food spot, Moon Pocha, with a good friend of mine. This was a spot I had been meaning to try for a while and offered some much-needed catch-up time with my friend.

Tuesday total: $42

Same old coffee and yogurt in the morning. I had Trader Joe's frozen gnocchi alla sorrentina for lunch. It's a known fact that Trader Joe's does their frozen food really well, and this is one of those staple items for me during busy seasons. Growing up, my mom had a strict rule against buying Italian food she could make better herself at home, but this item somehow broke that rule. And it's only $2.99 for a decent meal! 

For dinner, I tried a new recipe from Joshua McFadden's “Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables” cookbook (💰affiliate link). I get excited about fresh herb salads in the summer, so I challenged myself to learn the "Grilled Carrots, Steak, and Red Onion with Spicy Fish-Sauce Sauce" recipe. (Editor’s note: This is one of my favorite cookbooks, too.) I swapped out steak for some frozen raw shell-on shrimp I already had to save some money and shorten the total cook time. I buy the raw shell-on shrimp over the pre-cooked or shell-off because they're usually the most flavorful and take minutes to season and cook stove top. I shopped for everything at Fred Meyer and Trader Joe's on Sunday.

Wednesday total: $0

Coffee and a Trader Joe's Joe's O's peanut butter cereal bar for breakfast (these are a new item to me, so I was trying them for the first time), and seasoned avocado on toast for lunch. I picked up a dozen avocados from a friend on my trip to Los Angeles, so I'm grateful to say these were free and very delicious. A little olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper do the trick. I split a large pizza from Pizza Jerk with my partner for dinner, with a salad I made at home. We went with a large so we could have leftovers for the weekend.

Thursday total: $20.10

Just coffee for breakfast and a seasoned avocado for lunch. It was a friend's birthday, so we went to Horse Brass Pub for dinner and drinks. I thought the fish and chips were a little too expensive, but the portion was very large. 

Friday total: $35.50

Coffee on the go both mornings from Dear Sandy, leftover pizza for lunches, a free buffet dinner at a work-related function on Saturday, and I tried Skyline Restaurant on Sunday night for burgers and milkshakes. The diner is tucked away deep in the West Hills, has been open since 1935, and their burgers are James Beard-approved. It did not disappoint.    

Weekend total: $39.75

I tried not to be too critical of my eating choices this week as I'm leaving for another trip in a couple of days. I'm the type of person who sometimes gets too stressed and busy to eat, so these are the times I'm willing to spend more to make sure I'm taking care of myself. 

I went shopping for a few staples and recipe items on Sunday, which held up just fine throughout the week, and gave me peace of mind to get me through the week.

I loved this "Grilled Carrots, Steak, and Red Onion with Spicy Fish-Sauce Sauce" recipe from Joshua McFadden's “Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables” cookbook (💰affiliate link) because it was quick, fresh, and easy to alter to my taste and budget. I also loved making my own spicy sauce that I knew would last a few weeks and could use for other recipes.

I used to work with Giulia at City Cast, and I’ve heard tales of her culinary adventures in the kitchen and out, so this particular Rose City Receipts was so fun to read. Like Giulia, I’m a big fan of Joshua McFadden’s cookbooks (💰affiliate link). His focus on seasonality pairs perfectly with shopping for what’s on special at the stores and markets. And while some recipes can feel intimidating, he does a great job of teaching you some solid fundamentals so you can pivot, like Giulia did. 

And I can co-sign Giulia’s nod to Skyline Restaurant. Those burgers and shakes are phenomenal, and just what the doctor ordered after a hike through Forest Park. 

Want to be featured in Rose City Receipts? Email [email protected] and share your grocery shopping approach!

Happy saving!

Bryan
Founder/Publisher,
Stumptown Savings