In compiling your list, the first thing you want to do is to look ahead to see what your week will be like. Below I have put together the basic outlines of a shopping list. My view on shopping lists is that they should be specific enough to get you out of the store with what you need, but general enough to allow you to take advantage of the best of what the store has to offer on the given day that you visit it. Here are some things to keep in mind while preparing your list. A chicken will take about 2 hours to roast, chicken breasts will take about 10 minutes to saute.
Food costs money.
When you throw away food, you throw away money. Review your spice cabinet and make sure you have all the essentials on hand. While you're there, look to make sure that you don't need any oil, vinegar, baking supplies, or other items of this ilk. Look through your vegetable bin. There are a lot of different vegetables out there.