10 steps to create an effective shopping list
Kira Zabe
September 22, 2024
You know the situation - you're standing in front of your fridge trying to figure out what's missing and urgently needs to be bought, thinking to yourself “Oh, I can easily remember these few things.” Then it's off to the supermarket and discount store. Once you're back home, you realize when you're putting things away that you're missing a few very special things and usually these are the things you urgently need for cooking/baking. I am definitely one of those people. The solution is actually quite simple: a shopping list. Here are 10 steps that make creating a shopping list much easier.
Get an overview
Before you go shopping, you (and I, of course) should get an overview of what's left in the house. Of course, this works better if there is a certain basic order in the fridge and cupboards. Maybe you'll find one or two things that need to be processed urgently, although this doesn't apply to users of the Smantry.App. The app informs you promptly when the “best-before date” is approaching.
What do you really need?
I'm one of those people who always tends to buy too much. A shopping list, which I write by hand the old-fashioned way, helps me combat this. When shopping, it's crucial that you concentrate on what you really need. After all, people tend to shop impulsively. As I've already mentioned in another blog, I'm one of the typical packaging victims. A shopping list also helps against this. Don't buy foods that are currently in vogue and that you don't actually like. Sort your shopping list from the must-haves (for me, this would be pasta and cooking cream, for example) to the nice-to-haves. A well-organized shopping list helps you to avoid waste.
Divide your shopping list into categories
While we're on the subject of sorting, you can divide your shopping list into categories. For example, fruit and vegetables, meat, bread, snacks, etc. How many times have I run back through the supermarket and discount store because I've forgotten something - and almost as often something has ended up in the shopping cart that I didn't actually need.
Use digital helpers
If you don't like writing your shopping list by hand, then your smartphone is your best friend. There are numerous apps that can help you create and organize your shopping list. By the way, one of them is the Smantry.app ;)
Take advantage of offers and discounts
There are discount coupons, either in the brochure of the relevant discounter or supermarket or in the relevant app.
Shopping according to the seasons
Shopping according to the seasons offers you the wonderful opportunity to sustainably source the right products and enjoy the diversity of nature. Seasonal and regional fruit and vegetables, for example, do not have to travel long distances, which has a positive effect on your carbon footprint. In spring, these include asparagus, rhubarb, young lettuce and berries. In summer, the regional selection is naturally larger, with juicy tomatoes, strawberries, crunchy cucumbers and a wide variety of fruit. But fall also has a rich selection. There are pumpkins, apples, pears and, of course, mushrooms. Only in winter is the choice a little more limited. Here, however, you can fall back on the frozen variety, for example, if you wish.
First things first
Sorting your shopping list is an important step towards efficient shopping. As mentioned above, it makes sense to sort the products by category, for example by bread, milk, fruit and vegetables, dry foods, etc. Real professionals even sort their shopping list according to the location of the food. The reason for this is relatively clear: you save time and avoid unnecessary running back and forth. But for me, shopping also has something to do with relaxation and I actually quite enjoy strolling through the shelves. The shopping list should help me to avoid impulse purchases - and of course not to forget anything so that I don't have to run back and perhaps be tempted after all.
Stock up on supplies
We often cover the topic of stockpiling on the Smantry.app blog. If you want to stock up sensibly, you should always put an extra pack in your shopping basket when you go shopping, for example. So two packs of pasta instead of one. However, you should use up the food in your “daily store” and then replenish it again and again. The pantry app not only informs you which products are about to expire, but also how much of which product you still have in the house.
Check - check everything again
Before you leave the house, you should at least roughly check once again whether you really have everything you need on your shopping list. Also make sure you have your wallet and enough transportation for your purchases.
Stay flexible and don't forget to have fun
A shopping list is exactly what the name says: a list. It's not a law that you have to follow slavishly. You are therefore welcome to be spontaneous and it is okay to put something tasty in your shopping cart that is not on the list - as long as it stays within reason. Slips are also perfectly forgivable. As long as it stays within reason.
🍂 Cozy Autumn Leftover Cooking – Comfort dishes made from what's available
When the rain taps on the window and the tea cup becomes a permanent guest, the most beautiful kitchen time of the year begins: autumn. And what could be a better match than stylish leftover cooking – dishes that are not only sustainable but also truly exciting.
Autumn leftover cooking means: use instead of waste, but with a touch of sophistication. Here are some more unusual ideas to turn leftovers into small culinary highlights.
🧀 1. Pumpkin Gnocchi from leftover roasted vegetables
Do you have some leftover roasted pumpkin or sweet potato from the day before? Perfect!
Mash the vegetables, mix them with some flour, salt, and grated Parmesan, shape them into small gnocchi, and briefly cook them in salted water until they float to the surface. Then toss them in sage butter and top with chopped walnuts.
→ Tastes like Italy, looks like fine dining – and it's all made from leftovers!
🥖 2. Rustic bread salad with grapes and goat cheese
Tear stale bread into pieces, toast in olive oil until golden brown.
Add a few grapes (wrinkled ones are especially sweet), arugula or lamb's lettuce, crumbled goat cheese, and roasted hazelnuts. Mix with a dressing of balsamic vinegar, honey, and mustard.
→ A fall twist on the classic Panzanella – sweet, salty, crunchy, perfect!
🧅 3. French onion tart with leftover vegetables and puff pastry
Got some leftover puff pastry in the fridge? Make a tart out of it!
Caramelize onions in butter, add some leftover vegetables (e.g., leeks, mushrooms, or spinach). Spread on the pastry, top with a dollop of sour cream or cream cheese, and bake until golden brown.
→ Wonderfully aromatic, especially with thyme or rosemary.
🍎 4. Apple Sourdough French Toast with Vanilla Rum Butter
A piece of stale sourdough bread is soaked in a mixture of milk, egg, vanilla, and a dash of rum, fried in a pan, and served with fried apple slices and a rum butter.
→ Luxurious, yet made entirely from leftovers – perfect for a Sunday breakfast in pajamas.
🥬 5. Risotto made from leftover vegetables with lemon and herb oil
Chop the vegetable scraps finely and cook with a handful of rice into a creamy risotto.
A dash of lemon juice and some leftover herbs (parsley, basil, arugula) blended with oil make a fresh herb oil as a topping.
→ The acidity of the lemon beautifully enhances the earthy autumnal notes.
☕️ Bonus Tip: Using leftovers in a dessert glass
A few spoons of leftover compote?
Some leftover cake or cookies?
Layer it all with yogurt or mascarpone in a glass – and you have an autumnal "trifle" that looks like it came straight from a café in Copenhagen.
🍁 Conclusion
Autumnal leftover cooking is not a last resort, but a playground for creativity. When you look at ingredients with open eyes – not as leftovers, but as opportunities – small, exquisite dishes full of soul and flavor emerge.
Why we never stop refining Smantry ✨
At Smantry, we don't believe in 'finished'.
An app that is meant to accompany people in their daily lives is never complete – it grows, changes, and evolves. Just like the people who use it. 💛
We regularly pay attention to every detail:
How does a click feel? Is the path to a function clear enough? Does the idea behind a new view come across intuitively?
Sometimes it's just tiny things that make the difference – a better-placed button, a simplified overview, or a sentence that suddenly becomes clearer.
What drives us is the idea that Smantry should feel easy, familiar, and meaningful.
We want you to open the app and feel: "Ah, this is exactly how it should work."
Of course, not everything always goes perfectly. But that's exactly the point: We take the time to listen, to observe, to reconsider. Every piece of feedback, every use case, every new idea helps us to understand a little better what really matters.
Smantry is not a rigid product for us – it's a living process. A collaborative project that grows step by step.
And every update, every small improvement is a sign that we are on the right track:
A path to an app that doesn't feel like technology, but like support.
Towards a daily life that becomes simpler. Towards clarity, structure – and maybe even a bit of ease. 🌿
We're staying on it.
Because we are convinced that good things take time – and that it's worth creating them with heart.
Your
Smantry-Team
🌱 Staying on track made easy: How to stay motivated to create order and avoid food waste
We all know it: Initially, the motivation is high! You finally want to get your kitchen organized, keep an eye on your supplies, and shop more consciously. But after a few weeks, everyday life creeps back in – and the good resolutions start to falter.
With Smantry we want to support you not only in getting started, but also in sticking with it in the long term. 💪✨
1. Be aware of why you are doing this
Order and sustainability are not short-term trends – they grant you freedom, time, and a good feeling. If you know why you want to keep your supplies in check or throw away less food, it becomes much easier to stay consistent.
👉 Tip: Write down your 'why' in the app note or as a reminder.
2. Set small, achievable goals
Nobody becomes an organizing pro overnight. Start small:
- Today I'm just organizing the spice rack.
- Check the fridge this week.
- On your next shopping trip, purposefully buy only what you really need.
Small steps lead to success – and success motivates!
3. Make it easy for yourself – with smart helpers
Smantry automatically reminds you of expiring products, helps you keep track of your inventory, and assists you with shopping. This way, you have to think less and can enjoy more.
👉 The less effort required, the easier it is to stick with it!
4. Celebrate your progress 🎉
Creating order or avoiding waste is a process, not a sprint. Regularly review what you have already accomplished – you may already see that you need to throw away less or that your supply is finally manageable. That's great!
5. Make it part of your routine
Schedule fixed 'Smantry moments': for example, briefly check the inventory on Sundays or update the shopping list before going shopping. Routines provide structure and make sustainable actions a matter of course.
💚 Conclusion:
Motivation is not a perpetual flame – but with the right tools and habits, you can reignite it time and again.
With Smantry, you have a smart companion by your side that helps you stay organized, consume more consciously, and incidentally do something good for yourself and the environment.
More clarity when shopping: How Open Food Facts and the Smantry app make nutrition transparent
Many foods look healthy at first glance – but what's really inside them? Are the nutritional values balanced? How processed is a product? And what impact does it have on our environment?
This is exactly where the Smantry-App comes in: It uses the globally open database Open Food Facts, to give you immediate clarity when scanning your items. But what's actually behind the colorful labels like Nutri-Score, NOVA or Eco-Score, that you encounter in the app?
Let's take a closer look at the background.
Open Food Facts: From the Idea to a Global Database
The journey began in 2012 with the founding of Open Food Facts – a non-profit organization that collects, analyzes, and makes food information freely accessible worldwide. The goal from the beginning was to provide consumers with scientifically substantiated information.
What started as a small project has now become a global platform with millions of products. And it is precisely this data that the Smantry-App uses to give you a clear overview directly on your smartphone.
An overview of the most important scores
1. Nutri-Score – how healthy is my product?
Since 2016, the Nutri-Score has been legally established in France – and it has quickly spread throughout Europe.
- A (green) means: very balanced.
- E (red) means: unbalanced, enjoy in moderation.
The rating is based on calories, sugar, salt, saturated fats – but also on positive factors such as fiber, protein, and the proportion of vegetables.
👉 So in the Smantry app, you can see at a glance whether a food item fits into your everyday life – or perhaps should be on the table less often.
2. NOVA-Score – how processed is it?
Not only the ingredients, but also the degree of processing plays a significant role for health. This is exactly what the NOVA-Score (integrated into Open Food Facts since 2018) shows you:
- 1 = unprocessed or minimally processed (e.g., fresh fruit, plain yogurt)
- 2 = ingredients such as vegetable oils, sugar, flour
- 3 = processed foods (e.g., bread, cheese, canned goods)
- 4 = highly processed products ("Ultra-Processed Food"), often with additives, flavors, and industrial processes
👉 With the Smantry app, you can instantly tell if a product is still 'close to nature' – or if it falls into the category of being highly processed.
3. Eco-Score (soon to be Green-Score) – how sustainable is my shopping?
Since 2019, Open Food Facts also includes an environmental assessment: the Eco-Score. It takes into account, among other things:
- CO₂ emissions from production and transportation,
- Packaging and recyclability,
- Origin and seasonal factors.
The rating is – similar to the Nutri-Score – from A (very eco-friendly) to E (less sustainable).
By 2025, this will become the Green-Score, which will take into account even more detailed data and thus provide you with even better guidance for sustainable consumption.
👉 For you in the Smantry app, this means: You can see not only whether a food is healthy for you, but also whether it is good for our planet.
What this means for you as a Smantry user
Currently, you can scan your products in the Smantry-App and view many details. The scores themselves are not yet integrated – but the integration is planned.
This means: Soon you will be able to see not only the nutritional values of a product but also how healthy, processed, or sustainable it is – all directly in your app.
Conclusion: Your Smart Nutrition Compass
The colorful labels are much more than pretty symbols. They are your quick compass in everyday life – whether you want to shop with health consciousness, reduce highly processed products, or pay attention to the environment.
With the Smantry-App you already have strong support for more transparency while shopping. And with the planned integration of the scores, it will become even more valuable – your smart nutritional compass for the future.