A Grocery List for a New Apartment

Staples

• Load up on staple foods that you use almost every day, such as milk, cereal, butter and bread. Having the ingredients for a breakfast will make your first morning enjoyable. Also buy those staples that you will need to cook and season other foods, such as oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and sugar. Finally, if there are certain condiments you use frequently, such as ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise or hot sauce, make sure you are well supplied. Peanut butter is also a common staple.

Canned and Packaged Foods

• Having a variety of packaged and pre-made foods around is key for a new apartment. With all the time it takes setting up, you might not have a chance to cook a proper meal for a while. Load up on healthy frozen dinners. Canned foods, such as beans, pastas and vegetables make for a quick dinner when you are in a hurry. Frozen vegetables and French fries are also good for a meal in a pinch, as are canned tuna and meats.

Produce

• Nothing helps you stay healthy and feeling good like fresh produce. Load up on fruits that you can eat with little or no preparation, such as apples, oranges, bananas, pears and grapes. Buy some more exotic fruits, such as pineapple, cantaloupe and strawberries, in case friends pop in and you feel like throwing together a quick and impressive snack. Fresh vegetables are also ideal to have on hand. Pick up some onions, carrots, broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes and anything else you think you might eat.

Snacks

• Above all, snacks are the most versatile and comforting foods to have around when getting settled into a new apartment. Potato chips and crackers are always handy to have available, or pretzels and pita chips as a healthier alternative. A box of cookies is good for serving to company and will keep for a long time. Nuts, such as almonds or cashews, make a quick snack full of protein. Buy some crackers and dip for a quick meal in a pinch.