Shopping before the holidays
Kira Zabe
December 18, 2021
Are you among the lucky ones who already have their Christmas menu set? If so, you're a step ahead of many. This also allows you to take some of the pressure off during the stressful holiday season. After all, who isn't daunted by the thought of crowded stores with endless lines? And then, the necessary product is no longer available, forcing you to visit even more grocery markets. To spare you this ordeal this year, we've put together some practical tips for you. This way, you can enjoy a relaxed Christmas without having to waste precious time in lines. This spares you the rush on Christmas Eve!
At the right place at the right time
Are you familiar with this saying? And there's a lot of truth in it when it comes to shopping as well. As a rule, supermarkets are very empty in the morning. You can take advantage of this and go shopping as early as possible, if you can. Not only will you be done before the rush, but you can also enjoy the freshness of the products and have the best selection. Are you unfortunately bound by work to specific times and can't shop early? Perhaps ask a family member or the kind neighbor, who as an active retiree still does her own shopping, if she can pick up a few things for you.
Keep the rule of thumb in mind
Whether it's Christmas, Easter, or German Unity Day, it remains an unsolved phenomenon that people tend to buy more groceries during these times. A well-proven rule of thumb is to shop at least two days before the holiday. You could apply this rule to all holidays. Here's a little example for you. If, like this year, Christmas Eve is on a Friday, make sure to do your shopping by Wednesday, or even better, by Tuesday. This way, you avoid having to stand in long queues.
Shopping list for assistance
Right now, we all have even more on our minds and need to remember so many things without forgetting anything. Moreover, it's unnecessary to waste precious time wandering around stores. Therefore, the best advice is to never shop without a list. First, note down everything that is needed and then organize it in the order that the store is laid out. This way, you can move through the store with purpose. Experience shows that when shopping with a list, you tend to only buy the items that are on the list. This reduces impulse purchases and even saves money.
Procure rare items early
Many are already surprised in September to see gingerbread, speculoos, and the like in supermarkets. But what many do not know is that this is already the Christmas stock and nothing more can be reordered. If you know that you will need something very specific for your recipe for the holiday feast, buy it right at the start. Then you will definitely have it at home in your stock and won't have to go searching at the last minute and plunge into the chaos.
Split the purchase
Of course, it's nice to do the shopping together. However, I can also imagine nicer things than visiting all the supermarkets like Aldi Süd, Rewe, Edeka, and the like with the whole family. That's why we split up not just before Christmas. This way, we get everything done in half the time and can then do something nice together as a family. If you're on your own for shopping, the following idea might help. Find a supermarket where you can get everything. Maybe they don't have all the products at the unbeatable lowest price. Consider what gives you the greatest advantage. Spend less time in stores and also save on fuel if you only need to go to one shop.
These were our tips for you. We hope to have provided you with added value for your relaxed holidays. Do you have any more tips that everyone should use? Then write to us at info@speisekammer.app, we look forward to your message.
Haven't you used our app yet? Then download it for free. From 18/19.12.2021, you can create up to 100 items in the free version and use it without registering. Convince yourselves and use the app for your next shopping trip.
The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes 🍲✨
Hand on heart: Each of us has them – those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.
Here are our favorites:
🥣 1. The powerful blender
Smoothies, soups, dips – a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.
🔪 2. A sharp chef's knife
Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.
🍳 3. A cast iron skillet
The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread – everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.
🥕 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater
A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.
🥡 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars
Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.
🌱 6. Kitchen Scale
It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.
🥄 7. Personal Blender
The little brother of the blender – perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.
How Smantry additionally helps you 📲
With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.
👉 Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.
New laws on food waste in Spain
Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.
Key provisions of the law:
Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.
Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.
Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.
Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.
Sanctions for violations:
Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.
Critique and Outlook:
While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.
Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.
Join in and reduce food waste! 🌱📲
Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.
👉 Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! 💚 Try it now!
Sharing supplies together – why the Shared Economy is now moving into the kitchen
The concept of Shared Economy has long been more than a short-term trend – it's changing our everyday lives. More and more neighborhoods, shared apartments, and community projects are discovering how practical it is to organize groceries together and manage supplies transparently.
Why sharing supplies is becoming increasingly popular
- Save on costs: Bulk purchases become cheaper when more people participate.
- Save space: Not everyone needs their own package of rice or pasta.
- Better organization: Digital tools make it easy to see what is available.
- Experiencing community: Food brings people together – as does camping together.
From the flatshare to the neighborhood
Especially in shared apartments or families with multiple households it pays off to keep a communal stock of supplies. But neighborhood projects or small communities are also recognizing the added value: shopping, storing, and using together.
How Smantry helps
This is where Smantry comes into play:
- Community Feature: Supplies can be managed collectively.
- Transparency: Everyone can see which items are available.
- Efficiency: Duplicate purchases are avoided, leftovers are used up in time.
- Flexibility: Soon it will become even easier to manage entire communities (including new features such as categories or the option to completely delete communities).
👉 The shared economy doesn't stop with cars – it moves right into your kitchen. With Smantry sharing supplies becomes easier than ever.
At last, it's here: The categorization of articles 🎉
Over the past few months, we have collected numerous feedback from you – and the request for better organization of supplies was one of the most frequent wishes. Soon, it will be possible to sort your items into individual categories, so that you can keep track of everything even more quickly.
Why categories are so practical
- 🥦 More organization in your pantry: Instead of a long list, you can structure your products into categories such as "Vegetables", "Beverages", or "Household Goods".
- ⏱️ Faster Finding: No more long scrolling – jump straight to the right category.
- 👨👩👧👦 Improved collaboration: In communities or family households, everyone can immediately see where things belong.
- 🌍 Customization: You can create your own categories that suit your needs – whether for meal prep, stockpiling, or just your everyday life.
Your wish will become reality ✨
We know how important this feature is to you. That's why our development team has implemented categorization as a high priority. It will soon be available step by step in the app – fulfilling one of the biggest wishes of our community.
We are thrilled that we can make everyday life even easier for you with this. Stay tuned – as always, we will keep you updated on when the feature will be officially released.
👉 Do you already have ideas on how you want to structure your categories? Feel free to send us your suggestions or requests – your input might directly influence the ongoing development.