Transparent calculator · Grocery 1.0
Grocery & Meal Prep Planner
Turn servings, pantry stock, pack sizes and a budget into an editable shopping checklist.
Purpose
What this tool is for
Use this to do the repetitive weekly arithmetic while keeping prices, quantities and choices under your control.
Audience
Who it is for
Adults planning one to fourteen days of ordinary household meals.
Input glossary
What each field means
| Input | Unit or choice | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Household and days | people, days | Creates budget-per-person-day context. |
| Budget and currency | local amount | Used only for simple allocation; the site does not fetch prices. |
| Planned servings | count | Multiplies each ingredient’s per-serving requirement. |
| Buffer | % | Optional planning margin from 0–25%. |
| Ingredient rows | amount, pantry stock, pack size | All three quantities must use the same unit within a row. |
Method · Grocery 1.0
The formula or decision logic
Required = quantity per serving × planned servings × (1 + buffer).
Needed = max(0, required − matching pantry quantity). Buy quantity is rounded up to the entered purchase increment.
Budget per person-day = budget ÷ people ÷ days. Budget per planned serving = budget ÷ servings.
References support the method or context; they do not validate an individual result. See the sources.
Worked example
Example, not a price forecast: four bean-and-rice servings
- Four servings need 75 g rice, 120 g beans and 150 g vegetables per serving. Pantry rice: 100 g.
- With 500 g rice packs, 400 g bean packs and 500 g vegetable packs: buy 500 g rice, 800 g beans and 1,000 g vegetables.
- A €100 budget for two people and four planned servings equals €50 per person and €25 per planned serving.
Interactive calculator
Create an editable shopping list
Nothing you enter is sent to our server. Calculation happens in this browser.
Limitations
What the result cannot tell you
- Units are not converted or guessed within ingredient rows.
- The planner does not know local stock, seasonality or prices.
- Allergen tags and meal templates cannot guarantee safety or adequacy.
- Most cooked leftovers should be refrigerated only 3–4 days; freeze or prepare later for longer plans.
Questions specific to this tool
Frequently asked questions
How much buffer should I add?
Zero to ten percent can be a practical starting choice, but it depends on waste, appetites and whether pack sizes already create surplus.
Can the planner use current store prices?
No. Version 1 is intentionally local and deterministic. Enter prices separately in your own checklist if needed.
How does pantry subtraction work?
It subtracts only the quantity entered in the same row and unit. It does not guess conversions between cans, grams or cups.
How long can prepared meals stay refrigerated?
USDA guidance generally gives 3–4 days for cooked leftovers. Freeze suitable portions or prepare a second batch for later days.
Does the list guarantee allergen safety?
No. Check labels, preparation surfaces and cross-contact risks yourself, especially for severe allergies.
Primary and official references
Sources
Meal planning, shopping and budgeting
USDA SNAP-Ed · Current
Supports: Planning and budgeting contextLeftovers and food safety
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service · Current
Supports: 3–4-day leftovers guidanceFound a numerical or source issue? Send a correction with the page URL.