I'm A Chef Who Shops At Target. Here Are 10 Things I Pick Up Every Month For My Family Of 3.

Target has great deals on pantry and home staples.
Fatima Khawaja
- I work as a personal chef and have a toddler at home, and I love shopping at Target.
- My family of three goes through a lot of milk and eggs, and the chain store has good deals on both.
- I also pick up home essentials, like Dawn soap and baking soda, when shopping there.
As a personal chef, I know groceries are expensive right now — especially if you live in New York City like I do.
Luckily, anytime I visit my in-laws in the suburbs, I find great deals at Target for my family of three, especially on groceries and essentials.
Here are the things I always pick up on my monthly Target visits.
Fatima Khawaja
We go through a lot of milk with a toddler in the house. I also love a splash in my coffee and oatmeal.
My go-to brands, Horizon and Organic Valley, are always a steal at Target compared to my local grocery store. We use it up so quickly that I don't mind buying an extra gallon whenever I'm in the store.
Fatima Khawaja
Smoothies are big in my house, and I enjoy baking with my daughter. Frozen fruit comes in handy for both of those recipes.
I love that Target has store-brand organic fruit in its freezer aisle, making it easy to stock up.
Fatima Khawaja
Organic apples can be pricey, but Target's Honeycrisp bags are usually a pretty great deal (under $5).
I also like that they don't come in giant bags, making it easier for us to get through them before they get soft.
Fatima Khawaja
I don't just use baking soda in my baking projects, I also love it for cleaning.
I use the powder to refresh my laundry, clean wooden cutting boards, and deodorize around the house.
Bulk baking soda is hard to find in the smaller grocery stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn, so I don't hesitate to grab it when I see a bag on the shelf at Target.
Fatima Khawaja
I almost get reverse sticker shock when I see a good deal on eggs after prices soared last year.
They're another grocery item we go through quickly — and Target carries my favorite brand, Vital Farms — so I stock up without hesitation.
Fatima Khawaja
I do tons of dishes as a chef, and nothing cuts through grease like Dawn.
I buy the big bottle when I'm doing recipe testing at home, and I keep a small bottle in my work bag to bring to my client's house.
Fatima Khawaja
Cheese can also be pricey at city grocery stores, but Target's store-brand shredded cheddar is reasonably priced. An 8-ounce bag of Good & Gather shredded cheddar is usually about $3.
The thick shreds are great for eggs, quesadillas, or grilled cheese sandwiches.
Fatima Khawaja
My daughter loves beans, and they're a great source of protein, so I'm always looking for good-quality, organic cans.
The Target store-brand beans are under a dollar each, and they have a wide variety.
I like the black beans because they're big enough to easily pick up with little fingers and are great in burrito bowls or tacos.
Fatima Khawaja
In my experience, Siete taco shells can be hard to find in other stores.
I love the grain-free brand and always grab a box for my family at Target.
Fatima Khawaja
Target's Good & Gather lunch kits are an easy option when I'm running out the door after a long day of work and need to bring a snack to school pick-up.
The packs come with different combos of meats and cheeses, but my daughter's favorite is the one with "yellow" cheese and buttery crackers. Plus, sometimes I'll eat the oatmeal cookies from the pack as my own snack.