Science of Cooking

I wouldn't even say 2 hours of shopping time, but yeah. I hate shopping, so I run in and out, 30 minutes tops. I commented here, but I think the problem is people don't know how to cook. They find a recipe online, hunt all over the store for the ingredients, go home, cook it up, look at the time spent. Now they have leftover ingredients and think those are a waste.

If you already know a few dozen things you like, you already know where to find those ingredients in the store. And whatever your tastes, there's bound to be crossover. I love me some Mexican. With the same few ingredients, I can make loads of different dishes.

Learning takes time up front, just like any skill. And yeah, you'll spend money ramping up the pantry and fridge, and you'll waste money starting out. Figuring out how to feed yourself is part of growing up.