Have an 'Eat Down'
This blog describes what many of us do when we realize our pantries are full but we have no food, if you know what I mean. This blogger calls it an "Eat Down." Dig through your pantry and see what creative combinations you can come up with to use up the food you have. Then, make a list of the rest of the ingredients and either find recipes and buy new ingredients at your next store visit, or just keep the list with you on grocery trips so you can find things to combine with them to use them up.