Managing Staples
What are staples?
Staples are items your family buys regularly -- things like milk, bread, eggs, or butter. Instead of adding them to your shopping list manually, you can set them as staples and they'll be managed for you based on how often you need them.
Adding staples
- Go to Settings > Staples (or ask Sous to "add milk as a staple").
- Tap Add Staple.
- Enter the item name and optional details.
You can also manage staples through Sous chat -- just say something like "Add eggs and butter to my staples."
Staple groups
Every staple belongs to a group, and each group has its own frequency that controls how items are added to your shopping list:
- Every week -- items are added to every shopping list automatically (the default "Weekly" group works this way).
- Every 2 weeks / 3 weeks / month -- items are added when they're due based on when you last purchased them. You may also see these items suggested shortly before they're due.
- As needed -- items are never added automatically. Instead, you mark them as "needs restocking" and they'll appear on your next list. The default "Pantry" group works this way.
You can create your own groups with any frequency to match how your family shops. For example, you might have a "Fortnightly" group for items you buy every other week, or a "Cleaning Supplies" group set to monthly.
Staples vs shopping list items
- Staples are recurring -- they reappear on your list based on their group's frequency.
- Shopping list items from recipes are one-off -- they're tied to the current meal plan.
- Manual items you add to the shopping list are also one-off.
If you no longer need a staple, remove it from the staples list rather than just checking it off the shopping list.