Diana over at The Chic Life hosts some awesome challenges. While I’m usually pretty bad at sticking to fitness challenges (other than training for races), I can do life challenges.
This is her third year doing her Eat In Month Challenge. She takes Eat in Month very seriously and strictly…but I, per usual, like to play by my own rules.
In all seriousness, I know that as a busy, single [sorta lazy about cooking] girl in NYC, trying to eat every single meal in would be setting myself up for failure.
I participated last year, and it definitely got me to be more creative in the kitchen, even if sometimes my “creative†concoctions were too weird to blog about.
My personal parameters this year:
I’m not trying to lose weight right now (after years of being overweight, I LOVE saying that), but I am trying to get rid of some fat around my belly, so even though I usually do pretty healthy takeout (Energy Kitchen, Pump, sushi), cooking myself is usually healthier, and I know what’s going into my food.
One of my goals, as I said, is to pay down some credit card debt this year, and I’m trying to do it by making small changes. Bringing lunch (and never stopping for my beloved spinach feta wrap) can easily save me at least $150 a month. I sort of miss blogging about food, so I’m going to blog about any interesting creations I make, or successful recreations of other bloggers’ recipes that you may not be familiar with.
What are little ways you save money on food?
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I bring my lunch everyday and I shop sales at the grocery store. However, I need to make a bidget and STICK TO IT! This includes meal planning so I don't wander aimlessly through the grocery store and buy whatever jumps out at me. That is my reslution :)
I bring my breakfast/lunch/snack to work 99% of the time, and it makes a HUGE difference on saving money. I love the idea of "no food while at HH" and limiting myself to 1-2 drinks when out on a weeknight... If only I could execute it!
I meal plan every week and, while we spend more food at the grocery store, it's put a huge dent in how much we were spending eating out. I've also definitely been trying to get better about only eating out once a week (and that means lunch OR dinner).
Something I would really like to break the habit of is ordering a drink when I go out to dinner. One drink at the bar turns into getting a glass of wine with the meal which, if you're with my friends, turns into getting a bottle or two to share...not good for the wallet or my belly!
I recently started bringing breakfast to work. I need a big breakfast in the morning to keep me going, oatmeal just doesn't cut it. Since I always go to the gym first thing in the morning I don't have time to stop at home before work to make myself a decent breakfast. I tried stopping at Starbucks after the gym every day to get a breakfast sandwich, but that method was killing my bank account. I eventually started cooking egg whites the night before and putting them in a zip lock bag overnight in the fridge. I then would wrap a TJ's sandwich thin with Swiss cheese and either jelly of fig butter in foil. I pack both into my gym bag in the morning and as soon as I get to work I assemble my egg sandwich on the foil and toast it. I know it sounds iffy with eggs cooked the night before, but I swear by it!
One of the best ways that we've saved money on groceries, is to buy the store brand! Trust me, it took a lot of talking, trying and convincing for my husband to get me on board with the plan, but for most items, I never taste the difference! For those that we did (ketchup, of all things!), we buy the name brand and don't feel bad! Many of the stores are adding store-brand natural products, so it's a fun and healthy way to save money! Great goal for January and the year~
You are so smart to start packing food for work - it has saved me SO much money. Every evening I assemble my breakfast, lunch, and snacks for the following day (I am gone from 5:45-6 or 7-8:45 depending on whether I'm working out before or after work). It is a royal pain packing all that food (produce is so high maintenance), but I don't really have an option; I'm a teacher in the suburbs - cafeteria food is NOT an option, and I don't want to waste 30 minutes driving somewhere to pick up food.
I have, unfortunately, developed a very solid Starbucks misto habit...
One of my resolutions is meal planning, and I already saw an improvement in my grocery bill. And this way, I don't have to stare at the fridge every night wondering what to make for dinner, and usually resorting to take out or something not as healthy as I would like it to be. So far so good -
So no lunch? :( You can eat your bag lunch in my cafeteria though ;)
@Jen Correa @ Mom's Gotta Run: ok :) We need to make a date!
I love making big dishes that I can freeze - saving a couple servings to eat that week, but freezing the rest for a quick meal to grab when you need it.
I think I'm doing this challenge too. I need to save some money and also get some energy. I dont know wha tit is about cooking at home that i feel love in the food (yes it sounds quirky). Last night after spending time in the gym i ended up stocking up in greens and veggies which oh my i missed them. One of my resolutions is to pay down my credit card debt by not using my credit cards and putting some of the extra money there. Thank you for the extr boost of inspiration.
@Laura @Joyful Shimmy: No, I get it! When I actually do cook (like working out...), I feel very happy!