Thursday, January 7, 2010

Pantry Eating Challenge Day 7





The challenge:  to eat from the pantry, freezer and refrigerator for one month without shopping for more food.


Breakfast:  Warmed up piece of cheese quiche and fried up some potatoes.  Yum yum.  When I fry potatoes I cook them for a few minutes in the microwave first.  Putting them in a plastic bag, loosely tying a knot and cooking them up to 9 minutes (depending on size and amount of potatoes being cooked) makes them nice and soft. Fry in a hot pan with a little olive oil and they will get nice and crunchy.


Note: I suppose using a plastic bag in a microwave will make some of you flinch but it is a fast way to get the job done.  I did not say I always use the best method available to accomplish my goals.


Lunch:  Still not hungry after my large breakfast.  Am going for a walk to burn off some calories.  Who would guess that this challenge is affecting my weight?  I have dropped a couple of pounds and am monitoring my energy level.


Dinner: The leftover chicken in a pot was served with steamed cauliflower and was delicious. After dinner I froze the rest of the chicken so I will not tire of it.

Now that I live alone, which to clarify is one person in the house and not someone who is lonely,  I am realizing how few groceries I actually need.  I took my Mom shopping today to Costco and had to battle the voice in my head saying, "hmmm do I want to buy this or that?".  The realization was shopping can be a habit.  The answer to if I needed anything was clearly no but I was still drawn to want to buy something.  The marketers have done their job well.  If there were subliminal messages coming over the intercom, I heard them.  The packaging messages were seductive and I was being seduced.  It there was a struggle going on and I felt it but did not indulge it. 



I am going to continue to go shopping when asked and will remain strong.  Who would have thought this challenge would bring up these issues?  What is coming up for you?  Are you noticing anything and having realizations?

3 comments:

Marblehead Forever said...

I was concerned when you said you cooked potatoes in plastic bags, chemicals, chemicals. You can be frugal but have to be safe and healthy too.

HossBoss said...

Abby ...I sent you an email today. Did you get it? You left a comment on my blog asking me to several days ago, but I just read it today. If you don't find an email from me in your inbox, check your junk filter on your email program. My email address is rjrpainthorses@wildblue.net.

HossBoss said...

ps I cook potatoes in plastic also...frequently. I know, I know ...some studies say that plastics exposed to heat release toxic chemicals. The wonderful and yet frustrating thing about medical science is that it frequently contradicts itself. Take hearty two egg breakfast our grandparents grew up on. UNHEALTHY ...high cholesterol ...eggs should be limited in the diet! That was in the 70's and 80's. Now suddenly eggs, protein in particular, is the breakfast of champions again. Enjoy your taters, Abby!