Pantry Challenge

Eating From The Pantry Challenge – Week 1

by Karen on March 10, 2011

Earlier this month I said we would be starting an Eating from the Pantry/Freezer Challenge. This week has been reletively easy because my husband has been traveling to another office and he’s been gone 10+ hours a day. This means the kids and I have been the only ones here for dinner. We had tacos one night and I’ll have to call the manufacturer because the taco shells were stale. I have not had them THAT long. The package says they are good till May 2011.

Another night we made fruit smoothies. Tuesday night I admit we went to Chick Fil A, with coupons of course! I picked up the kids from school and had to drive them across town for a doctor appointment, then drive back in time for soccer. Chick fil A was plan B when my frozen turkey took longer to thaw than expected. Back in November I purchased a few turkeys when they were a really good price. I had one large turkey cut in half by the Publix butcher. That way I can cook each section separately and we don’t get sick of turkey too quickly. This morning I put one half in the crockpot for dinner tonight. I had to cut it up a bit to get it to fit in the crock-pot. At one point I took a mallet to get the knife through a piece of bone. My 7 year old daughter came running in, “Momma are you killing the turkey?” To which I replied, “No honey, the turkey has been dead for quite a while.” Kids are funny.

I ran out of fruit for the kids lunches today. But that’s ok, they can do without it one day and I’m going to Publix today to replenish.

Thawing out the spiral ham now. We’ll be using ham and turkey for several meals, sandwiches and casseroles.

How are you doing in your challenge?

Never miss a deal from Saving The Family Money
Follow on Facebook, Twitter and get the free Newsletter

{ 1 comment }

Weight Watchers – Puts A Kink In My Pantry Challenge

by Karen on March 7, 2011

Things have been crazy around here, I admit it. It was nice to take Sunday to just relax and do a marathon of movies. Last week when I announced our Eating from the Pantry Challenge, I didn’t take into account that hubby was also starting a Weight Watchers challenge with his company. He and I both did Weight Watchers about 2 years ago, with great success. But some of that weight has snuck it’s way back on. Along with that comes an increase in back pain, and other negative side effects. I could manage to count points with what we have in the pantry and control portion sizes, but he will be traveling a lot this week. He needs snacks he can eat to and from locations and if he’s stuck in a meeting.

We got very good at knowing what everything in our house was point wise. But Weight Watchers has changed the point system since the last time we were on it. They call it Points Plus now and it’s a whole new learning curve. Hubby has been in the kitchen with his free Weight Watchers application, calculating stuff in the fridge and pantry. The new points system is really hard on carbs this time around. So some items that were 4 points before are now 6.

Anyway, this should be a fun challenge. He and I might have to go to the store for some specific items to make it easier on him when he travels.

*Advertising Partner of Weight Watchers

Never miss a deal from Saving The Family Money
Follow on Facebook, Twitter and get the free Newsletter

{ 4 comments }

Eating From The Pantry/Freezer Challenge – March

by Karen on March 2, 2011

Last year we committed to an eating from the pantry/freezer challenge for the month of January. This year we are going to attempt to do it again. We have a nice stockpile in the pantry and refrigerator and it’s time to clean out. It will help us get rid of those food items we pass over, for the better stuff! Of course there will be trips to the store for essentials like milk, bread and produce.

Here’s the plan I had last year with updates in pink:

1st: Have a family meeting to discuss the plan. My kids will have to learn to eat from our stockpile, but I think if they know the plan ahead of time, they will be able to adapt. We can even make a list of what we currently have that they like, so they can refer to it when they need to make a decision. (We did this last year so this year should be a piece of cake)

2nd: Attempt to make a menu plan. I’m not very good at this, but once I take inventory, I should be able to plan several dinners. This might even help me overcome my habit of standing in the kitchen at 4:30 trying to decide what we are having for dinner. I’m so bad about that. (I have a whole turkey and ham in the freezer that will help with this)

3rd: Make a list of items we will need from the grocery store. ie: Milk, bread & produce. I will only be buying the daily essentials.

4th: Understand that we may not make it the entire month of March, but something is better than nothing.

5th: Break the news to my husband. Hopefully he’s reading this and I don’t have to verbalize it! Actually he’ll probably be the one to adapt the quickest. (We’ve already discussed and he’s onboard and loves the idea, or at least that’s what he said.)

Would you like to participate? I could use some support. I’ll post about how it’s going and let you know the challenges we’ve faced.

Never miss a deal from Saving The Family Money
Follow on Facebook, Twitter and get the free Newsletter

{ 4 comments }

Eating from the Pantry – Help me!

Ok guys I need your help. My eating from the pantry challenge has gone really great so far this month. We are on the home stretch and this is the only meat we have left: 6 eggs 1 lb pork sausage And lots of CHICKEN NUGGETS Typically the kids are the only ones that eat [...]

Read the full article →

Eating From the Pantry Challenge – Update Week 3

Our Eating from the Pantry challenge is still going on. Although I credit that to me being out of town this weekend (one less mouth to feed) and my 8 year old having a stomach bug for 2 days. He’s a growing boy and eats a lot, but for 2 days he only had a [...]

Read the full article →

Eating from the Pantry Challenge – Week 2 Update

Ok, the fact that I can actually post about week 2, is success enough for me AND we still have food! Our Eating from the Pantry challenge is going better than I had expected. I did go to Target this week and take advantage of their gift card offer on the Weight Watchers meals. I [...]

Read the full article →

Eating From the Pantry challenge – Update Week 1

I thought I’d post an update on our Eating from the Pantry challenge. It’s week 1 and I’m getting a lot of slack from the Hubby. We’re trying to get back on our healthy eating track as well. I just have to ‘remind’ him what we currently have that he can eat. Yogurt, salad, turkey [...]

Read the full article →

Eating From the Pantry Challenge

Earlier in the week I was reading Crystal’s post over at Money Saving Mom about her Eat from the Pantry Challenge for the month of January. I read through it the first time and thought, “that would never work for us.” My kids are picky eaters and if they could eat waffles every morning they [...]

Read the full article →