wow, it's been a long time since I posted here. I've been lurking at the lounge and a bit at the religious forum. I've kept to plan really well, though...out of necessity.
I've been thinking about simplicity. Because of financial circumstances becoming tighter, I've had to reduce my daily eating to some very simple choices. I haven't been able to afford munchy treats, so I haven't been munching. My meals have been honed down to
B: steel cut oatmeal (just finished off a big batch of punkin pie oatmeal)
L: rice and vegs or beans
D: rice and vegs or beans
This has been my daily menu for three weeks.
I haven't had fresh fruit in the house, so no snacking and I already mentioned, no munching of munchies because I'm broke. Been eating up the canned goods and grains I've had on hand in my house.
There is a passage in Philippians that says
for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.It is humbling to be so broke. It isn't bad, but it does make me different from many people. I don't shop for clothes very often. Only when I or my kids need clothing, and then ONLY at thrift stores.
My food stores become depleted at times like this and it is humbling to open my fridge and see empty shelves and in the food cupboards, scattered individual cans and jars instead of a stock of items lined up and filling the space. It makes me think with gratitude upon God's amazing provision that enables me to eat for weeks, without going to the grocery store. (I only spent $75 on food for all of June)
Of necessity, my eating has been very simple for the whole month. It should continue thus in July, though I now have a dozen bags of spring greens and lots of strawberries and some bananas (the discount store was loaded yesterday, and I got a LOT of groceries for about $50.00) Including 30# of potatoes for a little over $3.00
![smile :)](./images/smilies/smile.gif)
anyway. I've been content to eat just my oatmeal and rice and beans. The meals I've prepared out of the abundance in my own house have been simple and sustaining. I haven't needed more. it's been good.
Now there's some treats, though! Some fresh fruit. I found a caramel dipping sauce for .50c and bought two. *please don't flame me. I wanted to reward my kids for their patience in this time of scarcity* *that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it
![laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/lol.gif)
*
After dinner (stir fry YUM!) I had a bowlful of sliced bananas and strawberries and "because i owed it to myself" I put a TBSP of that dipping sauce on it.
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
...I owed it to myself?
![disgusted :\](./images/smilies/disgust.gif)
See how fast the "humility" and "simplicity" drop away?
Oh, I forgot to mention, that in the past three weeks, I've lost three lbs. I know that eating so simply, and pretty monotonously, and making myself "be content in whatever situation I am" (that is: can't afford "treats" so not EATING any "treats") has made a huge difference. But yesterday was payday and I "treated" myself.
![frown :(](./images/smilies/frown.gif)
I'll probably ditch the dipping sauce, if the kids turn out not to like it. It's the only thing I bought that is off plan.
BUT I will say, thinking this through has changed my mind about what kinds of things I will be buying at Winco (I had thought it would be fun to have a trail mix or other "treat") but now I'm realizing that I need to keep my eating humble and simple, even if I have had a payday! ...I'm thankful for the spring green mix that fills my fridge, and the strawberries are amazing! I'll use those and my kids will enjoy them, too.
Now, instead of any kind of "treat", the plan is to restock some of the things we had to consume in June. Even if I have an overflowing food budget and can afford all kinds of things and stuff my fridge and my cupboards until they bulge...I don't HAVE TO do that. I can still choose simplicity, EVEN IF I have sackfuls of money. Which I don't, btw.
The main difference in my eating pattern now will be that I can once again add greens to my meals, and I'll probably make potatoes my mainstay starch in July, where rice and oats have been that in June.
Keep it simple. Keep it humble. Be content.
TODAY'S PLAN:
B: punkin pie steel cut oats w/blueberries on top
L: rice w/stir fry vegs; tossed green salad; 321 dressing
D: baked potatoes with baba ganoush; saute'd green cabbage; tossed green salad; fresh tomato dressing
Snack: apple? banana? strawberries?
![big grin :D](./images/smilies/biggrin.gif)