First question - how do I account for my Lipton tea and the sugar I use? Looked up the cost of Lipton Tea online and I see it costs about $.05 per bag. Sugar is a condiment and condiments (according to the Challenge guidelines) don't count. All right, I can add in $.50 for the tea that I will drink this week. Now I have $6.00 left for the week.
I habitually grab a glass of orange juice that is sitting on the counter and take a sip with my morning pills. I will have to be more conscious about things like that if this is really going to mean something.
Great, I'm a few hours in and have already cheated. But its ok - I will get back on board.
I have a busy day and will not make it home until dinner. I better make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take with me. I instinctively go to grab a diet coke to pack with it and remember to put it back down. I make sure I have my water bottle full and head out the door.
After religious school, I am heading to a brunch for new members of the synagogue. That is likely to be a danger point - I eat my sandwich on the way, even though it is earlier then I would have wanted. I take some plain coffee at the brunch and look longingly at the fresh fruit platter, not to mention the bagels and lox. But I am determined and I'm not there for very long, so I'm ok.
I head off to my son's flag football game - no danger points here, until the end when he hands me his half finished bag of chips. I crumple the bag to avoid the temptation. Stop by my in-laws, avoid the m&m jar, and then off to my other son's soccer game. Friends are going out for dinner afterwards - I take a pass. I bring the kids back to my in-laws, where they will stay for the night. They eat burritos and quesadillas. My resistance wears on me and I eat 2-3 tortilla chips. Cheat #2, but still on track. I drink a lot of water - it really does help instead of eating.
I head home and make my kasha varnishkas (buckwheat and pasta) - a good mix of protein and carbohydrates, very simple, filling. What's legitimate as a condiment? The salt and pepper are clearly okay. What about the 2 tablespoons of margarine? 2 tablespoons of soup bullion? I should probably count it as another $0.50. Only $5.50 left.
I'm quite hungry and eat over half of what I made (1 cup of buckwheat with 12 ounces of pasta) in one sitting. I was hoping this would make at least 3 dinners. I still have another box of pasta and half a box of the buckwheat uncooked, so with leftovers from tonight, I should be able to have this for dinner for four nights. That will mean making a lentil soup and rice and beans for the other 3 dinners. Not a lot of variety, but seems doable.
While the lack of vegetables hasn't bothered me, I really miss having the handful of grapes or other fruit as a snack. Late at night, home alone and getting hungry. I have a spoonful of peanut butter, but then see the kids Halloween candy. How much could a single bite-sized Snickers really cost? And one "fun packet" of M & Ms? Ok, I've slipped, but I'm not going to fall. After the two transgressions, I close the pantry and grab a glass of water. Yes, water is definitely going to be my friend this week.
Off to bed.
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