Pixabay (2006), CC0 Public Domain[/caption]
My Sunday goes something like this:
Church at 8:30AM. Coffee and donuts. Let the kids run circles (see previous event). Go home and remove heels. Make the menu & grocery list for the week. Head to the store. Realize I didn’t check the pantry or fridge drawers for at least 3 items on my list. Inevitably, when we get home and unload our groceries I think, “We have so much food! Why did I just buy more?"
So I issued my husband and myself a challenge. I suggested that for one week of the month, we don’t go to the store. We use just what we have in the freezer, fridge(s) and pantry to eat all three meals and pack the kids’ lunch, all week long. I envisioned a couple decent fixes, but I’m pretty sure we’d have to resort to PB&Js at least once.
He shot my idea down and suggested instead that we try to do it one day per week, instead of for one solid week at a time. I’m sure a lot of you already try to do this with a leftover night or a shop-in-the-pantry night. For some reason I just really liked the idea of not shopping at all one week. I know we’d save money if we did pantry shopping on just one day, but what if every month we could make it by only prep shopping for three out of four weeks?
As we tiptoe closer to the Lenten season, what do you think about trying this out in your home?
We have so much to gain:
Less food waste - no more thrown out moldy green beans, or is that just me?
Lower grocery bills - and yes, especially during Lent you can turn that savings into giving!
More organized food storage - that old can of cream-of-something soup will finally get used!
More resourceful recipes - you’ll be like the Pioneer Woman, but … different
Take back your weekend - you'd be able to dedicate that shopping time to something better: a nap perhaps?
An excuse to eat PB&Js or a block of cheese for dinner - as if you really need an excuse
And it’s a great way to get the family involved. The kids can creatively scrounge for their lunch food and help make dinner recipes. Not every meal during your sacrifice week or day will be delicious, and that’s ok. And look at it this way, if you’re down to chicken broth, radishes and a can of tuna, maybe you’ll discover the fruits of fasting!
Copyright 2018 Abby Brundage Watts
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