Need some support and encouragement.

[Emma-Lou]

I've started a challenge. It's called the "eat at home" challenge, well that's what I'm calling it.

Here's the gist.
In order to save money, lessen wastage, improve health and with any luck,lose weight, we as a family are forgoing takeaway in exchange for home cooked food.
The rules are thus.
Do grocery shopping and use a list.
Menu plan for a month
All food must be purchased from a supermarket/costco or the butcher.
Food must be cooked in our house.
If going out to dinner, restaurant must have seating, use non plastic cutlery and have vegetables as an option and only once a month.

So far, so good. We've stocked the fridge and freezers and I've made pies and meals I can reheat after footy and take to games.

Let see what happens.

[MadCow]

Ooh, oooh, ooh - working on some products for this (and more) very thing (and very things!)

Dunno how long they're gonna take, but do you wanna be my gineau pig?

You're just a bit too quick for me - damn it!

As for support and encouragement- you got it!!! Tell us what you need. You're doing great so far!

[Emma-Lou]

sure why not...

[chrystal]

I try to follow this most weeks. Set out what meals I want for the week, shop to cater to that and then stick to it. I allow friday nights for takeaway, and I usually sneak in a lunch or 2 depending on how the food situation is at home. I usually use leftovers from dinner for lunch at work.

What I also find helps is I can budget the meals better. If I left DH to the shopping he'd buy all steaks and chops, which cost a fortune. When I set it out I can allow for more budget concsious (is that spelt right, it took 3 or 4 tries) meals as well, write a list and get DH to shop accordingly (most of the time).

I bake the kids cakes or muffins and freeze. I also get on a roll and make and freeze meals ahead as well when I get some free time. DH was asking for stuff for the kids after school. When I told him what gets tossed everyday, he now makes them eat anything left over in their lunchbox before they get anything else for afternoon tea. So that should help with cost cutting also.

We also grow what we eat heaps of which saves money. Lettuce and beans are my 2 main crops with the least pest problems. We have a patch that always has sweet potato on the go. Usually have capsicum happening too. And a whole mass of herbs. To buy fresh herbs is just ridiculous.

[wwc_1980]

Great challange!! Can be tricky, particularly when not used to it, but it is very much achievable. And there are some meals that are so bloody quick to prepare. or invest in a crock pot if you haven't already and set something up in the morning so you don't have to stuff around with cooking in the evening.

I cook almost every meal from scratch due to my allergies, sometimes the boys get takeout but I'll still cook a meal for myself, so I can provide ideas if you're interested.

[MadCow]

Oh, a rice cooker is something that I swear by, too!

[chocmuffin]

Support and encouragement aplenty here...and a bit of copy-catting as well. I have been making progress on exactly this issue but have recently lapsed back to where I don't want to be (although still off the softdrink so bonus there). I always do a weekly menu plan, but have not made sticking to it enough of a priority. I also struggle with taking lunch on my uni days but really dislike the muck they sell there Just not enough I suppose. Good luck with it all, send any time management ideas and recipes this way so i can break out of the rut I am in too.

[Brunadette]

support from me here too xo

[Supa]

Once you start it becomes a habit & you will be doing great. I do this as where we lilve the only takeaway is the local roadhouse. Tue night is our 'slap up' night as the kids have caadets & dont get home till after 8 so it either hamburgers or spag bol. But I still make my own hamburgers. We only have takeout when we go to town which isnt very often

[Emma-Lou]

so far so good.
Usually on thursday nights, I would have dinner with the footy boys at the club. Instead I came home and ate the dinner I'd put in the freezer.

Today I was invited out to lunch, instead I invited them to lunch. They weren't too keen on this idea but that's ok.

Little miss and I are making honey joys and yoyo biscuites this afternoon.