Yesterday was day 23 of the June Food Stamp Challenge, and was a hard day for me. Not only was I still very sick with my seasonably inappropriate crud, but it was my father’s 75th birthday. I wanted very much to not miss the festivities, so I hoarded my energy and lay around all day. Luckily, my step-mother offered to host the get together, so I didn’t have to worry about the state of my house, which is starting to resemble a horrifying cautionary tale.
I did make it to the grocery store though, so I’m back on track with the Food Stamp Challenge. My first clue that shopping was needed was my husband coming into my sick room saying that:
“Katy, this food stamp challenge has got to stop, we have no food!”
To which I retorted:
“Honey, you do know that we’re still allowed to buy food.”
Poor guy. I think he’s starting to live in fear of my Non-Consumer Advocate challenges.
So off to Safeway I did go. However, I was still extremely spacey and brought my 12-year-old son with me. And as I have mentioned in previous posts, I am putty in his grubby little hands. This means that I bought some extremely bizarre and atypical groceries, even for a non-Food Stamp Challenge trip.
- Keebler peanut butter cookies
- Tortilla chips
- Marshmallows
- Pocky sticks
- Cream cheese
- String cheese
- Orange juice concentrate
- Yogurt
- Bread
- Ground turkey
- Chicken breasts
- Grapes
- Lettuce
- Deli ham
- A pound of Jo-jo’s!
Seriously. It’s a wonder that I was able to make it there and back in one piece!
The grand total was $42.13, which has been added to my running total. (I still need to figure out what I spent on food while I was up in Seattle visiting my sister’s family.)
I did make turkey meatloaves for dinner tonight, which were heavy on the breadcrumbs, which actually how I like it. I deliberately made extra, as I am a strong believer that leftover meatloaf is one of the best sandwich fixin’s known to man.
I cooked black beans in the slow cooker today to make black bean burgers for tomorrow, and am grateful to my step-mother for feeding grilled salmon to my brood last night. I was very happy for my father turning 75, but I was almost happier that someone else was cooking.
I should have my decision making privileges revoked until the virus loosens its hold.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
P.S. Those peanut butter cookies should be stocked behind the pharmacy, they were gooooood!
P.P.S. I’m feeling much better now. Still not back to normal, but I think I can be trusted with ordinary decision making.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I started off the challenge sick and in my feverish state made some unwise decisions, the worst of which was letting my husband go shopping.
I’m glad you’re feeling a little better but keep working on that. I hope I speak for your readership when I say that you should focus on getting better, even to the exculsion of keeping your blog updated.
I agree with WilliamB. Feel better soon!
I hope you’re feeling better soon. Haven’t you been sick a couple of times in the past year? I suggest you check out natural ways of boosting your immunity, like cutting out sugar and getting more vitamin D. It seems to work for me–I’ve only had one mild cold in the last 5 years and I can’t remember ever having the flu (and I’m 55).
If my vitamin D levels are low, I’m sure to be in good company, as Oregon has had record rain this year. And that’s a state that’s already a tad on the moist side. 😉
-Katy
I haven’t wanted to sound like a proselytizer, so I try not to mention my love for macrobiotics, but it truly is a wonderful path for health. But getting off whites (sugar, flour, rice, etc) I know can be a challenge – but anything you do to decrease the empty foods and increase the nutritious ones (beans, grains, veggies) will help. But if you ever want to know more, there’s loads of info on the net and I would be more than happy to answer whatever I could. Macrobiotics is NOT one diet for all, but a way of looking at everything that influences our lives and seeking balance, mainly through food, but lots of other ways as well.
So, what did you end up getting for your son and dad for birthday gifts? I remember you mentioning you gave away the guitar gift idea. Get better soon.