Simplicity: Eating at Home

So it struck me last week when we decided to do a DQ run that it costs my family $18 to go to DQ!  If I take my kids to, horror of horrors, McDonalds it is $15- minimum and that is with me getting nothing. (not that I need it!) So while we're all trying to tighten our belts up a bit, I realized the best way (and generally the healthiest way) is to eat at home.  Now when we were younger and the kids were younger we ate out a bit more - we'd be pooped or have a taste for something and out we went.  As we expanded our family, it became less of a habit and now - we'll its just a couple times a month at most and one of those is pizza take out or Ryan and I on a date.  

My Yia yia was a great cook - she was a true Greek woman - feeding the masses at a moments notice.  I think about how back when she was a young mom you didn't have fast food, take out, big box grocers or heat and eat meals.  I try to think about that - women at that time truly spent their WHOLE day in the kitchen.  I try to keep that in mind when I feel like I'm spending most of my day in MY own kitchen.  It got me thinking though - you cooked EVERYTHING from scratch - no boxed noodles, nothing!  It was a better time, a healthier time.  I mean you could still be eating fried chicken, but people didn't get it from KFC, it was homemade, people just didn't eat the quantity of food that they do now.  While I want to embrace the everything from scratch lifestyle - I think I may still buy boxes of rice pilaf and couscous  and steam-in-bag veggies for a quick lunch.  

My new goal is to strike eating out from our budget, not entirely, but maybe once a month.  I enjoy cooking and I realize to cook more, means doing other things less - it is a sacrifice I think it is worth making.  I love making homemade dough - we make homemade pizza every Friday or Saturday night.  It has become our family tradition - I use my great-grandmother's Sicilian pizza bread recipe - and damn it if it doesn't turn out awesome EVERY time.  I also realized that as much as I love DQ, it is an expense that is totally unnecessary.  My dad bought for us a few years ago a malt maker - I think it was a guilt purchase because growing up we always had one that was from my grandfather's bowling alley. It was a professional grade and it was such a treat to have dad make us malts. Dad decided to give the original to Steve and I have the newer model.   My kids love when we make malts - so why the hell should I spend $20 at DQ when I can spend $5 on supplies and make malts for at least two weeks?  It's the simple things that I think stick with us and I want that for my kids.  

I've always been pretty organized with my grocery shopping and meal planning - I just can't wing it - I can wing it when it comes to cooking, but I need supplies. I also have been embracing the shopping style of "perimeter" shopping - it isn't rocket science, but shopping the perimeter of the store will generally provide you with the healthiest, freshest options.  It helps you stay away from all those preservatives (I can't give up goldfish though - sorry!) and God forbid HFC!  It can get expensive if you don't watch it - which is why buying some frozen fruit and veggies can save you a bit, not to mention keeping longer than fresh.  

This spring I plan to finally join the local produce co-op and focus on in season veggies and fruits - not to mention expanding my own garden (another post!) and I've recently gotten in touch with an old co-worker and his wife and they own chickens!!! So I will be buying my farm fresh eggs from them - for much less than the grocer -and not to mention far fresher and healthier than their store counterparts.  I also am going to start making bread - I had a neighbor in my old neighborhood that made homemade bread everyday - it was AMAZING.  Oh do I miss it!  So I am going to start making bread, once a week - that's my goal - it isn't hard and it's cheap as can be, far cheaper than the loaves at the store!  

As far as snacks in our home, that was a purge I did long ago - my kids get smooshed fruit  instead of fruit roll ups, there are tons of healthy chip/cracker/cookie options - and fruit - well, my kids love fruit, so I've done something right. If I am lucky enough to have to take them to the grocery store (yes, that is in my most sarcastic tone) then I let them pick out some fruit or veggie that we've never had - we picked up yellow carrots our last trip to Whole Foods - I was nervous I will admit, but they DO taste just like their orange brotheren.  We also have always done water or milk as our drink options in the house.  That isn't to say that my kids don't get the occasional lemonade in the summer or a glass of soda with pizza on a Friday night, but it's milk or water in this house and I am happy to report that my kids actually like water.  Really, I swear!  So I hope that by providing these healthy choices to them, but not being a nazi when it comes to the occasional less than healthy option that comes their way, that I set a good foundation.  Balance - I like to make sure that my kids know their are other options, that you can have them once and a while, but generally you need to eat good to keep your body from head to toe.  So far so good!

Thanks for checking in - I am amazed at how interested people have been - really.  I promise I DO have Penny Pickles stuff coming soon.  I just finished my first jumper last night, I have a second one to start, but is cut out (a baby one no less-yikes!) and I have a multi-tile name that I am about to start!  So we're busy as can be here at Penny Pickles, which is why this morning came a bit earlier than I expected and I've had a very S-L-O-W day. I hope everyone has a great week - I think next up will be home organization - since I'm in the midst of redoing much of mine!

Take care!