Tag Archives: budget

Goals for 2013: life style challenge

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I decided that I would follow others in sharing my goals for 2013. I wanted to do this in two separate entries; one for my life style goals and one for my crafting/activities etc.

Reflecting back, 2012 was a difficult year. I was sick with a chronic sinus issue from February to December. It’s amazing the side effects of what you think is just a small thing – I had constant low-grade fevers, lack of energy and concentration, sleep issues, mood swings and side effects to medication. Finally, after 7 rounds of antibiotics, 2 doctors and a ENT specialist, surgery in September, we finally found it was all caused by a strep infection under/within a single papilloma granuloma in my left nostril. Apparently, it was an unusual situation; when it all cleared and healed I had the whole ENT nurse and doctor staff congratulate me on being better – nothing like being told you are unique ;-).

While recovering from surgery, in September, I started investigating things that I could try to change in my life style, to possibly help my situation. I found Dr. Fuhrman’s “Eat to Live” book fascinating. I did make some small life style changes at that point, not to lose weight – just to see if I can feel better and create a better immune system.

I would like to take that further for 2013. My goals for my life style challenge are:

  • I am going to do a 6 week challenge using Dr Fuhrman moderate eat to live plan. At 6 weeks, I will assess and see if I make changes.
  • Keep to our weekly budget for food. My husband and I take $200 out in cash every week, $70 is allocated to food, the rest to incidentals/general expenses (does not include the mortgage).
  • Stay accountable by creating a new category in my blog for “Life style challenge”, and posting our meal plan for breakfast/dinners for each week, with recipes where possible. We typically plan our meals and go shopping on Saturday, that is when I will post.
  • Exercise 3 times a week (minimum) – I enjoyed doing the Firm express early last year, which I think is where I will start. Right now I just have to start.
  • Re-commit to reducing our TV watching to 8 hours a week.
  • Go to bed before 11pm, to get 8 hours of sleep.
  • As last year was our first year with a vegetable garden I want to continue that by planning and planting my summer vegetable garden.

Meals on a Budget: Roast Chicken into 10 meals

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We try to live of $70 (USD) a week on food for two adults and one child (5 years old). We do this by pre-planning the meals to make sure things get used in multiple ways through the week. Below, is how we got 1 full main course, 3 light dinners, 6 lunches and a core pantry ingredient from one meal – Roast Chicken.

Starting with a main course

Last week, I made a roast chicken (whole chicken) with roast potatoes, sweet potatoes and green beans for dinner.

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From the left overs

I boxed up two lunch-size portions of the meal above
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From the left over potatoes/sweet potatoes we made a light dinner of Bratkartoffeln (Recipe in previous blog).

There was significant amount of chicken meat left over which went towards 3 x Chicken Sandwiches and a Chicken Vegetable Pie.
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Finally, I used the chicken carcass to make chicken stock (broth) which I separated into two batches – 1 batch I froze into large Chicken Stock Cubes and the other I placed in a jar and put in the fridge to use during the week in things like casseroles, stews or chicken noodle soup.

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I will continue to share “now” and “later” meals and weekly menu’s throughout December. Feel free to add suggestions or let me know if you have any questions.