peanut sat on a railroad track...

More than a year ago, I purchased a value pack of Omaha Steaks, (1) because it was on a major discount and (2) because there was chicken involved. 


Well, my friends, the chicken is long gone, and the steaks have been unleashed on my groceryless home. Considering I’ve had red meat maybe four times in the last year, and the steaks were wrapped in bacon (ick!) this scenario could be slightly alarming. But, I thawed them just enough to unpeel the bacon, cooked them with some olive oil, and voila! My first time making a steak was a success! Grocery-free has its benefits! 


Overall, it was pretty challenging making it through the weekend, especially because my green beans, cottage cheese and almonds are all gone, but I got a little creative and am feeling good about my nearing-bare cabinets. 

I will confess that I had one misstep Sunday, as I had to (had to!) buy peanut butter. I didn't have any breakfast items and I knew I would end up buying it at work every morning - so buying a jar of PB was actually more economically sound. Maaaybe I'm rationalizing here, but when brekky time rolled around this morning, I knew it was the right decision. 

And so begins the fridge challenge...

When my mom visited me in April, we were thrilled to discover  the new Publix Greenwise was opening in my apartment complex the same weekend. 

While we didn't technically plan the two to coincide, you may as well have thought we did based on our grand opening attendance. We ran around the store like kids on Christmas morning - checking the superb aisle organization, oohing and aahing at the product selection and interviewing the employees: "are you excited?" "do you think the people at Kroger are sad?" "what's your favorite sample?"

We love a good grocery store.

However, combine that with my love of fresh produce, and you've got an astronomical grocery bill.

Inspired by Shape's One Month No Grocery Challenge and the fact that I'm moving at the end of the month (more on that later), I'm abstaining from going to the grocery store for the rest of the month.

It's going to be a serious (majorly serious) challenge, seeing as I'm currently chickenless in this house. However, I'm relatively stocked up on vegetables - both frozen and fresh. It will just force me to eat more strategically and be less flippant about expiring spinach. No doubt I'll be nomming on soup by Jan. 31, but I'm hoping I'll actually clean out the cabinets, save money and avoid lugging cans of beans to my new place.

Wish me luck!

PS I only wish I had so many peppers as there are in that stocked fridge above! Yummers!

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