Eat much? Why YES, I DO!

There is something you need to know about me... I am a hearty eater...I've been known to eat as much, if not more than my male counterparts...I eat big portions and snack often... I love food and enjoy every bite...so the no-snacking on cookies (Pat Dolan's chocolate chip cookies *hint hint*), almonds, cherub tomatoes, blueberries, and fancy pants yogurts and granola is killing me.....No kidding...Day 1 concluded and I am already more humble for it...

The Challenge has stirred up lots of great conversation with strangers, co-workers and friends on Facebook....many folks have great ideas and are so willing to contribute how their family survived on limited income...like marriage and pregnancy advice, people offer so freely, great insight folks...but I'm still starving...

So, I hadn't purchased my food items for the week until noon yesterday, but I started my day with three eggs,  I found myself working through lunch and starving (because of my poor planning)...that's when my neighbor, Maya rescued me with trail mix. Thank you, Maya. 

Yesterday, before I hit up Fiesta, I was getting some dental work at our Montrose Campus, (BTW, the Legacy Mobile Dental unit just might be cooler than all of those hipster food trucks running around) not to mention the quality work and stellar treatment the staff provides...excuse the plug but Debbie and Crew are awesome!

Back to my story...So I started chatting about the Challenge in the mobile unit and the patient next to me vibrantly chimed in and encouraged me to buy a whole chicken, cut it up, and eat for a week. She also added that the chicken joints, make for excellent seasoning, something about them are extra tasty, and that her mother would make chicken soup, add celery, carrots and onions with them...and so on. I started adding up prices in my head and thought, ya, I can't afford all the extras, like celery and carrots...My mind set was already changing: no frills, keep it simple and economical. This change in my thinking was monumental for me. Never before had I thought so much about how every penny would be spent at the grocery store! I never had to. I should have. I just didn't.

All this self talk, before I even stepped foot in the store, so when I finally made it in, I had a clear plan as to what I would purchase. As soon as I arrived, I started noticing sale items and went straight for them..When it came time to purchase my whole chicken, well, I was grossed out. As I reached to pick it up, there was blood on the package and, I just couldn't do it. So, I sold out and purchased the most economical pre-cut pack. And I'm already thinking this was a poor choice. After I boiled my chicken, the pieces seemed to have shriveled up so much that my body already began protesting..."What? "That's it?" "That's all I will be eating?" There's no way that's gonna work!" And so on, that was my conversation with self and the ridiculously small chicken portions I had to eat for the week. Sigh. 



 My dinner was mediocre at best. I totally messed up the special sauce Delmy at Fiesta taught me about..I was to blend a tomato, onions, garlic, chicken broth, and Crema Salvadorena, it's the most similar to Costa Rican natilla, which is hard to find here. Crema Salvadorena "La Vaca Feliz" brand, is a rich full flavored grade A sour cream with a tang, and erases the bland in anything. It's a dollop of joy. (May not sound so delish from my brief description, but if you would like to taste it, I will personally bring you some). Well, I added too much broth, and my sauce was a wee bit watered down. Or similar to an Indian curry. There, I will put an exotic and ethnic swing to it, in order to feel better, sounds cooler at least.  Either way, I ate it gladly.





The one thing $20 a week does not give you room for (when making healthy food choices)  is satisfying that sweet tooth you may have...I just spoke with Januari about the sweet-tooth dilemma, and she, of course, made oatmeal cookies, for the week. Super mom.  I became immediately jel. And gave her the puppy eyes, that failed miserably, as her next line was: "No, I'm not sharing, I only brought two. One to snack on and the second one, for my ride home." Well, who opened the doors to the Great Depression in here??? I was about to barter for some cookies, but decided I would bite the bullet and ride without the cookies for the week. Ride or die. Caution: May be more grumpy than usual.

Being the big breakfast girl that I am... My Mama and Costa Rican fam would be so proud of my breakfast this morning, typical gallo pinto and cilantro, we add cilantro to everything, it's amazing, and the indigenous peeps used it as an antibiotic, it's seriously that healthy for you. A natural and tasty antibiotic.

 

And my obsession with tomatoes. Must. Have. Tomatoes. Daily.

Back to work, and seriously contemplating making a "WILL WORK FOR FOOD SIGN" today. With just one orange to snack on...it's gonna be a long day...