Day 43 - Can I get some fries with that protein shake?

I looked again at Nutrisystem because of the whole 50% off thing.  Did you know that you only get the "entree" at each meal?  You don't get sides of any sort.  If you click on an item and read the info about it, it will say something like: "Serve with a whole-grain roll" or "enjoy with a green vegetable".  Really?  I'm paying you how much and you're giving me nothing but a plain chicken breast that I have to cook and do everything else for?  Why don't I just skip you and make my own chicken breast at home?

So, that's what I'm going to do.  No, I'm not going to make a chicken breast for every meal.  I would feel bad for all those chickens who can't put on a strapless prom dress...

I'm going to make my food.

Okay, so you're thinking...uh, duh?  Stop rolling your eyes for a moment, you may hurt yourself, and listen: I am going to sit down and plan out a menu for my meals for the next week.  I'm going to do that once a week, every week.  If I have the meals planned out and ensure that I have the ingredients to make the healthy meals, I won't end up doing an "Oh crap, I'm hungry and need something NOW."  Yes, I do that.  I probably only plan out my meals 1-2 times a week.  No kidding.

A friend of mine once told me she does this and I thought to myself: what a hassle.  I am now seeing the lack of foresight in that assessment.

I can make meals as healthy or healthier than Nutrisystem.  I can have lean proteins and healthy sides on hand.  I can prepare my lunches like I did the other day before school.  And all of this means I will spend less, actually.

Right now, I eat on the fly.  I don't have a lot of time each day so I do a lot of grab and go.  Sometimes, that involves stopping at a grocery store and getting a salad or sushi, but always involves spending more than $10 on lunch.  Granted, I'm not going to make my own sushi.  That will have to remain at the hands of the nice lady behind the counter at Harris Teeter who always smiles and greets me when I begin to drool over the trays in the display case.  I'm always waiting for her to offer me a cup.

If I plan out meals enough to have pre-made grab-and-go, I will save money.  I don't even have to have everything made ahead of time as long as I have a menu set and the items available.  I feel like I need to slap myself in the forehead or do a Homer Simpson impersonation. Doh!

Also, I am still looking for someplace local that sells the Pamela gluten-free items.  I've found NO PLACE that sells GF breads, so I need some box/bag mixes that actually work.  I do plan to do a few experiments this weekend with GF bread/cooking.  I'm hoping to take one normal recipe and make it with at least 3 different types of flour so I can figure the moisture/rise of each one to better determine where each one should be used.  I.E. rice flour for bread, coconut flour for cookies....something like that.

So, let me put up my wanted posters....

REWARD: My gratitude. ;)