Comments on: Results of the Eat From the Pantry/Freezer Challenge http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/29/results-of-the-eat-from-the-pantryfreezer-challenge/ Creating a Wonderful Life with the Apples of My Eye Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Saving Money at the Grocery Store Without Using Coupons | The Picky Apple http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/29/results-of-the-eat-from-the-pantryfreezer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-13083 Saving Money at the Grocery Store Without Using Coupons | The Picky Apple Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:44:36 +0000 http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/?p=1996#comment-13083 [...] received a few questions about how I was able to reduce our grocery bill by $200 in the month of January (and February!).  I’m by no means an expert on this topic, but I do have a few thoughts to [...] [...] received a few questions about how I was able to reduce our grocery bill by $200 in the month of January (and February!).  I’m by no means an expert on this topic, but I do have a few thoughts to [...]

]]> By: cara http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/29/results-of-the-eat-from-the-pantryfreezer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-12284 cara Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:20:10 +0000 http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/?p=1996#comment-12284 wndy26-Thanks for sharing those excellent tips! I'm planning on doing a post soon about how I save money at the grocery store without using coupons. Stay tuned. wndy26-Thanks for sharing those excellent tips! I’m planning on doing a post soon about how I save money at the grocery store without using coupons. Stay tuned.

]]> By: Menu Plan Monday, February 1 | The Picky Apple http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/29/results-of-the-eat-from-the-pantryfreezer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-12283 Menu Plan Monday, February 1 | The Picky Apple Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:07:37 +0000 http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/?p=1996#comment-12283 [...] new month, a new grocery budget!  I’m continuing last month’s Eat From the Freezer/Pantry Challenge, but you sure couldn’t tell from my grocery list today which was very long indeed.  The new [...] [...] new month, a new grocery budget!  I’m continuing last month’s Eat From the Freezer/Pantry Challenge, but you sure couldn’t tell from my grocery list today which was very long indeed.  The new [...]

]]> By: DIane Schmidt http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/29/results-of-the-eat-from-the-pantryfreezer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-12264 DIane Schmidt Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:50:40 +0000 http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/?p=1996#comment-12264 Hi Cara, I couldn't reply to you comment on my blog...if you want to make it easier for people to contact you change so it doesn't say no-reply (in blogger) and then when I popped over here, I can't find an email address :) The jars I put the labels on are from walmart just under $7 each. Hi Cara,
I couldn’t reply to you comment on my blog…if you want to make it easier for people to contact you change so it doesn’t say no-reply (in blogger) and then when I popped over here, I can’t find an email address :)
The jars I put the labels on are from walmart just under $7 each.

]]> By: Mari-Ann http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/29/results-of-the-eat-from-the-pantryfreezer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-12254 Mari-Ann Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:05:31 +0000 http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/?p=1996#comment-12254 Well I'm glad to hear the LA didn't get TOO upset. :( Poor sight.... hope everything comes back ok. And WAY TO GO on the grocery savings! You're a superstar! :) Well I’m glad to hear the LA didn’t get TOO upset. :( Poor sight…. hope everything comes back ok.
And WAY TO GO on the grocery savings! You’re a superstar! :)

]]> By: Courtney http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/29/results-of-the-eat-from-the-pantryfreezer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-12238 Courtney Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:18:55 +0000 http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/?p=1996#comment-12238 Hi Cara, You had left a comment on my blog and I followed your link here. I had a gastric emptying study of my own done this week. For as bad as the situation is, I'm glad you wrote about white blob. In a weird kind of way it's cool to see someone else writing about radioactive material and gastric emptying studies. Here's hoping for positive results :) Hi Cara,

You had left a comment on my blog and I followed your link here. I had a gastric emptying study of my own done this week. For as bad as the situation is, I’m glad you wrote about white blob. In a weird kind of way it’s cool to see someone else writing about radioactive material and gastric emptying studies. Here’s hoping for positive results :)

]]> By: wndy26 http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/29/results-of-the-eat-from-the-pantryfreezer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-12235 wndy26 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:43:03 +0000 http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/?p=1996#comment-12235 Good to hear about the study going much better than the time before. I do hope the test results are on the positive side as well. I haven't ever done a pantry/freezer challenge for a full month - way to go on completing it! I don't think we have ever had our freezer or pantry that full. :D Finding ways to cut the food budget aren't as tough as I thought it would be though, my biggest challenge is sticking to our weekly meal plan. This week we strayed from the meal plan when I failed to get my night-before cooking done because I was exhausted and sleepy from working 10 hours. I learned that you have to be somewhat flexible with a meal plan... For courtney - do a web search on "mix recipes" to find a way to cut convenience foods down - this will save a ton of money by itself. I found a recipe for white sauce which I could prepare in bulk and store in the fridge so no more packets of white gravy or canned/jarred alfredo sauce need to be bought. Also, there are some great cream soup mix recipes out there too....you can easily cut out all of the Campbell's cream soups (if you use those) and make any variety you want from one base recipe. We also cut out soda pop and started drinking tea and kool-aid and/or water. If you have a Gerbes or Kroger store, they have manager specials on meats that you can pick up really cheaply, just be sure to freeze any packages your not cooking right away as they have a shorter shelf life as they aren't as fresh. I don't know your money situation, but if things get really tight don't be afraid to visit your local food pantry/ USDA food bank as that food is subsidized in part by your tax dollars that you pay every payday... our pantry here does not consider income and only asks for physical address and social security numbers of all in the home. It's there if you need it. Good to hear about the study going much better than the time before. I do hope the test results are on the positive side as well.

I haven’t ever done a pantry/freezer challenge for a full month – way to go on completing it! I don’t think we have ever had our freezer or pantry that full. :D

Finding ways to cut the food budget aren’t as tough as I thought it would be though, my biggest challenge is sticking to our weekly meal plan. This week we strayed from the meal plan when I failed to get my night-before cooking done because I was exhausted and sleepy from working 10 hours. I learned that you have to be somewhat flexible with a meal plan…

For courtney – do a web search on “mix recipes” to find a way to cut convenience foods down – this will save a ton of money by itself. I found a recipe for white sauce which I could prepare in bulk and store in the fridge so no more packets of white gravy or canned/jarred alfredo sauce need to be bought. Also, there are some great cream soup mix recipes out there too….you can easily cut out all of the Campbell’s cream soups (if you use those) and make any variety you want from one base recipe. We also cut out soda pop and started drinking tea and kool-aid and/or water. If you have a Gerbes or Kroger store, they have manager specials on meats that you can pick up really cheaply, just be sure to freeze any packages your not cooking right away as they have a shorter shelf life as they aren’t as fresh.
I don’t know your money situation, but if things get really tight don’t be afraid to visit your local food pantry/ USDA food bank as that food is subsidized in part by your tax dollars that you pay every payday… our pantry here does not consider income and only asks for physical address and social security numbers of all in the home. It’s there if you need it.

]]> By: courtney http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/29/results-of-the-eat-from-the-pantryfreezer-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-12234 courtney Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:50:36 +0000 http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/?p=1996#comment-12234 alright... TEACH ME! our grocery bill is so high i dont know what to do. alright… TEACH ME! our grocery bill is so high i dont know what to do.

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