New Challenge, New Rules

Okay, I have had some time off from cooking and quickly realized it was time to start up again when I looked at our CC bill online. Since I stopped cooking on April 5th, we have spent $115 going out to eat. Slightly justified by a $40 Mother's Day meal(pizza and sandwiches), but still a little out of control. We didn't even go anywhere nice for the remaining $75 . We ordered a pizza and went to Fridays, Buona Beef, and Potbelly.

Clearly, from the above choices money is not all we have to worry about. It's time to start watching our calories and eating out prohibits us from doing so. Hence, the need to start a new challenge centered around low calorie meals.

Due to the nature of the new challenge, I believe that some changes need to be made to the rules. So they are as follows:

1) All recipes must be 400 calories or less per serving

2) A vegetable is required with every meal

3) A variety of cuisine is necessary each week
* Chicken
* Pork/Turkey
* Beef
* Vegetarian
* Slow Cooker

4) One low calorie dessert will be made each week

5) Prep time will increase to 25 minutes given that a lot of fresh ingredients will be used and therefore need to be washed and chopped.

6) Budget will increase to $225 to allow for fresh produce/spices

7) One night a week we will get a night off from a low cal meal. I will still cook, but will make something above our 400 calorie limit.

8) I will behave at Breakfast and Lunch as well to ensure that I see some weight loss by the end of this challenge. I'd like to lose 10lbs, but I'll be realistic and say 5lbs.

That is all. My 400 calorie challenge will begin Tuesday, May 18th. That will give me time to collect more recipes and grocery shop.

If you have some recipes that will work for this challenge, please send them my way.