I knew that one of my biggest challenges in to 30 Day Eat at Home Challenge was going to be skipping the Mickey D’s drive-thru for my bladder bustin’ Diet Cokes.
The Second issue? My grande non-fat misto with sugar-free vanilla from Starbucks. Oh so yummy.
So the day before our challenge started we hit ate out (naturally) and I got a great big cup from Baja Fresh – you’ve seen them: big straw, giant cup that would make a great sub for the giant drinks I normally got at drive thrus. Totally perfect plan.
Until Roger found me in the kitchen, the cabinets totally emptied mumbling like a homeless person under a bridge, “Where is my cup, where is my cup,”
“Umm, Kath, what are you looking for?”
“My Baja Fresh cup. I bought it specifically for this month to do all my big drinks in and now it is missing. I bet one of our rotten, evil kids took it to school or work or something. GRRRR.”
Roger inched toward the door, “Um it’s not the kids. It was me. And I didn’t take it to work, I recycled it… Stop throwing cups at me! I love you…bye!!!”
It is now referred to as “The Cup Incident”.
I have learned to manage with other cups. (I am a big girl.) And I do think this will be the longest lasting affect of the 30 day challenge – trying to bring my own cup when I go for a drive instead of going through the drive through.
Which is leading to a life skill that has been sorely lacking in my life – planning ahead.
I am hoping this will spill into other areas of my life – fixing dinner, looking for sales, etc.
Who knew that a plastic cup could lead to some personal discipline?
Hi Kathi,
This is where I love your determination to be true to your 30-day challenge, but I can’t help notice what you’re drinking. There is Oh So Much Mis-information about the safety and benefit of sugar-free (use of Splenda and NutraSweet instead) discussed on Mercola.com or the long version: SWEET DECEPTION by Dr. J Mercola, or from Dr. Russell Blaylock’s book EXCITOTOXINS: THE TASTE THAT KILLS. I love stevia, an herb with 300 times more sweetness than sugar, which I use in homemade ice teas and coffees, so there are “healthy ways” to accomplish the same (yummy) goal. Also EAT (good) FAT – LOSE FAT by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon is a great resource to understand healthy alternatives to Trans Fats, and how important good fats (such as coconut oil) are to weight loss, health, and delicious and satisfying foods. New Food Substitutes will invariably lead to New Health Issues, Taste and see that the Lord is Good – His gifts and ways are ALWAYS Best! We know that, don’t we – but don’t realize that this is true in the Kitchen as well. Blessings!–Peggy
Kathi,
I have the solution to all your problems! Deposit all your cash in your savings account, then take your scissors and cut up all your ATM cards and credit cards. Then, when you drive up to that drive thru window – what are ya gonna pay ’em with? And, besides, you’re trying to cut back anyways, right.
I actually did this (by accident – I thought they had expired) I had one credit card stored in a “secret” place and recovered it for grocery store expenses – but I soon learned how much I was relying on ATM purchases with that nifty cash back option to ring up all kinds of purchases at drive thrus or other unneccesary conveniences. Try it.
BTW. I have reordered an ATM card (it’s truly annoying not having any cash except whatever coins I can find in the car) but I’m planning on leaving that sucker at home stashed away secret. I bought an iced tea machine for a measely $15 at walmart and brew my own by the pitcher for pennies, in addition to having a coffee pot.
I can’t cook dinner at all (do my kids expect me to throw away all the leftovers?) so I’m still learning from your insights. Thanks for providing everything you do!