… in which we begin to daydream about what we will purchase on that first trip back to the grocery store.

Breakfast – grilled potatoes and eggs mixed together.

Lunch – LightHusband had one of his now infamous lunch meetings. I worked out with friends so LightChildren were on their own. I had a grilled cheese sandwich upon my return before I shot off to another appointment.

Dinner – Inch-thick porkchops baked in glaze of MapleApple Drizzle, with Sweet Apple Orzo and Sugar Snap Peas on the side. It should have been wonderful and the table looked spectacular. And after 14 days on this challenge I was quite proud of this achievement …. until that first bite of pork chop …. that took five. minutes. (and some very hard work) to chew. Pork chops which have been frozen for 5 months are sort of ummmmm …. tough. So we laughed and giggled all through dinner and called them pork bricks and decided that even the LightDog might hurt his jaws on them. Then we began discussing how this whole experience might change the way we think about food and how we eat. What things we buy and where and when we eat. It was a good meal.

The cereal is all gone. I could make oatmeal, except that my homemade oatmeal requires applejuice. So that’s out. We’re down to some version of eggs or pancakes/waffles for breakfast. We still have gobs and gobs of frozen crap for lunches. We all decided that we don’t particularly care for that stuff. We won’t be purchasing it anymore.

In the main, I think we’re going to be more intentional about food. Which sounds sort of silly. But I think we’re going to go to the grocery store less often and with a list and a plan. And stick to the plan during the week. I know the LightChildren will heartily disagree with this, but there has been a lot of freedom in this challenge. There is tyranny in too many choices. Freedom may be found in just the right number of choices. This seems counter-intuitive, but it’s something I’m finding more and more often as I get a little further along in my journey of life.

Now for a random change of thought.  I was in a different from usual grocery store the other day (to purchase eggs and milk).  In this particular store the cigarettes were directly behind the cashier and the carton prices were clearly marked on brightly colored pieces of paper.  I was with BlazingEwe and we both commented on how very expensive cigarettes are.  We asked the cashier what the per pack price is.  Her answer?  $3 to $5 per pack depending on the brand.  The per carton prices were around $35 each.  We walked out astonished.  And commented on the fact that smoking is a habit that is found primarily among the working class; those who can least afford it.  They are those who can least afford the habit or the health consequences.  It just wrung our hearts.