1st week of the challenge: A recap and lessons learned...so far

This first week of the 4-week eating at home challenge went by fast and furious. There's always so much to do at home and with the children, it can get a little crazy at times. So, some of you may be wondering why I seem to be complicating my life even more by adding this new goal of no eating out for a whole month? There's the most obvious answer, for our health, to try to eliminate some of the preservatives that fast-foods and some restaurants serve. But I also did it to show my children that we do not need to have a frozen yogurt or fro-yo as a reward and more importantly, to feel happy and satisfied. We have still have plenty of treats at home, but they are more of a dessert, not a reward for a job well done or as a I'm sorry you had a bad day, let's go have a milk shake type of thing.

I'm also learning that I cannot see food or cooking as something that I do alone--it has to become a family affair. The kids have been helping fix pancakes and cookies for a couple of years now. Mostly mixing and of course, licking the spoon and bowl clean! But now, I think they're ready for helping pick out fruits and veggies from the store and farmer's market and helping with dinner. I want it to become part of their life. I never really took an interest in cooking when I was a kid. My father loves cooking, but boy, he does keep a tight kitchen. He had so many rules and places where things HAD to be placed, that I think, I quickly became turned off by the whole thing. It wasn't until a few years ago, that I really started getting interested in cooking. More recently, a close family member, stayed with us and really sparked an interest for cooking. I want the children to understand why veggies are important and that they are good by themselves, you don't always have to smear them in sauce, but once in a while it's OK!

So one big change to my cooking plan is to fix 3 to 4 meals on Sundays, with all family members, except baby, involved. Sounds like a big challenge, and at first I'm sure it will be. I had hoped that we would be able to do this on Sunday, but unfortunately, Allen was sick with a cold. Instead, I cooked on my own. The goal is to fix a soup; casserole and one meal to freeze as well as Sunday dinner. The other two meals will be Monday and Tuesday dinners, alleviating some of the cooking I do on the weekend. Wednesday can be an easy meat and veggie meal and Thursdays will be a crock-pot meal. Fridays, I will try to fix fish and a salad or a vegetable and Saturdays, the hubby will do the cooking--I do need a day off from the kitchen.

Here's some pictures recapping the dinners we had for the week.