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So my project is coming to an end and I am kind of sad, because I have learned a lot from it. I also feel like I am going to go back to eating out all the time because I won’t feel pressured to not.
One thing that I learned from my project is that it is almost impossible to not eat out and by packaged food. It’s impossible especially as a collage student because you’re running from class, to work, to homework when you finally get home. There really isn’t time to do a whole lot in between. I personally don’t know how moms who go to school still do it because you have someone else relying on you. Not to say that dad’s don’t do their part just speaking from a statistical stand point that most men don’t do the cooking in the family.
I have to admit overall I think I probably failed my project because I ate out at least once a week when I simply just didn’t have enough time to make food ahead of time. I also had a hard time not buying packaged food because almost everything comes packaged and it is faster to make packaged food then food from scratch. My project isn’t a complete failure though because I have learned that it is easy and it takes a lot of work to live simple, I guess would be the word to describe it.
I hope since I have been eating more fresh veggies that it has a good impact on my baby, since its not getting all the genetically modified, and chemicals they use in packaged and caned food. Even though I know that there is still some of those characteristics in they food I did buy since it wasn’t organic.
I am going to keep trying to do small environmentally friendly projects. I am also going to stay informed in the environment, and what’s going on in the world.
So I have some good news to report about my project. I have done really good not eating out at all. I have also found a way to solve my problem of not buying items that are packaged. I found the way to solve this problem when I called my sister and her boyfriend to see if they would like to barbecue. She said yes but they would have to go grocery shopping, and since I was board I decided to go with them. My sisters boyfriend is an amazing cook, he makes everything from scratch so I watched to see what items they bought, because I never really know what I need when it comes to making items from scratch. It surprised me to see how many fresh fruits and veggies they bought. So anyways I watched her boyfriend cook dinner so that I could get a better idea of how he does it and well he is good. We ate over at their house just about every night last week because it is like having home cooked food. It was so good and seeing how easy it was for him to whip up food out of all kinds of things had me excited because it has made me realise its not that hard. Plus seeing all the veggies they bought and how they used them has me so excited because I love veggies but I never know what to cook them with or how. My sister boyfriend also helped me solve what to do about cooking when it comes to my boyfriend since he hates veggies, He always made everything separate and then when my boyfriend’s food was cooked he would keep it separate and then add the rest of the veggies to what was left, or he would make two of the same items and one without the veggies. I am so excited to keep this up because we are moving in with my sister and her boyfriend next year, and I will really learn how too cook. ; )
As for comments I don’t really consider it failing when I do eat out it just feels that way because, well its like a diet when you say your not going to do it you think no problem till it comes down to it and you realise its not that easy to just stop. I think if everyone in the world would try to do this they would be shocked with how much they eat out, and by packaged food. Its insane when I stop and think about when I was younger that my mom had a garden and I used to help plant, grow, cook, and can food from it. And now I have no clue how to do those things because we have slipped into the habit of convenience food.
So my whole not eating out has been rocky. I have been so busy with school, work, and baby stuff I have slipped a couple times. Not eating out is really hard and I don’t think people notice how often they do until they try to stop. I feel like I have failed my project even though I know that it is all for a learning experience. I am back on track though with no eating out just think it was a ruff weak with test and everything. And now I am starting on not buying packaged food which is really hard because I like to have this kind of food on had for when I get hungry and don’t have time to make something up right away. Also I live with my boyfriend who has to have his snacks. This makes it hard for me because I see all his food in the cart and just want to buy some of that, but I stick to my scratch food : ( lol. I have also noticed that almost everything I used to buy came in a package, I think the reason I used to buy food like this is because I don’t have a lot of seasonings to make good food but I have been buying that so that now I have it and since it doesn’t go bad so quickly I can keep it around. Oh I almost forgot to mention the comments you all sent me the one about planning ahead is a good one I actually learned to do that in home economics in high school so I have been doing that already but thanks for the heads up. Anyways wish me luck.
Well everyone I am back to report on my project. I have been doing pretty good, I failed the first week on valentines day. I chose to fail this day because it is a special day and I wanted a nice meal, and since I am not well known for my cooking I chose to order out Famous Dave’s.
I had done well the rest of the days though, cooking meals ahead of time and bring them to work with me. The only thing about this was that it took up a lot of my time, first I had to decide what I wanted to make, then once I decided what I wanted I had to cook it. I had to do all the cooking the night before, because I leave for work at 8:00 in the morning. So as you can imagine this was a lot more time consuming than just eating out because not only did I have to make supper but I had to make the meal for the next day unless I had leftovers. This is turn didn’t leave me with a lot of time to do my homework, which is my # 1 priority.
Another problem with cooking all my meals is that I am not the best cook in the world, I am great at making deserts but that’s not healthy so I have had to get a few cook books. Cooking from scratch is defiantly not something that fits in the college life style because I am constantly going from school, to work, to homework.
As for everyone’s comments I have notice that on occasion I feel better and healthier because I know what I am eating and what’s in my food, plus I chose healthier items to cook since I can’t buy items that come in a package witch is normally junk food. I have bought a bag of chips but I bought them for Dorito taco salad which is really good and kind of home made if you ask me.
As for packaged items almost everything is in a package it is unreal when you actually stop and look at what you are buying. I have had to buy all the basics like flour because it is a main ingredient in foods like muffins, banana bread, etc, which I normally buy in a premixed package. I also buy fresh fruit now instead of caned, which means I have to eat them sooner because they will go bad. I have also bought more fresh veggies which I have found taste so good when you bake or make them in anything unlike canned veggies. I think the reason they taste better is because the flavor isn’t cooked out of them already.
All in all my project is harder then what I expected but I really like it because I am getting a chance to brush up on my cooking skills, plus it is teaching me to plan and organize better. Oh and food taste better when its home made.
For my Lived Experience I am going to stop eating out, and start making my own food, in hopes to help save styrofome and plastice take out containers, and in order to save a little money. I got the idea for my project when i noticed how much I was eating out at work, because i didn’t have time anymore to go home for lunch. I will also along with not eating out, tally up how much styrofome and plastic containers i save.I will start my project first by not eating out for the first 2 weeks. I will then progress to not buying any packaged items, such as granola bars, chips, foods like hamburger helper (which comes in a box). I will then of course have to make all my food from scratch which i haven’t really done in about 5 years. I will be trying this out for five weeks, so wish me luck.
