30 Day Home Cooking Challenge

I need some help. Please no jokes, but seriously. I really do. When I was growing up my Mom cooked supper almost every night. If she didn't cook we scrounged around the cabinets and fridge for leftovers and sandwiches.  Sunday lunch was at my aunt's house. Every. Sunday. Looking back now I took every bit of it for granted. Every single meal. Going out to dinner was a luxury. It wasn't what you did. It was what you got to do. Now that I'm married and have three bottomless pits mouths to feed, constantly, I realize how difficult it was for my Mom to do what she did.  I regret every time I muttered some unhelpful answer to the never ending question of "what do you want for dinner?" I hate myself for it. I'm sorry Mom. Please forgive me.

After 11 years of wedded bliss I realize I have allowed myself to slip into a nasty habit. I have abused the privilege of eating out. My kids think it is the normal. It is what we do. Now before you judge me, because yes I do cook, allow me to explain.  Our schedule is a little crazy. I am sure you can relate. I have allowed myself to fall back on the fast food crutch. Gone are the Sunday dinners that were so beautifully crafted at the hands of my female relatives. It has become too easy to just pick up lunch or swing through the drive through at then end of a long day. I know times have changed but that is not always for the better.

I have had these conversations with myself and with Jon for a while now. Food is such a part of who we are, especially in the south.  It is time for a change.  This post may seem dumb to you but I don't like what I see in my children. It's almost a sense of entitlement. Like they deserve to eat what they want when they want. So I made a decision today. I want to try an experiment. I want to go back to the basics and this is where you come in. I need some accountability partners.  I want to try a 30 day eat only at home challenge. This means no eating out. Wowzers… I just said that and the scary thing is I mean it.  I have 3 main reasons for this experiment. These are in no particular order.

1. I want my kids to realize how blessed we are. Eating out is a luxury not a basic need. I know they are still young but the Bible tells us… " Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. I know the writer was most definitely not talking about fast food in this verse but the principle still applies.  I want my children to be grateful for their blessings and if they are handed them on a constant basis that appreciation will never develop.

2. Dave Ramsey told me to. Jon and I have had the opportunity to take the Financial Peace course several times. Dave Ramsey does an amazing job teaching very applicable money principles. He stresses the importance of a budget and STICKING to a budget throughout the entire course. So let's just be honest here people, five people eating out a minimum of twice a week is NOT in the budget. We want to be better stewards of the financial blessings God has granted us. I don't want to misuse those blessings. I want to be able to shower more individuals across the globe with those blessings. I can't do that if I eat all my money. That was weird, I know.

3. It can only help my waistline. Let's face it. If you live anywhere remotely close to me you eat way too much Mexican. I mean way TOO much Mexican. Thad could say El Patio at 18 months. It can only help my waistline. Am I right?


I want to try this for 30 days starting September 1st. We will hopefully be in our new house in my nice new kitchen so I will hopefully be super motivated. I don't anticipate this being a permanent lifestyle change but I do hope we make some serious strides at the conclusion of the 30 days to implement real change. There are a few reasons we will break from this challenge.
1. Youth trips: I really can't do anything about these.
2. Date Nights: You better believe I'm going to sit in a restaurant for hours if I get Jon alone.

So who wants to join me? There is strength in numbers people. Join me. Let's bring back the intimate  Sunday dinners in homes where people bonded over fried chicken and banana pudding. Join me.