Frugal Friday: The Simple Diet

This past week I began doing Preschool lessons at home with Dutch….every day. Remember my goal was to do it 2x/week?  That was all I thought I could do. Well, turns out that my friend with whom I’m partnering (doing a little coop with our 3 preschool-aged kids) is doing it every day, so in order for us to stay on track together, I said I’d give it a shot every day.  I was sort of dragging my heels because I didn’t want to over-commit, and I like my freedom, but I said I’d try. Just try.

I love it.

Here’s what I love.  It’s simple and effective. I feel like I’m clueless most of the time with parenting and teaching, but this great curriculum (My Father’s World) outlines each day and gives ideas and optional things to do and just spells it all out for me.  I must say, since I’m entering unknown territory it is very helpful for someone just to tell me what to do. Make it simple. Down the road I’m sure I’ll do more on my own and adjust and have my own ideas, but for now, it sure is nice to just have it all spelled out! I love doing it everyday because the structure helps rather than hinders my day.  And though Dutch resisted at first, I can see the sense of accomplishment he feels when he completes a little lesson.  Win win.

So, I was realizing that for some of us, who are really wanting to start afresh in the area of budgeting and/or healthy eating this new year, we might feel the same way. Sure, some of us just want to save a dollar here and there, but I know that there are some that are really wanting a total revamp in this department. In fact, this series is born out of an email I received recently from someone I love very much.  After some seriously financial trials, she is endeavoring to drop their grocery budget from $800 down to $300 (for a fam of 4)–a worthy goal, and a challenge to be sure! Her question: Where do I start??

So I am in no way saying everyone needs to do this, and please hear my heart: I am not asserting that this is the godly or scriptural or morally superior way to live and eat.  No judging here! If you’re happy with your diet and your budget, awesome. There are more important things to do in the world. But, if you are feeling like you want to make a change and don’t know where to start: Here’s a simple start. My prayer is that as we simplify and exercise prudence in the everyday details of our lives, we will free up more resources and energy to pursue the things of eternal value. The enemy would love to have us so bogged down with budgets and endless couponing and overspending and stress over our health and weight that we are rendered useless for the Kingdom. I am not an expert in any of those areas, but I can offer one thing: A simple diet. I’d like to therefore share a few Simple Steps each week, and I’ve enlisted the help of some of my nutritional gurus, including one registered dietitian whose worked in the field for years. And with that, shall we begin?

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Healthy food is not necessarily that expensive–choice and convenience are. The name of the game is Simplify.  We think that convenience should simplify our lives, but in reality many times our modern day conveniences complicate our lives.

Today’s supermarket is driven by these two things: Choice and Convenience. We tend to believe that having choice and convenience will make us happy. But I suspect that it might be the opposite.  Every notice how you’re perfectly content with what you have until you have the option of something else?

So in the weeks to come we’re going to explore what I’m calling The Simple Diet, showing one way to give your diet/budget a major makeover (without clipping 500 coupons a week!). Now obviously there are a million ways to do this, I am not claiming to be an expert, nor am I saying you need to eat the exact same way that we do, but if you’re just looking for someone to tell you what to do (like I was with preschool curriculum!) and make it simple, then here’s one way. Take it, leave it, change it, tweak it. But guaranteed you will come in under budget!

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Simple Step #1: Eat Oats.

Eat oatmeal for breakfast. It would seem that cold cereal is the most convenient thing in the world. And I’ll tell you, for 30 years I have been a cold cereal fanatic (ok probably not as an infant, but for as long as I can remember). I would eat it for every meal if I could. So the idea to toss my beloved boxes was scary.  But switching to oatmeal is the single easiest way to cut cost and build health. Why?

Oatmeal is cheap. We’re talking WAY cheap.  At Winco it is 45 cents a pound. We buy enough for the whole month and there’s breakfast. Done.  For pennies per serving.

One option simplifies mornings. I understand those with older children maybe can’t get away with this switch. But if you can, awesome.  Every morning Jeff dumps four cups of water in a pot and turns it on. Then he showers, etc. Later he comes down when it’s boiling and dumps in 2 big cups of oatmeal. Put it on low, cover. Leave it. Do whatever.  Then whenever (10 minutes is perfect), turn it off. Ready. Done. Stays warm so even if some people have to leave early and some late it’s always ready.  Jeff and I sprinkle brown sugar on ours, and I put homemade berry applesauce (will include recipe) in the kids’.  I put the four bowls on the table. Done. Older kids could fix their own. Done.  One option.

Oatmeal is simple. I love that it doesn’t even matter if we have fresh milk on hand.  Oatmeal doesn’t go bad. It’s just there, sitting there. I don’t have to clip any coupons. I don’t have to look for deals.  I don’t have to try to get all the different brands and types that different people like. One option, and it requires no fresh ingredients (although you could put milk in yours for extra protein.) SO simple.

Oatmeal is a superfood. Oats are among the top healthiest foods. It’s delicious, nutritious, whole-grain, full of fiber and protein, and somehow it always feels like a treat (because of the sprinkled brown sugar). I blenderize oats and use it instead of white flour in cookies. I mix it in with banana bread and other cakes.  Food in its natural state (rather than Os or flakes or hexagons) is always healthiest.  So old-fashioned oatmeal will always be a fabulous way to start your day.

Include a banana and a cup of tea, if you’d like to really have a feast.  Or sprinkle on cinnamon, drizzle some honey, add raisins. I knew someone who used to eat their oatmeal with peanut butter and chocolate chips. Mix in flax-seed, chickpea puree for protein, chia seeds, whatever!  Or, go Simple and eat it plain.  Whatever suits you. But of you really need to hack down your grocery budget this will do it–leave behind the juice, flavored coffee creamer, boxed cereal, etc.

Now, if you feel like eating simply will take all the fun out of eating, yes–there is that consideration. The gist behind a Simple Diet is just eating to live not living to eat.  If your budget and time allows for variation, great. If not, a simple breakfast of oatmeal every morning will fabulously fuel your body for pennies.

Happy breakfasting!