In Preparation

See, we have learned something from the "month of not buying anything new:" PLAN AHEAD. Had I really thought about the timing of our last adventure, I am positive I would have purchased stamps and I would not still be sending Christmas cards TODAY. I don't think lying about being Catholic just to call them "Twelfth Night" cards is very much in keeping with the spirit of the holiday....

First item: What will be allowed and what won't?
It's hard to draw up a definite list, but we're kind of going with "the rule of syllables." If there is a polysyllabic unknown substance in the ingredient list, it's out.

Second item: Emergency workday lunches
We both work full time, and since I am in outside sales I am not always near home or my office at lunchtime, and my previous "healthy" options have been soup & a bagel or one of the sandwich shops. All would still be good except that I know the soup is from cans--large cans, granted, but cans all the same--and without being able to check the ingredient list, I'm going to guess there are a few polysyllabics contained therein. The second problem is the sandwich bread. The major chains that "bake" their own bread generally receive loaves of frozen bread dough, which again makes me suspicious of polysyllabics.

Third item: Digiorno frozen pizza
OK, not really a question on this one--serious polysyllabics, but the spinach & mushroom pizza really is fabulous and we're going to miss it. :(

Fourth item: Lunch meetings
Another part of sales is weekly lunch meetings that are currently held at a restaurant that was difficult enough when just trying to find a lunch option under 900 calories. Healthy and recognizable???? Is that even a category in American restaurants?

Fifth item: diet soda
This is one of our favorite things, and alas, will not be allowed. Whatever aspartame is, it certainly did not exist in nature.

Sixth item: canned goods
Since we both work full time, daily trips to the store are not an option--or not an option I am willing to consider, let us say. So, we will be checking tomato sauce, green beans, soups, broths, coconut milk (for the fabulous mulligatawny to be found on the Better Homes & Garden's website--the regular one, not the easy one), tomatillos, diced green chilies, and all our other pantry favorites.

I can give up Digiorno spinach & mushroom pizzas, microwave popcorn, and diet soda, but would a month without mulligatawny really be worth it???????