Source: The Motherhood.com
What is a Pantry Challenge?
A pantry challenge is a challenge to see how long you can go eating and cooking out of your pantry, refrigerator and freezer without taking a trip to the store. The idea behind it is that we all have odds and ends that build up and we need to use, this is a way to force yourself to use them. One thing to know, a pantry challenge isn’t about doing without. It is about using what you have more resourcefully.They require a little creativeness and advanced preparation.
Every so often I like to challenge my self to eat strictly what I have on hand, no extra grocery trips for a set amount of time. Usually for one week, but it depends on how much I have! This forces me to be creative and use what I have on hand. I have found by trying this there are so many meals I thought I couldn’t make because I didn’t’ have enough on hand, only to find I could substitute other things in place of it!
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Have you done a “pantry challenge” lately? You know, avoided a big shopping trip one week by simply using what you had on hand? I’d love to hear the details…and how much money you saved!
I need to do one… but MAN I would love a pantry like that!!!!
I have only been to the store to buy milk and orange juice. My stockpile has lasted at least 2 weeks!
Like Rachel, I am TOTALLY coveting that pantry! 😉
We have an annual “pantry challenge”: my husband is laid off every winter from mid Novemeber until mid April 🙂 I spend the summer stocking up and by the following spring, our pantries are bare. We buy short time perishables, like milk, eggs, bread, sour cream, and a few ingredients for certain recipes here and there. Otherwise, I try to make every little bit last and get creative with my meal planning. Thank you for all your hard work and great suggestions, and I too covet the pantry!!!!!! 🙂
Ironically, I was just realizing how full my refrigerator and pantry are. I’ve already planned to do one in the month of December. We’re having a Christmas party so that just about uses up the grocery money. Time to get creative!
We had one just this week! I planned our entire week’s menu from what we had on hand, and I only went to the grocery store for a few essential perishables (e.g., yogurt) that we were about to run out of. I ended up spending under $25, which is fantastic for us. We eat a lot of organic food, so our typical grocery bill (even with couponing/sales) is about $75/week.
I LOVE this. Me and my other half were just looking in the freezer today and saying “I see about 7 days of meals we could pull together”. It’s so funny that I read about your challenge today. We’re gonna do it. I would ALSO love to have that pantry pictured above…so cozy.