Eating Out Less Check-In

We're well into our first week of the August Money-Saving Challenge of eating out less, and I'm happy to report that we've managed to not eat out at all! (So far, so good, one day at a time.)

Following are a few simple things I've done and made to help rise to the challenge:

I made some simple kid-friendly finger food for a to-go lunch for the kids:

• Hard-boiled eggs -- A food they typically enjoy, and they are easy to bring along.

• Cut-up grapes -- Yes, I cut each one individually; I just can't take the chance that an uncut grape would cause a problem and I'll leave it at that. 

• "Cheese sticks" -- Since the point of not eating out is saving money, I decided to do my best to forego more pricey, if more convenient, packaged snack food and I sliced my own sticks out of a block of cheddar. 

At Costco, I picked up some sandwich goodies:

• Pre-cooked real turkey breast -- It's an actual turkey breast, not lunch meat. It's natural and doesn't have any nitrites, so I feel better about giving that to the kids and eating it myself (since I'm pregnant). 

• Italian Pugliese bread -- I rarely buy non-wheat bread for regular consumption, but we'd had this at a friend's house a few days before and it was so delicious and fresh... I couldn't resist.

Though I didn't exactly plan on it, that night I ended up making my own version of the Costco panini I mentioned. Just turkey, Tillamook sharp cheddar, a slather of pesto (also courtesy of Costco), and tomatoes. A quick fry in an olive-oil misted pan. 

Dear's pronouncement: "These are waaaay better than Costco's." =D Totally worth it.