Money Tips #2

This one is a restaurant special!

I don't know about you, but I love going out to eat. I do enjoy cooking a lot, but there are people so much better than I am! I want to get what they make. However, I don't like the cost nor do I always get the healthiest things around.

So, today I'll go over how to be careful with money and stay healthy at the same time while going out.

Tip 1: What better place to start off with then with what you first order? Avoid drinks. Don't get tea, beer, or soda. Restaurants can charge a couple of dollars or more for a drink. Instead, get water. Water is free at most restaurants and is the healthiest choice on the menu. If you go for water you can knock three, five dollars, or maybe even more off of your bill. Not to mention avoid some extra calories.

Now, of course I am not saying to never have these things again. I'm a Texas girl. I have a huge weakness for sweet tea. And there are some times I just gotta have it with my meal. But I am aware that I am having an indulgence and is not something I should have often (though man, do I want to).

But, since it is hard to resist, I need to make it last.

Tip 2: Make your meal and/or drink last. Take time and enjoy what you are eating. Talk with the company you are with, chew your food slowly, and drink at a pace. You might find that you are walking out the door with half a drink in your hand and some leftovers. I've heard that if you eat slowly, you can get full faster. Instead of eating three slices of pizza, you might find you have one left-over because you didn't put all your concentration on the meal in front of you.

This might seem more of a health tip than a money one. However, by doing this you are getting an experience with your money. You get someone else to cook for you, you get the time to enjoy it, and you can leave with another meal in your hand for the price of one.

Tip 3: Don't eat all that is on your plate! If you are still a bit hungry (even after Tip 2) try to have half or a little less put into a to-go-box if you are heading anywhere with a fridge. You will have enough for lunch and now you got yourself some dinner. Leftovers are great, especially for college students.

However, this is not an excuse to get more. You still need to avoid spending money and loading up on extra calories. Don't go into a restaurant always thinking you are going to order more so you can have leftovers.

Tip 4: If possible, avoid combos. With this, I am typically thinking more of those drive-thrus than a sit-down restaurant. With most of the drive-thrus, what you are getting isn't enough for a leftover or will taste as good later (i.e. a burger). And sometimes the extra money just isn't worth the curly fries and the drink. Instead, get the main item, take it back to your dorm, and eat it with sides you already have; chips, carrots, fruits, etc.

By doing this, you will avoid spending money on something you don't need and can eat up things you already spent money on. And the same can be done with the sides. Not much of a burger fan but love those fries? Get them and have them as a side for a healthier meal you put together. Don't feel that if you walk into a restaurant, drive-thru or otherwise, you are obligated to get the whole combo package. 

Tip 5: Try to go to more self-serving dine-ins where you don't have to pay tip. There are plenty of places that are like this and offer some great healthy choices. And this doesn't mean it needs to be a fast-food joint. Do a bit of research around your campus. Poke your head in and look at the restaurants. Ask around and see if anyone knows if where there are places you don't have to tip.

I understand that those who are working at these places work hard and deserve tip. I am not saying not give a little extra to any place. This is simply about those going to find places that offer low-cost options.

If you are just aware of the menu and take the time to (that word again) study before your purchase, you will be better off. Take a few minutes, take out your phone, and do some math. How much will the meal be with tax? With a tip? With a drink? As a combo? Just think about how much you would want to spend and if the food is worth it.

Dorm Room Cookin

The new term is starting. Time for books, friends, papers, and late nights of studying (or partying). When you're in college, whether you are a fish or about to graduate into the real world, a lot of time can be eaten up by so many things. It can be real hard to eat anything that isn't frozen or made by someone else behind a counter.

College students aren't well known for being healthy eaters. Nor are we well known for having a lot of cash in our pocket. Then there is the idea of actually having enough free time outside of class to cook anything. Add on to the hours of sitting for classes or the sleep (or lack of) it can be real hard to maintain a real healthy, inexpensive diet.

Is it possible to eat fresh, healthy, homemade meals often? Can it be done without taking up hours of time or money?

My prediction is YES. And in this final year of school I am going to make an attempt to do just that. I will try to cook healthy recipes in a college kitchen on a college budget.

The Plan

1) To use as healthy and cheap of items as I can. For now I can only travel to one store at a time, so I will research brands and compare store prices online for now.

2) Look for and share nutrition facts.

3) Attempt to do one recipe a week.

4) Share a rating system on the recipe based on:

• Price
• Ease to make
• Taste (by myself and eventually by others)
• Time
• Leftovers

5) Put alternatives for those who might not like some ingredients or are allergic.

6) Take pictures of what is cookin.

7) Use this blog also as a means to keep up and share my own weight loss.

This probably won't be a daily routine, at least not yet. This is a start of a big life-change. It also isn't the easiest to do a daily diary of it. But I will give it a try. Hope readers may forgive a novice blogger!

In between recipes, I will put up other items to help out anyone who reads. Tips about saving money, healthy choices outside of the dorm kitchen, learning to deal with the guilty days, and what is recommended when anyone wants to indulge a bit.

But before all of this really starts, I'll give a short introduction to who I am and why I feel like this is something worthwhile.

I'll start off to say I am not a professional anything. I am not a doctor, food specialist, trainer, or even a cook. My degree isn't even in the Culinary Arts. So this is about experience, research, and what has worked out well for myself. If it doesn't work for you, I am sorry and hope something in here can provide some help.

Why am I doing this? I have struggled with my weight all of my life. Due to poor choices, insecurities, and genetics I am overweight. Now in may final year in undergraduate school I am ready to push that image away and start something new. This past year I have done more than I ever have like join Weight Watchers and go to the school gym failing. Because of this I have already lost 30 pounds!

However, I am still about 40 pounds shy of my final goal of 140. So this blog can be my inspiration to do even more for my weight and my overwhelming shyness.

Throughout the time I have been at my dorm (since 2010), I have only used the kitchen about five to ten times. Not a lot when you think about it. And each time was only for soup or out-of-the-box noodles. Now, I plan on trying to break out of my shyness and leave my sanctuary of my room and actually cook in public. Something I have never done before.

So, I am writing this blog for myself. To document my cooking experience, my weight loss, and step outside my comfort zone. But I do hope that I won't be alone in this. Perhaps this can help inspire others to do the same. Whether you want to try to break out of your shyness, lose weight, or just try something new. This blog might have a little bit for everyone.

Now, there will be mess ups for sure. Probably will cook something way too complicated for a tiny space, make far too much, or, heaven forebid, burn something. But thesis why I want to do it. My mistakes can show others how NOT to do it.

This will be such a challenge. I am a full time student with six classes, president of a club, I want to hang out with friends, and I hope to get a job. Though I don't party or drink, I do have a busy college schedule. So if I can get healthy, anyone can do it.

School starts in a week! I'm so nervous about it but I'm excited too. Hope to have the first recipe up soon. Let's see what can come out of this little experiment!