Eating out is overrated

I’ve been having fun this past week seeing how far I can stretch a dollar. With so many life changes this year (wedding, honeymoon and baby) the expenses can really add up. For most people, the #1 money sucker is easily eating out. We can literally eat our budget away, one bad meal at a time. Of course, there are a few really great restaurants that make the whole experience worthwhile, but for the 7 years I’ve spent in DC, the majority of my eating out experiences have been lackluster and mediocre at best (exceptions being here, here and here).

Thank goodness for Integrative Nutrition. The school that got me back in the kitchen and focused on eating real food, and preparing home cooked meals. I’m not a gourmet chef by any means, but Chris and I now regularly enjoy good food, cooked at home using simple, fresh ingredients.

I’ve been blogging a lot about Trader Joe’s and I still think it’s one of the best, and most economical stores in town. We’re also getting dairy, eggs and grass-fed beef delivered right to our house from a local farm for the same price or less as Whole Foods. Pretty awesome and going to be even more convenient once the little one arrives!

A few of my favorite meals from the past week are quasi-homemade pizza (using Trader Joe’s whole wheat pizza dough) topped with fresh veggies, red curry tofu with eggplant and zucchini, and spring salad with tomatoes and strawberries. Why eat out when you can make this stuff at home?