In this journey of minimalism, I’ve wanted to expand past the decluttering and streamlining things to food as well. Not so much decluttering that area but eating simpler and eating the same foods weekly to simplify menus etc. We do eat pretty simple but for some reason, I want to even more.
I’ve always bought bulk foods, rice, beans, etc since the 1970’s. Even soaps, detergents, canned goods etc because it’s easier for me and simpler to buy bulk and then not have to think about those things for 6 months. Back in the 1970’s we’d go out to a place called Mother Truckers by Ananda. Mother Truckers is still there and does a brisk business. Ananda is still there although many changes have occurred. It’s still a spiritual community based on Yogananda Paramahansa’s teachings. Anyway, we’d go out there, which was about a 2-hour drive for us, and get bulk shampoo, honey, etc.
Now co-ops are everywhere or Whole Foods and you can great bulk items. I can even get Lundberg organic brown rice at Costco in a 12 lb bag. I can get a 10lb bag of sugar and there’s honey in large jars. I don’t use as much honey anymore so we just get a smaller jar.
I still get 10 lb bags of rice and beans and store in glass jars. I use to buy the 25 lb bags but that was more than we’d use in a reasonable amount to time. I even have some of my original gallon jars I had from the 70’s. I use to go around to the restaurants and ask for their old pickle jars, mayonnaise because you couldn’t really buy the gallon jars anywhere.
I use a weekly menu that’s simplified to some extent but I’d like it to be more so. Maybe as I get older or further in this minimalist journey, I just don’t want to think about things like what extravagant meal do I want to cook. I want my food choices to be simple.
I like wearing the same clothes and keep my colors to black, white, gray and occasionally deep purple or navy blue. So with food, I want to have fewer choices so I don’t have to think about it.
Our weekly menu looks like this
Sunday- BBQ or roast something ( need to refine this)
Monday- pasta something ( this can be mac and cheese,or lemon spaghetti, or ?
Tuesday- Taco Tuesday ( really anything Mexican)
Wednesday- Sorta whatever day ( this is the one I need to work on)
Thursday- crockpot something, usually pinto beans or black beans Then we add tortillas, avocado, salsa,. If its soup in the winter fall, bread along side.
Friday- homemade pizza
Saturday- This turned into sammie Saturday. A simple sandwich of some sort.
I want to work on what foods we’re eating. We like and eat a lot of beans and then I usually use the rice cooker to make organic long grain rice for the week.
Some chicken, tofu, a little beef and a little fish (not too often).
Breakfast is always eggs/toast or bagel/yogurt/fruit
Lunch is a salad or leftovers or 1/2 sandwich
I just don’t want to cook extra fancy stuff too much anymore. I do love cooking and trying new recipes, but I still want a base to work from.
