Daniel Fast - Grocery trip 2 week 1

Well, I had to go back to the grocery store on Day 5 of our Fast this week.  First of all, I thought our organic peanut butter was sugar free but upon closer inspection discovered that it contained molasses.  So, I need natural peanut butter, which is delicious!  I also added a few more fresh items to cook for the weekend.

Here is the list:
Mushrooms (large)                3.00
Red bell peppers (2)             2.50
Asparagus (1 bundle)            3.79
Yellow squash (3)                 1.96
Red grapes                           4.06
Fresh chopped peaches (2)   2.70
Natural peanut butter            3.79
Mixed nuts                           3.49

Total:                                  25.29 pre-tax

Daniel Fast - Caffeine

Well, the lack of caffeine was really getting to me.  So, I decided to really pray about this.  At this time, I still have a baby who does NOT sleep though the night.  I have very broken sleep.  I depend on caffeine, from coffee, to get me though the day and night.  I usually require two cups in the morning and another cup in the early evening.  I add milk and sugar to my coffee which are also banned while on the Fast. 

So....after an agonizing Day 2, when I got only 4 hours of sleep the night before (2 hours here and later another 2 hours there), I decided that at sundown on that day I would add caffeine back to my diet.  I have however limited myself to black coffee only, which is more like drinking cold medicine to me. 

While agonizing over this decision, God reminded me that when needed (during pregnancy, after my stomach surgery) I have given up coffee for long periods of time.  I realized that coffee without my usual additives is not enjoyable at all and just something my body needs right now.

Daniel Fast - Menu week 1

Ok, so I make my menus a little differently than most people.  I first look at how many meals I will need for the week (7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 suppers, 14 snacks).  I then plan each category (suppers).  Lunches are sometime leftovers and I try to factor that into my planning.  I usually leave the idea of "what's for supper" until that day...in other words I don't assign a specific meal to a specific day unless necessary.  I then make my grocery list based on what I need for my menu minus what I already have. 

Here is my menu for week 1:
Breakfast 
 Oatmeal with soy milk (Cinnamon and honey optional)
 Banana

Other meals (this includes lunches and suppers for the week)*
 Salad with romaine, spinach, baby greens, mushrooms, banana peppers, sesame seeds, bell pepper, and olive oil and vinegar dressing, with a whole wheat tortilla (this is Scott's salad)
  Salad with romaine, spinach, baby greens, mushrooms, olives, bell pepper, Roma tomatoes, and olive oil and vinegar dressing (this is my salad)
  Stir fry with mushrooms, bell pepper and onions sauteed in olive oil and served over brown rice
  Cream Potatoes made with soy milk, corn, and cornmeal cakes
  Whole wheat pasta with homemade tomato sauce and corn on the cob
  Roasted veggies (bell pepper, carrots, onion, mushrooms, squash, olive oil)
  Green beans and sauteed squash and zucchini
  Sauteed potatoes and onions in olive oil, blackeyed peas, and sauteed mushrooms
  Veggie soup with crushed tomatoes, peas (purple hull and green), green beans, potatoes, onions, corn, & okra
  Stuffed bell peppers with brown rice cooked in tomato juice, corn, sauteed onion and garlic, & black beans
  Roasted red potatoes with Italian herbs, corn on the cob, roasted asparagus

Snacks:
  Banana
  Apple with natural peanut butter
  Nuts salted
  Watermelon
  Peaches
  Pineapple
  Grapes
  Raisins
  Popcorn (stove popped in olive oil)
 
Drinks:
  Water
  Lemon-Lime water (pitcher of water with  fresh lemon and lime)

*Note: some of these meals will be used twice or even three times.  Example: Salad