Shopping List????

Actually, there is not a real shopping list, and they really don't want us giving out too much information in the public forums, but you'll be looking for VERY lean beef (I buy 96% or 98% lean) to make meatballs or little meat patties, ground turkey breast (1% or 2% fat) that I use in chili, sausage, etc., boneless, skinless chicken breast (try to find the kind that has no broth added...they have a lot of sodium in them, but sometimes that's all you can get), find a place to buy spices in bulk, because it is about 1/10 of the cost in bottles and cans in a store, clear out your pantry of ANYTHING that has wheat, corn, salt, dairy, soy, preservatives of ANY kind, etc. Be sure you have a good and accurate food scale, and invest in either a food saver or lots of snack bags, sandwich size baggies, and a variety of other sizes, especially the gallon size. Also, have some inexpensive plastic bowls with lids for storage in the fridge or freezer that can also be microwaved. Be sure you have a really good non-stick skillet with lid, and start looking for brown rice (not instant, but the kind that takes about 45 min. to cook), old-fashioned oats (not 1 min, 3 min. or instant), and be locating stores that carry liquid All Whites for omelets.

I did not think I could stand to even look an eggwhite omelet in the face, but now, the way I prepare them, I love them. Be sure you have a way to determine your 100 oz. of daily water. I find it is easiest for me to drink one 1/2 liter bottle of water with each of the six meals and then I do not have to count or measure. I have a water purifier in my kitchen, but I was not good at keeping up with how much I was drinking, and besides, the bottles are portable and easy for grab and go. Maybe this will give you some ideas on what you need to start looking for and getting rid of. You cannot have any commercially prepared foods, so get ready to spend one day or a couple of evenings cooking for the entire week. That's the only way this program works well, and is a really efficient use of your time. I cook on Saturdays, after buying groceries on Fridays. At first it took me all day, because I was so tired all the time, I had to sit down between recipes, but now I just do it all in about 4 hours, and never think about taking a rest!!! (First published 5/3/05)