I’m not a stranger to the diet train. I’ve been successful on two plans in my life. Both Atkins and Weight Watchers worked well for me. When I reached my goal weight on Atkins, I really wanted to start incorporating foods into my diet that Weight Watchers would allow. So, I took the plunge (so-to-speak) and changed my routine. It worked in my favor helping me shed another 35-40 pounds that Atkins didn’t allow for.

Spring 2010

That’s when LIFE happened. You know what I’m talking about. LIFE crept up on me and took the reigns and I was no longer in control. This was back in 2010. I was doing well. I had healthy eating habits, exercised 5 days a week and my energy levels were up. That’s when the news came. I had to put my own needs on the back burner and take care of our daughter. She went in during August 2010 for a high-tibial osteotomy. After that hard 5 1/2 months, life just kept going and I haven’t really taken the time to get back on track. Since August of this year, I have been completing my senior year of college. I’ve passed my PPR exam and I’ve got one semester and a generalist exam to go before I will be a certified teacher. What a difference two years can make.

Fall 2012

Somewhere along the last two years, my family’s meals have gotten the quick and easy treatment from the help of boxed meals and throw-together dishes. There are times I take to make a planned meal, though it’s few-and-far between. We still eat an abundance of vegetable and fruits and we limit the little ones to an occasional treat, so that is still going in our favor. I just don’t have the time when I’m trying to study and there is only so often that we can eat a crock-pot meal. I love the convenience of a crock-pot meal, but most times they begin tasting the same to B and he won’t eat them after a while.

This year I pledge to make it different. I know that cutting 500 calories from my daily intake will be beneficial to me in the long-run.

     I also know that by using a family chore chart, that I will be more apt to keep track of what needs to get done in my home, instead of writing my own list and forgetting where I put it. I’m going to frame the following chart and use a dry-erase marker to write so the planning will be quick and simple.

     In the past, I create my own spreadsheet for our household budget, but am finding that I like this budgeting sheet much more and it will keep my family on-track with our spending habits. It isn’t that I go on a shopping spree everyday, it’s just the small purchases that add up. The occasional ones I didn’t think would matter costs me $100-$200 every-so-often. By see exactly what I need to purchase for a week, I will be able to budget for our weekly menus. I will still be able to price match and buy in bulk for items that freeze well since we own a deep-freezer now.

eMeals isn’t a weight-loss program. Rather, it’s a program designed to save your family money and time by planning weekly menus centered on a type of meal that you choose. Whether you want a classic meal plan, Paleo, organic, vegetarian, or a low-carb (like we have chosen to review) eMeals will be our family’s newest venture into unknown territory. I plan on undertaking an exercise plan in the coming months, and hope that with the help and planning of eMeals, I see an improvement in my planning, budget, and more time spent with my family all-the-while eating healthier and having more energy.

If you are interested in using eMeals for your own family’s needs, be sure to use the discount code “newyear” for 15% off your subscription. You don’t have to choose just a dinner subscription, there are weekly lunch plans available as well. That would be a great way to make daily lunches budget-friendly while at work.

     *This is a sponsored post, on behalf of the eMeals Blogger Network. I have been compensated via a one-year subscription to eMeals.com. All thoughts are 100% mine.*