I guess my early learning as a Girl Scout, "Be Prepared" covers so many areas in life. It certainly comes into play in my journey as a healthier me. I always have back up meals in my freezer for when I am too busy working on a project at work and exhausted by the end of the day to cook. I now just go to my freezer and take a looksee for what is for dinner. No more calling the local pizza place for delivery or visiting the drive thru of my old friend Mickie D.

I shoveled I kid you not 4 times during yesterday's blizzard. I did it very gingerly because my back is killing me. I woke up this morning and I looked out my window and I am scratching my head saying why did I bother? There is so much new snow out there and the last time I shoveled was 8:15 PM. The snow plows came through 3 times yesterday and I live on a side street. Well, one good thing is that I did was I got rid of any ice underneath all this new snow from what I did yesterday. That is one way planning is going to help me out for today's mess.

As you know from previous blogs my driveway is 75 feet long. I did not shovel last Saturday's snow storm remains and I am not shoveling this snow storm's remains. I will not shovel the upcoming Monday's snow storm remains. I think it will take a couple of weeks no exaggeration about 2 weeks for me to be able to drive through the snow to get out. It is the bottom of my driveway that will be the problem. I have boulders down there from the snow plow. My bad back and ice bergs or boulders do not mix.

However, I am prepared as far as having a stocked pantry. I have plenty of dried beans, canned beans, canned tomatoes, whole grains and pastas, always have onions, carrots, and celery in fridge, frozen veggies in the freezer, citrus, apples, and bananas in the fridge, and an arsenal of spices. I am good to go. The fresh produce is dwindling down but that is OK I will survive because I have enough of the other stuff to keep me satisfied for well over a month. I don't eat bread, drink milk, or eat eggs so I am never part of that mad rush to the grocery store that everyone panics over. ( It wouldn't do me any good if I was because I am going no place with my car for quite some time)

I have learned the best way for me to stay on my healthier way of eating is to have a well stocked pantry for emergencies. I stock up for the times I work late or have foods in the house that are good for me when my cravings hit so I don't blow it by buying ice cream or going for a trip thru the drive thru. I also have whole wheat pizza dough in the freezer with mozzarella cheese for when the pizza cravings hit. I now just make a healthier version, usually a white pizza with spinach. I love my frozen spinach, so many uses.

An Alberta Clipper is hitting us on Monday. The snow we have now is going no place. The frigid temperatures for the rest of the week means very little melting. The snow storm on Monday is not going to be anywhere near the magnitude of the last 2 storms within 3 days of each other but it will be more snow on top of the existing snow. Good thing Monday is a legal Holiday, unless of course it hits during the night on Monday and then Tuesday will be dealing with the repercussions.

I will not stress over this because I am prepared. Not happy with another snow storm but at least my pre-planned stocked pantry will help me weather the storm, Pun intended. Planning is key.