@Classical_Liberal
Flexibility really is key; especially with a spouse + toddler. I'm finding that last portion of the flow a bit unnecessary and time-consuming having to calculate everything in my head....so re-worked it to account for day to day fluctuations:
Leftovers --> Cook using expiring ingredients --> Eat staple meals.
To recap purchased foods...as mentioned: Store brand + largest quantity possible + base ingredients is really key. Avoiding beef, pork, dairy, and processed foods as well as out of season veggies. Grocery list is small right now but fairly memorable: Eggs, Chicken Breasts (occasionally), Rice, Beans, Lentils, Carrots, Potatoes, Onions, Tomatoes, Tortilla wraps, and bread. Fruit on sale...Discovered I can probably eat some variation of burrito just about everyday
As for food disagreements...not too many actually. My spouse doesn't purchase beef and pork is very rare. These are the problems that persist: What hits me as luxurious is the specialty store my spouse goes to for Filipino foods. Sometimes she will buy those foods herself but other times if business is slow, I'll lump it into our food budget. But $40 worth of foods there doesn't last longer then 3-4 days
So...its a tricky one because food is cultural and I usually err on the side of avoiding conflict here. I'm more subtle I guess lately...somewhere I read here...smooth is fast, fast is smooth? I've found much wisdom in just being the change you want to see, just 'doing', and advantageous behaviors will eventually be picked up by SO hopefully. If not, well, I guess the system accounts for that with the eating of leftovers and the refusal to par-take in other habits. Secondly, the gas station purchases are always there but my spouse just buys those herself anyway. On a positive front, I managed to replicate a chicken salad sandwich that beats Wawa and Subway so my Spouse gave me kudos on that one.
Lately I've been refusing to par-take for a few weeks now since end of June. I'm past the 'What phase are you in now?' talk from my Spouse to the acceptance stage lol.
Spouse is happy that I quit my nasty habit of energy drinks and diet sodas. It has been 3 weeks since I've consumed those and go figure I'm not missing out.