How long can you last without grocery shopping?

Every once in a while, my friend Riana (warning: her blog is not always veg-friendly) goes on a shopping hiatus. She challenges herself to compose meals only from what she can find already in her fridge, freezers, herb garden, and amply-stocked pantry. She can go weeks at a time without shopping.

I can’t quite endeavor to go as long as Riana does without shopping, simply because I lack the supplies. Basically, my freezer is the size of a shoebox, I have one lonely basil plant on my balcony (which is hanging on for dear life), and even my pantry-like spaces are rather small. I do probably have enough dried beans, rices, couscous, pastas, etc. to keep my husband and I alive for a month or two, if it came to that, but what a monotonous and carb-heavy diet that would be. The lack of veggies would be depressing.

Still, I like the idea of a shopping hiatus. I love de-cluttering, and I’m sure there are plenty of things in my kitchen that should be used up soon. Even things like dried beans and tea bags have a shelf-life. Plus I’m a big fan of improvising in the kitchen, and I love the creative challenge that using up dwindling supplies will give me.

So I’ve decided to design a challenge for myself, to see how long I can manage without replenishing the pantry. I will still be allowed to buy fresh fruits and veggies, tofu, and soy milk, but that’s it. I wonder how long this will last…