Day 5: When the going gets tough, the tough go out to dinner, I like to say. When the going gets tough this week, though, I just have to dig a little deeper into my pantry.

I'm honestly having fun getting a little creative with what's left in the fridge. Today, for instance, I made artichoke soup when I found two cans of them hidden in the back of the cupboard. Not only are artichokes nutritious, the soup was tangy and delicious and cost me all of $5.00 to make.

Though I'm the first to admit that eating out is convenient and fun, there's something to be said for being in charge of what's on your plate. Unlike restaurant food, most of which is highly processed, I know exactly how much salt and sugar is in every meal, and I can control the calorie and fat content by adjusting ingredients.

After all, even when it comes to "light" dishes, restaurants aren't known for their honesty. And even though I still use portion control at home, it doesn't seem nearly as important when I'm not being served huge portions on gigantic plates.