Eat Like You Give a Contest

This is BIG news y'all.

It's our first ever contest/giveaway here on the blog!!!!!!!!!  Yay!  I just can't even stand it!  And who better to partner with than Thug Kitchen!  Sweet Jesus I'm in Heaven!

If you haven't guessed by now, this contest is about FOOD!  That's right, you get to eat and then you get to be a WINNER!  Now that sounds like my kind of contest!  But here's the deal, this contest is just a bit different than the average because it will be tailored to YOU.  That's right- this one is all about encouraging YOU to eat better.

The Rules:

1.  No animals.  Yeah, I said it.  This contest involves absolutely NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS OF ANY KIND.  Goodness but this is gonna be hard.  That means NO fish, NO meat, NO dairy- nada.

If you are already a vegan- well than this will be super easy!  You are totally still allowed to participate in this contest.  No one is excluded!  However- my hope is that you will push yourself to eat even healthier and make even more positive lifestyle changes along the way.

2.  The contest will begin on Monday May 23rd, 2016 at 6AM Pacific time and end on Sunday May 29th, 2016 at midnight, also Pacific time.  That's 7 days y'all.

3.  You will need to take a picture and give a brief description of every breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack (drinks included!) for the duration of the contest and post it to the daily contest thread on my Facebook page.

The thread will be posted live at 6AM Pacific time daily.

You can post them all at once at the end of the day or you can post them as you eat them.  I don't care as long as you do it.

4.  Each meal or snack MUST contain fresh fruits or vegetables.  As long as they are FRESH, it doesn't matter the quantity or type.

5.  Minimal processed food is required.  This means that you can NOT eat a vegan frozen dinner every night for 7 nights straight or open up a can of tomato soup every day for lunch.  Just nope.

And yes- an occasional "cheat" is alright, meaning one or two in a week's time frame but please don't use these "cheats" as a crutch.  I will be watching those pictures carefully!

6.  Use the honor system.  We are all grown adults and this contest is for FUN and ENCOURAGEMENT so please use the honor system and do your very best.  If you falter- POST IT!  I want everyone to see the normal struggles that come with changing your diet.  And you never know- I just might pick you as a lucky winner!

7.  Please be 18 years or older.  Eh- I don't really care how old you are but you must be old enough to make your own food choices.  Period.  So I guess that leaves out the babies and toddlers mmkay....

8.  You must be a FAN of The Homeschooled Housewife on Facebook.  This contest is open to fans only but y'all- it's super easy to be one mmkay....so just pop on over to the Facebook page and click "like" if you haven't already.



How Will the Winners Be Chosen?

• Honesty.  I'm looking for BRUTAL honesty and FULL disclosure regarding your diet.  The more info you give me on what you are eating, the better!  I want to know if you cheated a little bit or if you are knee deep in the struggle of what to eat, if a meal was horrid or surprisingly good- Share it all!
• Pictures and descriptions.  I will be pouring over these photos each day and making a list of those currently participating.  I don't want to say that it will ALL come down to the photos, but if you aren't sharing, you won't be winning.
• Willingness and determination.  While this contest is meant to be fun, it is also meant to encourage you.  I want to know that you are willing and determined to see this through.  I want you to be excited about these changes (or maybe you're not) and I want to hear how this contest is impacting your life when you share your daily photos.
• Variety.  I am looking for a variety of meals, snacks and foods.  If you eat the same meal every day for breakfast, you probably won't be winning.  Mix it up and try new things.
• Family involvement.  While this is meant as a personal contest- my hope is that entire families will be adopting some changes.  Are you making one meal for everyone?  Are you swapping out your kids pretzels and chips for strawberries and carrots?  The more I see the entire family participating, the higher your chances of winner are!
• At my discretion.  Well what exactly does that mean huh?!?  It simply means that I'm NOT looking for perfection.  So yes- some winners will have fallen off the wagon and eaten things that weren't part of the plan.  I reserve the right to select the winners and I will be using all of the above to do so.

How many Winners will be called and what are the prizes?

I am partnering with Thug Kitchen and they have GENEROUSLY donated all the swag.  They are currently sending me signed cookbooks, an apron, mug and tote bags but until I have the prizes in my possession- I can't tell you for sure exactly how many winners will be selected.  I am assuming there will be enough prizes for at least 5 people and I will be giving away ALL of what they send me.

Winners will be named on the Facebook page within 24 hours of contest end.  So basically on Memorial Day, Monday May 30th and again on Tuesday May 31st, 2016 in case you missed it the first time.  Please know that I am unable to "tag" the winners so it will be your responsibility to reply to me in order to claim your prize.  

If you are selected as a winner, please send me an instant message via my Facebook page with your mailing address and full name so that I can mail you your prize!  I will NOT be messaging you, so this one is up to the lucky winners.

If you do NOT reply by Friday June 3rd, 2016- a new winner will be selected.  Sorry, you snooze, you loose.


And finally- a few things about this contest and giveaway.


I will be participating and posting pictures right along with you.  In fact, I arranged this entire contest because I wanted help making the move towards more a more vegan lifestyle.  However I will not select my own self as a winner.  Because that's just tacky mmkay....

The REAL prize here is a possible change in lifestyle and a move towards healthier eating.  My hope is that this contest will jump start your journey and that we can all support one another as we experience it together.

Above all, this contest is meant to be FUN and ENCOURAGING.  So please don't be all serious and uptight about it mmkay....

All prizes have been donated by Thug Kitchen because they are fuckin' amazeballs.  I highly encourage everyone to check their shit out!

I am posting this information exactly ONE WEEK until the start of the contest.  This gives you time to get your shit together.  I highly recommend you menu plan and get the help and support of your entire family before starting this contest.  If you need some help, check out the recipes here on my blog.  LOTS of easy, family friendly meals that can easily be converted to vegan.

Together we can do this.