Rice and Bean Challenge. The End.

Last breaky

                      The challenge is finished!!!

 I have to confess I broke the challenge after 4 1/2 days instead of doing the full 5 as I was going away.

(Let me tell you a bagel has never tasted sooooo LUSH!!!)

Here are some final reflections...

 

 The weak are Strong

What words and feelings do you associate with 'the poor'?

Here are some of mine:

Weak
Frail
Pity
Sympathy

During the challenge I questioned these and I stand humbly corrected.

I am the weak one-
 I would not be able to work or care for a family when I'm starving.

During the challenge I turned my thoughts to my own hunger. I complained about feeling hungry. I was grumpier. I resented the fact I had to eat bland food.

Then I realised...
that for people who the rice and bean challenge is not a choice but a reality- they are the strong ones. These people are stronger, bigger and more selfless than me.

I feel a real respect and admiration for them!

Reality check
Day 4 was the hardest day for me. I felt ready to scoff my face with food and had to exercise a lot of self control, but what kept me going was knowing that the next day i would be able to eat what I wanted.


This I realised...

I had an end, but people in poverty don't know when or if their end will come. They can't guarantee their next meal.

How much harder would it have been not knowing when the hunger was going to end??

In my first post I said I wanted a challenge.I was challenged- more than I thought I would be. I can't say it was enjoyable but I am so glad that I did it and I will do it again.

It has made me review how much I am spending on treats and food that I don't need.

It's time to be more conscious of my decisions on where to spend money.

The price of one chocolate bar was around the same cost of my food for the 5 days!!!

How many people could my chocolate bar feed?

It's time for me to make some changes!

Thanks for reading!

Would love to hear how you've found it if you've done the challenge or are thinking about it. Comment away.

Rice, Hunger. Reflections

Rice and Beans Challenge: Day 2

This is really difficult! I’m 2 days into the challenge and already feeling the struggle.

The Menu



20g oats, 35g rice and 30g beans. Yum??

Breakfast: 20g porridge made with water

Lunch: 35g rice with 30g beans

Dinner :35g rice with 30g beans

Drinks: Water

This is a lot more than a lot of people would have and I know that this challenge is not a true representation of what it's really like by any measure, but it is helping to turn what is an intellectual truth -that billions of people are starving every day- to one that my body starts to feel too.

Reflections. Thoughts. Challenges. Questions.

*I am learning what it is to feel hungry- actually hungry.



Around 10 million people in East Africa are facing
                severe hunger due to drought destroying
               crops and livestock



~When was the last time you felt proper hunger??

*I am becoming aware of how much my life revolves around food. It is everywhere! When I’m peckish I can open the fridge, pop into a coffee shop or a local shop. I live 2 mins from a 24 hour shop- I have access 24/7.

"mmm, what to have now??"

~I wonder how many times a day I open the fridge??

*I’m having to think differently when arranging to meet friends.  I can no longer go for my usual café catch up.

~How do you socialise with friends?

*I feel more tired and less motivated to do anything



~How do people live on less than this
and still manage to work in the fields all day??



*I am learning to be truly thankful for the food I eat (even if it doesn't have any flavour!)

~When were you last truly thankful for your food??

*I have realised that I have freedom and choice. I have the choice of what food I want to eat. I have the choice to eat/drink out. How hard it must be to see people eat while you go hungry?

I have the freedom from worrying about my next meal.

How many people share this freedom??

Yes I have freedom and choice, but what do I want to use it for?

What if I cut down on snacks or portions?
What if I fasted one day a week?
What if I didn’t buy a chocolate bar when I felt like it?
What if the money I could save from my greed could buy a meal for someone who is hungrier than me right now??

                                           What if you...?