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The Hunger Challenge Part 2

September 15, 2010 on 4:00 pm | In Main Category | 2 Comments

Today is Day 4 and I’m halfway there! I was warned that days 4 and 5 are often the hardest but, by day 6, there is light at the end of the tunnel. However, I think it’s important to remind ourselves that people in poverty may not see the light for months, years, or a lifetime.

So you’re probably wondering what I’ve been eating. Well, the answer is pretty simple. Breakfast is oatmeal and a glass of water. Today was a brisk morning and I found myself consumed by the thought of a delicious and comforting cup of coffee. Because I didn’t factor coffee into my budget I had to settle for a hot glass of water. It warmed me up but I never got the caffeine kick!
Lunch is either a peanut butter or tuna sandwich (minus the mayo, pickles, and celery) plus a glass of water. Tuesday, I splurged on an apple when I was feeling particularly ravenous.
Dinner on Sunday and Monday consisted of a small bag of frozen vegetables. Tuesday evening I cooked a huge vat of brown rice and lentils that I hope will last for the remainder of the week.

I have found the Hunger Challenge to be just as physically challenging as it is mentally challenging. Yes, I’ve endured hunger pains, caffeine withdrawal headaches, and fatigue – but wasn’t that to be expected? Instead, my most shocking realization has been the strong connection between food and my social life. Because eating is often a group event for me, food has become a dominant social activity in my life. This week I’ve been forced to isolate myself from this sector of my social life – declining dinner invitations, eating lunch alone in the staff room rather than subjecting myself to all the temptations in Project Open Hand’s cafeteria, skipping happy hour with friends after work, etc. I’m incredibly lucky to have these types of social engagements in my normal life because, as I’ve realized, people in poverty rarely engage in these “food sharing” experiences. In “Food and Eating: An Anthropological Perspective,” Robin Fox explains this phenomenon: “[Eating] is a profoundly social urge. Food is almost always shared; people eat together; mealtimes are events when the whole family or settlement or village comes together. Food is also an occasion for sharing, for distributing and giving, for the expression of altruism, whether from parents to children, children to in-laws, or anyone to visitors and strangers.”

As I walked through the Civic Center Farmers’ Market this morning I wanted to spend a few of my remaining dollars on fruit, as it is fresher and cheaper here – and my money will benefit farmers and the larger community. But, as I mentioned previously, most Farmers’ markets do not accept food stamps. Bummer. But, here’s a way that we can help: How can we encourage Farmers’ markets to accept food stamps in our area?

Check out this related article: “Farmers’ Markets Draw Few Food Stamps Users”

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iAdGrfR6e0EwTnXWFWwNhi1WTDXgD9I8759G0