DAY FIVE: May 5, 2008

Breakfast: 1 cup of Honey Bunches of Oats w/ almonds; 1/2 cup milk
Lunch: Tuna sandwich on wheat (2 oz tuna, 1 tbsp mayo); 1 banana
Dinner: 1.5 cups of brown rice with steamed veggies

I felt much more energized (or "normal") throughout the day, and I know that is partly owing to the extra protein, potassium, and iron in today's meals. I noticed this morning that all of the mixed fruit is gone, and only one apple is left. Since I didn't spend all my money at the start of the week - I kept some for "emergencies" - I was able to buy four small bananas at Trader Joe's for 19 cents each. I've been pretty good about rationing my vegetables, and I still have some pasta and rice left, as well as one can of tuna and the two Maruchan soups (which I hope to stay away from, if at all possible). I think I have just enough Honey Bunches of Oats left for two more servings of breakfast, but in case I don't, I still have about 1/3 of the loaf of wheat.

One thing I started thinking about yesterday: how would a family fit a birthday cake or a turkey or ham into this budget? The parents don't eat their share for several days in order to provide a birthday cake for their child? I am thankful that there are food pantries and organizations to provide meals for holidays at least, so that some families may have something more to look forward to. There are thousands living on less than half the budget that I get for this week, and thousands more barely surviving on next to nothing... the exhaustion and frustration have got to be just as awful, if not worse, than the physical hunger they must feel. We had a mini discussion on my previous blog entry about how people can manage to make do with what they have; that it's not always so horrible. I think that optimism and hope in the face of hardship is a wonderful thing, and it can be extremely powerful... but it's awful that anyone has to get used to a lifestyle like that to begin with. I complain about the hardships that these people must endure because the privilege and comfort of my own life leaves me with a responsibility to fight for those who cannot.

I wanted to share this message from one woman who was previously on food stamps: "I forgot what it was like at the end of the month when it’s 3 days away from more food stamps and you’re out of milk and bread and you have to make due with pasta and taco sauce (mexican spaghetti…sounds gross doesn’t it?) Or when I would fix food for the kids and the only meal I got was the one I got from the fast food restaurant I was a manager at (Thank God for the free meal policy)." Again, people are incredible to be able to make do on such limited resources, but it pains me that anyone has to experience this. How people can remain apathetic is beyond me.