Day 31: The Final Day

Ok, this has been the longest month I have ever experienced. I remember the last time I went to the grocery store and charged up a bill over 20 bucks... that was New Year's Eve, and I bought sliced turkey and sourdough bread... Wow, so long ago.

Since then, I've eaten mainly beans, pasta, bread, rice, and frozen vegetables - as well as leftovers and odds 'n ends from my friends, from the Mission kitchen, and from other friendly folks who felt sorry for me during the time I became "genuinely" poor! On that note, I received a paycheque today - and three cheers for that - I did celebrate with a proper Tim Horton's coffee (a medium with milk for $1.24). I apologize, dear readers, for my extravagance: that put me over the $5 mark today, as I rang in at $5.94 by midnight.

However, in my own defence, I will say that I felt quite exhausted and drained today, and I'm not sure it was just the food situation but I wanted to increase my intake a bit. The swim lesson tonight was disappointing, I became dizzy during the drills and didn't get much of a workout. Finally we practiced dolphin dives, and I don't know what came over me, but all of a sudden I became extremely shy and couldn't execute one in front of my instructor and the program leader. It went downhill from there. I think I will try and get some good sleep tonight.

On another note, it is time to move out of this apartment, for real - now that I have a real paystub I should be able to secure a lease. I'm aiming for May 1st; April 1st if I find an especially awesome place. No wisecracks please, but I'll probably only need a minivan to move (not a U-haul!) I don't plan on buying any furniture either, what's the use, I'm never home and when I am I'm not sitting down because I don't have a TV and anyways what else would I do other than sleep?

That was a run-on sentence. So everyone, what shall I do for February? I have received several suggestions:

1. Eat vegan/ vegetarian or the Thrive diet
   
2. Eat organic
3. Eat local
   
4. Try a new/exotic vegetable each day (or old in a new way)
   
5. Reduce garbage (non-recyclable waste and packaging) to 1 lb for the entire month
6. Abstain from travel in carbon-emitting vehicles
7. Reduce home power consumption to $10 for the month.
8. Submit a business proposal to the Mission which includes a cost-benefit analysis of using re-useable plastic mugs instead of Styrofoam cups for each meal.
9. Convert 10 more people into regular readers of this blog.
10. (A la PK): Flirt with a different guy each day. (Now, what part of that says "green" to you? Unless it's John Baird or something, who knows?)
    

As for tomorrow, I suppose I will use that day to reflect on the lessons I learned during the month and provide a synopsis of the experiment (including the financial results). I may also have something to say about minimalism vs. consumerism; if I do, I shall move to the Glebe with yonder hippies. Stay tuned!

Breakfast: 2 cups coffee, 1.5 slices french toast, banana $1.36
Lunch: 1.67 cups bean & barley stew with TVP, 2.5 slices bread with margarine $0.92
Dinner: Lasagna (free! Thanks Isabel), 5 slices bread with margarine $0.78
Snack: 1 medium coffee @ Tim H's, 1 packet organic oatmeal $1.74
Other: Arrowroot biscuits & tea with milk, multivitamin $1.14

Day 31 Total: $5.84

Day 30: Laugh or Cry?

Not sure exactly what to say about this; my former manager gave me some of her tasty leftovers from lunch and some amazing fresh carrots and spinach (absolutely delicious, like junk food!) after hearing that I still haven't been paid, and that my eating for $5 a day has turned from an experiment to a necessity!

That was awfully kind of her, but I really did hope it wouldn't come to this!

Anyways, I'll be back to "green" blogging soon, but for now I'm just wiped ... all this talk of Harper and his Kyoto conspiracy theory is just disgusting. However, I did get word of a cool CNN article: Go Green, Get Rich which boasts of 8 new "green" technologies that will fatten your wallet while saving the world. My favourite is the Sonic Water Purifier: blowing up contaminants with ultrasound waves sounds pretty neat to me.

I paid for this season's three duathlon entries today with credit (to get the early-bird discount) but I'm going to hold off on the marathon fee until mid-February (it's freaking expensive!)

Breakfast: 2 cups coffee, 1 banana, 1/2 granola bar (free! Thanks Paul) $0.59
Lunch: 3.3 cups bean & barley stew with TVP, instant coffee $1.13
Dinner: Half of a chicken pita & a few home-fries, carrots, spinach with lemon (free! Thanks to Isabel), 2 tbsp peanut butter $0.24
Snack: Avocado milkshake (1 avocado, 1tsp vanilla, 2 tsp sugar, 1.5 cups skim milk) $1.52
Other: Multivitamin $0.10

Day 30 Total: $3.58

Day 29: The End is Near

Oh in so many ways, the end is near....

I bought some Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) at Loblaws today; $3.99 for 380g, where each 24g (dry) serving has 12g of protein. I'm going to mix it in with the rest of my bean stew and report on the taste tomorrow.

Tonight, my first real length of front crawl on my own... and I did a total of 4 laps somewhat properly, although with unilateral breathing.

And thanks to PK for setting up the celebratory brunch at Cora's - Saturday at 10 folks!

Breakfast: 1 serving (30g) Special K cereal, 1/2 cup milk, 2 cups coffee, apple $1.71
Lunch: 2 cups bean & barley stew, peanut butter sandwich, instant coffee, granola bar (free! Thanks Paul) $0.82
Dinner: 2 cups bean & barley stew, 2 slices bread with margarine $0.63
Snack: Hot chocolate, 40g trail mix $0.99
Other: Multivitamin $0.10

Day 29 Total: $4.25

Day 28: I really have to move

Ok, now I'm really counting down the days until I can move. So if I EVER get paid... I'm looking for a new place downtown. This is an old building, but I never realized what the accoustics are really like - just now (1:15 AM) this guy knocked on my door and said, very politely, that he had to get up at 6AM and could I please turn my movie down. Very interesting since I have lived here 4 years and never had that problem!

So of course I am appalled, and I say to the guy, "Well do you hear this often?! I'm so sorry if you do, please tell me anytime and I will turn stuff off!" And he kind of shrugs and looks at his feet and hems and haws, so I bet he does hear my music/ movies often. He was so polite and timid, I felt quite bad for him... I guess, normal people do go to bed 11-12 on Sundays... I apologized profusely and turned off everything. Now I just feel embarassed, geez! Maybe he's been silently cursing me for 4 years and I never even knew he could hear me!

See why I have to get a new place! (Well, for many reasons). PLEASE I NEED TO GET PAID.

Breakfast: 1 packet instant oatmeal $0.20
Lunch: 2 cups OJ with 3/4 scoop whey protein $1.38
Dinner: 2 cups coffee, 4 cups bean & barley stew $0.93
Snack: Peanut butter sandwich, 40g Sierra mix, hot cocoa $1.27
Other: Multivitamin, Ca/ D, glucosamine $0.16

Day 28 Total: $3.93

Day 27: Less food, more energy

My new theory is that my body is spending less energy digesting food and thus I have more energy to expend during my workouts. This hypothesis gathered some credibility tonight as I discovered the website of Brendan Brazier, who just happens to be a professional Ironman triathlete - and a vegan. In fact, he's a self-professed 80% "raw" vegan. Now that's hardcore... He's written a book called "Thrive: A Guide to Optimal Health and Performance through Plant-Based Whole Foods" and it seemed so intriguing that I promptly requested it from the local library (stay tuned for a review).

In the meantime, I am considering making February a vegan month - or at least a partially vegan month - to test how Brazier's Thrive diet works for me. I've even looked into hemp protein and heepseed oil (comparable in price to flax and whey), and the Vega meal replacement powders (pricey!!!)

His logic makes sense, really, and he makes some interesting claims about PH balance and the athlete. Leafy green vegetables are important in maintaining a proper PH balance and keeping the body's energy stores available to support immune function and bone health. Omega-3 and 6 (found in flax, hemp, and avacado) are important for heart health and many other body functions, including just keeping you feeling satisfied after a meal. Brazier even did an interview with Bodybuilding.com, and the article includes a sample day of his diet.

Of course, another aspect of the vegan diet is that it is inherently better for the Earth. The amount of food, chemicals, and hormones that go into meat production is incredible ... and thus many people believe that over-consumption of animal products is a major cause of world hunger. If we could just eat one vegan meal a day ... think of the difference even that would make to the food industry, to individual health, and to the environment.

In fact, wouldn't that be a good challenge for everyone next month?

Lunch: 2 cups coffee, 3 pancakes (1/2 cup dry mix, 1/2 cup skim milk, 1 egg, 1 tsp margarine), 1 cup yogurt $1.55
Dinner: 1 cup pasta, 1 can tuna, 1/4 cup frozen peas & carrots, salt & pepper, 1 lb lettuce with 3 tsp dressing $2.41
Snack: 2 cups coffee with milk, 2 cups bean & barley stew $0.62
Other: Multivitamin, Ca/ D, C, glucosamine $0.21

Day 27 Total: $4.79

Day 26: It's a Mystery

I haven't really felt hungry in a week, and I feel stronger and run faster than before. I'm eating barely 1/3 of what I ate in the fall... yet my weight loss has bottomed out at a whopping two (2!) pounds - and even that's stretching it. It almost seems like my body is adapting and becoming more efficient at converting food to fuel. I'm pretty easily meeting the $5 cut-off, even without the donations from friends... although I must admit, Amanda's chicken casserole certainly hit the spot tonight, and I didn't realize I was so hungry until I started eating it.

Tonight after swimming I was treated to a wonderful "spiked" hot chocolate at Paul & Amanda's, and even better, some sympathetic ears as we bitched about the government for awhile. This year, I am DEFINITELY going to:
1. Move
2. Fix the job situation
3. Have fun for a change

Anyways, if I don't move until May 1st I will have saved at least $300 in the difference, which I will use to buy a Bike2Body fit assessment at the OAC. My seatpost always gives me trouble and it seems to be slipping gradually to the left - resulting in left knee pain. Sigh. I still got in a good hour before swimming today though.

Breakfast: 2 cups coffee with milk $0.45
Lunch: 3 slices of bread + 1 slice discarded, tomato sauce with tofu and mushrooms $2.18
Dinner : 1 bowl pasta, tofu, mushrooms & tomato sauce $0.98
Snack: 1 cup yogurt, granola bar (free! Thanks Paul), instant coffee $0.64
Other: Russian hot chocolate, almonds, chicken casserole (all free! Thanks Paul & Amanda), multivitamin, C, Ca/D, glucosamine $0.21

Day 26 Total: $4.45

Day 25: Have Feet, Will Travel

Ok, today let's talk about fitness, economy, and conservation ... all at once. According to this article in Science News Online, there is a correlation between urban sprawl and obesity. People living in population-dense areas tend to have walking/ cycling access to a wide variety of amenities, as well as easy access to public transit (which necessitates walking to and from stations, etc). One of the prime factors in predicting obesity has always been extensive reliance on automobiles.

Now admittedly, much of this is anecdotal. The correlation is hard to prove scientifically, yet individuals claim to do more walking in built-up areas; in fact, I'd bet many of us would agree intuitively with this correlation, or have personally lived the experience. Having grown up in a small town, I know what it is like to rely on the car to do ANYTHING... you even had to drive 30 minutes to get to a gym! (Now I walk 30 minutes to get to a gym). Even when I go back to visit, I feel pretty much stranded and isolated because I don't own a car and must rely on others to drive me around. Nothing threatens independence so directly as that!

Another point I have been thinking about is that my perception of distance has changed as I have become more active. I walk everywhere and more recently, jog everywhere. I measure distance in how long it would take me to get somewhere on my own two feet... any place less than 30 minutes away is "close" (work, gym, library, UO pool, Tim H's on Laurier, the mall). Any place less than 60 minutes away merits consideration of the bus, but in good weather I'll usually opt for foot travel (my bike shop, Carleton U, the dentist, Gatineau Park). Once you "know the route" it becomes shorter with familiarity ... quite a phenomenon actually. When I was a teenager in my little commuter town, a 15-minute walk was considered "exercise".

It was nice to hit the gym tonight, great for stress relief. I did a 30-min warmup on the elliptical with some 1-1 intervals at 70-80% resistance, then headed to the treadmill, getting into a nice groove during my run. I began at a relaxed 6.0-6.5 mph and moved to 6.8 to get my second wind. (This is my last month of Base and I'm working on getting 6.8 mph to be my marathon pace - sustainable at Zone 2 forever). Well finally I saw some results, because I was still flying after 5 miles.

The regular gym-rat next to me (nice enough this time) exclaimed, "Don't you have a lot of energy!" and then, "Weren't you just doing cardio over there?"

I pondered this for a second (still running of course).

"Yeah".

He raised his brows to his hairline and whistled.

I then pushed the pace to 7.1.

Breakfast: 2 cups coffee, 1 cup chocolate milk $0.76
Lunch: Peanut butter sandwich, 1 cup yogurt, apple $1.27
Dinner: 1 bowl pasta, tofu, mushrooms & tomato sauce $0.98
Snack: Granola bar (free! Thanks Paul), instant coffee $0.14
Other: 2 cups OJ with 3/4 scoop whey protein, multivitamin, Ca/ D, glucosamine $1.53

Day 25 Total: $4.67

Day 24: January Blah

From the second I got out of bed, this day was a disaster; just trudging from one thing to another, almost inhumanely. I've had it with winter, people in SUV's, lovers who kiss in public, smokers, OC Transpo, boys who think they're men, grovelling in general, grad school applications, employers who don't pay employees, and swimming.

I've had it with swimming. I've had it with my instructor, who torments me and keeps calling me "Robyn", and my shoulder which popped out tonight and hurts like shit. I've had it with being poor and keeping face, going to work and looking like I'm homeless, trying to be happy and feeling the opposite, trying to stop people from destroying our world and not making a dent.

Ok people, I get it, you just don't care. Be as happy as pigs in poop when your kids can't play on the beach, can't ski on the slopes, can't hike in the park, can't drink from the lake, can't breathe in the air. It's your fucking mortal choice. Go make us extinct already.

For the rest of us, check out The Conscious Earth blog; it's cool.

Breakfast: 2 cups coffee, 1 cup chocolate milk, granola bar (free! Thanks Paul), apple $1.11
Lunch: Peanut butter sandwich, 1 cup yogurt, instant coffee $1.02
Dinner: Vegetable soup & bread with margarine $1.15
Snack: Boiled brussels sprouts $1.06
Other: Multivitamin, Ca/ D, glucosamine $0.16

Day 24 Total: $4.50

Day 23: More with Less

As I trudged through the sludge along Laurier's unshoveled sidewalks, on my way to check out the $1.00 sale at Loeb (yesssssssssss!! flyer here), I was thinking about, well, doing more with less. Elementary, you say? Well look, it's easy to do more with more, isn't it? We spend more to consume more. We pollute more to acquire creature comforts. We spend our children's future (clean air, water, a hospitable climate, and environmental safety) to make ourselves happy during our own short lifetimes. We are mortal, and thus pathetically short-sighted. We think, "after I'm dead, what does it matter"?

Right now, I'm discovering specifically that we often eat more than we need, and for the wrong reasons - more for comfort and entertainment than for necessity of life.

I'm feeling a bit gloomy anyways, so I'll point out an article from The Observer (UK) on the inevitability of global warming and how it will affect human life on Earth. It speaks for itself... Again, there is probably still time to prevent catastrophe, but we have to act NOW.

A draft copy of the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, obtained by The Observer, shows the frequency of devastating storms - like the ones that battered Britain last week - will increase dramatically. Sea levels will rise over the century by around half a metre; snow will disappear from all but the highest mountains; deserts will spread; oceans become acidic, leading to the destruction of coral reefs and atolls; and deadly heatwaves will become more prevalent.

The impact will be catastrophic, forcing hundreds of millions of people to flee their devastated homelands, particularly in tropical, low-lying areas, while creating waves of immigrants whose movements will strain the economies of even the most affluent countries.

'The really chilling thing about the IPCC report is that it is the work of several thousand climate experts who have widely differing views about how greenhouse gases will have their effect. Some think they will have a major impact, others a lesser role. Each paragraph of this report was therefore argued over and scrutinised intensely. Only points that were considered indisputable survived this process. This is a very conservative document - that's what makes it so scary,' said one senior UK climate expert. (observer.co.uk: full article)

On another note, many thanks to Mike & Ang for the dinner, company, and encouragement offered to me this evening. Such good friends make this daily toil bearable!

Breakfast: 2 cups coffee, chocolate-oatmeal energy bar $0.78
Lunch: 1 can beans in tomato sauce, 3 slices bread with margarine, tea $1.18
Dinner: Nachos, salsa, hummus, olives, tea & cookies (free! Thanks to Ang & Mike) $0.00
Snack: 1 cup milk $0.32
Other: Multivitamin, Ca/ D, C, glucosamine $0.21

Day 23 Total: $2.48

Day 22: Rice (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly)

Ok, first I'm gonna direct you to this CBC article about geothermal energy in the USA and Canada. This is really the new wave of clean energy; nuclear is NOT a real solution (duh... the radioactive WASTE that we haven't yet learned to store for longer than 100 years!), and even grain-based fuels produce as many greenhouse gases in manufacturing as they save in eventual use. Again, of course I advocate conservation above all else - but this is a good read.

Back to Day 22....

THE GOOD
Rice is cheap (I purchased 900g for $0.99).
Brown rice is nutritious.
Rice takes less time to cook (and thus less energy) than dried beans of any type.
Rice can be eaten with chopsticks, thus making it more interesting.

THE BAD
Cooked rice cannot be stored for very long without risk of contamination (24 hours in the fridge is the suggested max).
Rice can easily get to be "blah" and bland unless you're creative with it.

THE UGLY
Cooking rice wreaks havoc on your pots and pans unless you're uber-sophisticated with a rice-cooker or what-have-you.

So today, on the 22nd day of this experiment, I finally caved in and ate the cheapest food of all; the food that sustains the majority of people in this world. Did you know that the verb "to eat" in many cultures is synonymous with "to eat rice"? (World's Healthiest Foods)

THE VERDICT

I prefer beans and bread.

Breakfast: 2 cups coffee, brown rice, veggies, tofu, lentils $1.04
Lunch: Tim's coffee (free! Thanks Paul) Brown rice, veggies, tofu, lentils $0.76
Dinner: Brown rice, veggies, tofu, lentils $0.76
Snack: Homemade chocolate-oatmeal energy bars, tea with milk $1.98
Other: Multivitamin, Ca/ D, C, glucosamine $0.21

Day 22 Total: $4.75

Day 21: I thought 15 miles was enough...

So I ran a 15-mile equivalent at the gym today (10 on treadmill, 5 on elliptical with a high cadence and ramp). At about 2 1/4 hours, one woman who'd come through the gym several times for one of the workshops in the back, stopped right in front of me and said, "Ok, so how many miles have you run so far?" I was quite surprised, but I just told her "It'll be 15". "Fifteen!" she echoed with brows raised, and turned away with a shake of the head.

I got so pumped I jogged another mile for my cooldown. Next to me was a hulking, musclebound dude who thought it was cool to grunt and groan and moan out his excruciating efforts: 1 min jog alternating 5 min walk. He made a big show of his laborious shuffle, and made one hell of a lot of noise. By then I was at mile 12 and I just laughed at him; he stared at me like I was from outer space.

Meanwhile, I learned the secret of Friday's elliptical machine adventure: #3 does have different (lighter) calibration. How did I figure that out? Well I watched as a woman went up to the guy currently using #3 and said, "How long are you going to be on there? Because the limit is 30 minutes." Said guy replies in confusion, gesturing to either side of him, "What's wrong with the other 4 machines?" (note the gym is practically empty). She returned: "But I really want to use THIS machine." Voila! I was choking back my giggles from my spot on the treadmill. I kind of feel sorry for her; but just kinda - idiocy doesn't get a medal anymore.

I went home and stoked the human machine with Paul & Amanda's tasty leftovers and coffee, then headed out for swimming - a slow jog to Bank/ Laurier. As luck would have it, the #4 came 5 mins early and I was left staring at the back of it while it hurtled down Bank St. I didn't want to risk being late so I continued my jog down to Gladstone, jumped on the #1, and got off at Sunnyside because that's where my bike shop is, and I know that my bike shop is supposed to be close to Carleton (ok, bad logic but it was all I had!) I turned right and jogged down the nearest street, hoping my internal honing device was working ... lo and behold, 10 mins later I saw the "Welcome to Carleton, Home of the Ravens" sign and I was never so happy to get there. I continued my mile-eater jog to the front door of the gymnasium and hustled all the way to the pool.

I was 5 minutes early.

My cute (but short) swim instructor with the green eagle tatooed on his back then tells me to swim 100m of front crawl, 25m of back and 50m of breaststroke, and if I touch bottom it'll be more pullups. "Wait," I say, "I can't even do a proper stroke!" Too late, he's got his stopwatch and it's do or die. "We're working on fitness!" he exclaims.

How ironic.

Total mile tally: 15 + 2 warmup/ cooldown + 3 to Carleton = 20 miles
How long is a marathon? 26.2 miles

Dinner (first meal of day): Leftover chicken and rice casserole (free! Thanks to Amanda & Paul), 2 cups coffee, 1 cup milk, 1 cup chocolate milk $1.22
Snack: Tofu sandwich (3 slices bread, 1/2 pkg tofu, 1 onion, 3 packets free ketchup), 2 cups chocolate milk $2.24
Other: 1 cup OJ, 3/4 scoop protein powder, multivitamin, glucosamine, C $1.20

Day 21 Total: $4.66

Day 20: Hearty eating & a Haircut

Saturday was an interesting day ... I tried to get a swim practice in at the UO pool but there was a swim meet going on, so Alex and I whiled away the time at the nearby Second Cup because it was just too darn cold to walk to Tim Horton's. Luckily, since I expected to be fed at the Mission, it was just barely in the budget - and the only "exterior" food I've bought with my own cash since December.

During my volunteer shift, I ate from some of the scraps leftover from Chris' turkey broth. He didn't even laugh too hard as I picked some of the meat and veggies out of the bottom of that gigantic pot before he tossed the rest into the garbage. Hey, I have just an inkling of what it's like to be hungry.

Finally, the day ended on a superb note at Paul & Amanda's, where I was spoiled with a hearty chicken & rice casserole for dinner, finished off with snacks, coffee, pie, and a surprisingly strong Starbucks drink! And let's not forget Ang's haircut, which saved me well... I dunno... probably 40$ at least! You can see the transformation here, except that you need to remember that I lopped off at least 4 inches prior to this! Thanks to Paul for recording the event in pictures; it was good that we'd already had a few drinks by then!

Breakfast: Peanut butter sandwich, coffee & muffin at Second Cup $3.55
Lunch: Turkey, salad, potatoes, and stock pot scrapings at the Mission (Thanks to Chris & the gang) $0.00
Dinner: Rice, chicken, veggie & cheese casserole, Doritos, espresso and pecan pie (free! Thanks Amanda & Paul) $0.00
Snack: 2 cups coffee $0.28
Other: Haircut (Free! Thanks Ang)

Day 20 Total: $3.83

Day 19: Ready for a change

It's not that I don't like lentils and barley and all, but it's what I've had for most of two weeks. The pot is finished so I'm investigating some beans & brown rice recipes ... and I admit they look kinda good. Also, kale and collard greens are on sale at Loblaws this coming week, and I'm looking forward to experimenting with them; apparently they're some of the healthiest foods known to man (er... vegetarians).

Wow, isn't my menu dreary today?! One day, one day! I will have a real fridge, stove, oven and freezer. I'm just dying with anticipation.

Oh, and despite my lack of chicken, I maxed out the elliptical machine tonight. Yup, that's right: I maxed it out! As in, I spent 60 minutes at the highest ramp and resistance setting with a good cadence and couldn't make it work me any harder. Hahahaha, beans and grains you say; there must be something to this vegan bodybuilding thing after all. The only other option is that someone is out there recalibrating the machines in secret (I'm usually at 80-90% of max)... wee-ooh wee-ooh

Ah, just wait'll I have shoulders (and rippling delts, oh my!) like my swim instructor and legs like Lori-Ann Muenzer.

Breakfast: 1 cup lentil-barley stew, 1 slice bread with margarine, 2 cups coffee $0.64
Lunch: 1 cup lentil-barley stew, 2 slices bread with margarine, banana $0.92
Dinner: 1 cup barley-lentil stew, mixed field greens salad, 2 slices bread with margarine, 2 cups coffee $2.51
Snack: Protein shake (1/2 cup milk, 1 scoop protein powder, 1 tsp cocoa, ice cubes, leftover coffee) $0.81
Other: Multivitamin $0.10

Day 19 Total: $4.98

Day 18: I miss chicken

Today (Thursday) my arms were killing me, and I was a bit worried about my protein intake. I know, theoretically, that lentils and barley make up a complete protein when consumed together, but I couldn't help thinking that my lingering muscle soreness was due to a lack of ... chicken. I miss chicken.

Another thing I realized today is that this $5 experiment will probably have to go on past January 31st, for other reasons ... er, I still haven't got a real paycheque ... sigh. I ran halfway to Carleton U last night to avoid having to use another set of bus tickets to get home. Hey, I could always disconnect my phone and stuff.

I snuck in a 1/2 portion of protein powder in today's menu, and made a typically disgusting drink with OJ and strawberry-kiwi Dynawhey. I hope it helps, since after tonight's bike workout I need it even more.

And for anyone who was wondering, well it looks like I shed 2 pounds so far this month. But don't try this at home, kids: remember, most cheap food is also less nutritious. I could also eat 3 bags of chips per day for $3 and I'd probably die.

Breakfast: 2 cups lentil-barley stew, 2 cups coffee $0.66
Lunch: 2 cups lentil-barley stew, 2 slices bread with margarine, tea $0.87
Dinner: Mixed field greens with dressing, 2 cups lentil-barley stew, 2 slices bread with margarine $2.08
Snack: Banana, 1 slice banana bread and 1 timbit (free!) $0.24
Other 1 cup OJ, 1/2 scoop protein powder, 1/2 peanut butter sandwich, multivitamin, Ca / D $1.12

Day 18 Total: $4.96

Day 17: Pull-ups in the Pool

Whew, I survived the most awesome - and brutal - swim lesson ever. I got a new instructor, and since I'm in a class with only 2 other guys and my instructor is quite fit himself... well he didn't tame it down any for my benefit! We worked hard, and any time we touched bottom he made us swim to the side and do 10 pullups. For now, I'm keeping up with the boyz... Next week, the punishment will be situps and chinups on top of that!

I couldn't do the final length of front crawl but I did back swim instead, my instructor was surprised that I made it (2:30 - no arms, to give you an idea of how slow I am). Anyways my shoulders are killing but my pride is intact... Gonna chop my hair a bit too, it's a liability in the pool!

Happy news, I don't eat as much now, and I get full really fast.

Breakfast: 2 cups coffee, 2 cups lentil & barley stew $0.66
Lunch: 2 cups lentil & barley stew, tea, peanut butter sandwich $0.90
Dinner: 2 cups lentil & barley stew, 6 slices bread with marg $1.30
Snack: 2 cups coffee, hot chocolate, homemade oatmeal-peanut butter energy bars $1.65
Other: Tea with milk, multivitamin, Ca/ D, C $0.36

Day 17 Total: $4.87

Day 16: The Peanut Butter Sandwich

What's old is new again ... the underrated, overlooked, yet faithful standby: the peanut butter sandwich. Made with wholegrain bread, and using 2 tablespoons (30g) of Kraft Smooth Peanut Butter (it has the lowest fat and highest protein content per $), this sandwich costs 2 x $0.1326 + $0.1197 = $0.3849 and boasts 450 calories, 17g of protein, 6g of fibre, NO cholesterol, and 21g of fat (of which only 4g is saturated "bad" fat). Using Country Harvest 12-grain bread we also get omega-6 and omega-3, and the sandwich gives you at LEAST 20% of the RDA of the following nutrients:

• Niacin
• Folate
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Thiamine
• Vitamin E
  

Breakfast: Peanut butter sandwich, 1 cup coffee $0.55
Lunch: Mixed salad greens with dressing, the other can of Mike's Beeferoni (free!), apple, 2 cups coffee $1.48
Dinner: 1 can tuna (free! Thx Amanda) steamed with 1 cup frozen veggies, 1 cup cocoa $0.96
Snack: Peanut butter sandwich, tea, 1 can baked beans, 2 slices bread with margarine $1.39
Other: Multivitamin, Ca/ D, C $0.18

Day 16 Total: $4.56

Day 15: Halfway done!

Only 16 more days of this rationing left! I am envisioning a Cora's brunch with UNLIMITED coffee... heaven!

Many thanks to Angèlie who invited me over for a tasty dinner and convinced me I should be studying instead of hitting the gym. As it turns out, she was right... again! I just must have this marathon thing on the brain... yes I know, it's not 'til May 27.

Breakfast: Peanut butter sandwich, 2 cups coffee $0.80
Lunch: 1 can of Mike's Beeferoni* (free!), mixed field greens, apple, 1/2 peanut butter sandwich, tea (free! Sample in mail) $1.75
Dinner: Pizza, Greek salad, chicken fingers, tea & brownie (Free! Thanks Ang) $0.00
Other: Multivitamin, 1 cup hot cocoa $0.65

Day 15 Total: $3.20
*Surprisingly, canned Beeferoni is not that bad: no preservatives, sugar ISN'T the first ingredient, and there are real veggies in it. I couldn't personally SEE any but that's beside the point.

Day 14: Invincible

I'm rolling now, caught up in the momentum, unstoppable. Food is utilitarian, and I feel invincible! Today I hit the gym and did cardio like the Energizer Bunny, even laughed at how I good it felt, despite not eating at all since last night. In fact, it was 6pm before I had the first food or drink of the day, and I felt no hunger even then. I ate a salad because it seemed like the right thing to do... and then headed off to my swimming lesson - the first lesson of Session Two!

I went over $5 today because I was worried about my protein intake; I gulped down 1 litre of skim milk and that killed my budget. My arms were still aching from Saturday's ultra-lifting, "jelly-arm" workout and it would be counter-productive to neglect the proper nourishment. Remember folks, I've banked a surplus this month! All items from Loblaws unless otherwise noted.

Dinner: 1 bag Lipton noodles (Zellers) & 1 can tuna (Loeb - free! Thanks Amanda), 1 cup mixed vegetables, mixed field green salad & dressing $1.95
Snack: Mini rice cakes (Zellers), 1L skim milk, 2 cups coffee, 1 tsp hot chocolate mix $3.08
Other: Multivitamin $0.10

Day 14 Total: $5.13
*Note that I received 4 cans of tuna from Amanda, who kindly insisted on paying for them while we were in line at Loeb!

Day 13: Power 2 the PEOPLE

I am living on remnants, cast-aways, and odds 'n' ends - and it's surprising how far one can go. I am nowhere near starving at all; in fact, today I quite lost my appetite - even though I went to the gym this morning. As you will see, I did eat, but more out of rote and planning than any real desire to. I must admit that Chris' turkey perked me up, as did Alex's Poptarts.

This evening heralded the monthly phone call to the parents; now officially they think I'm crazy. First, I am training for Ironman; second, I care so much about global warming that I can't sleep at night; third, I am eating for 5 bucks a day to learn about what it means to be hungry... and do a good turn for the community. And by the way, to all of the kind folks who have donated food to me this month: my mother officially thanks you for not letting her daughter starve. Sigh...

On the way home I was accosted by an earnest-looking fellow who, after enquiring as to my language preference, thrust a small piece of paper at me and said something like, "You're invited to the party, it's student-friendly and woman-friendly" and then he ran off. Well I had to laugh, and when I looked at the paper I realized he was not talking about partying, but about activism. What was funny to me was his list of bachelor degrees, including a B.Comm. And with all those languages, he could work at the UN!
He sure didn't act like your typical University of Ottawa business graduate, so it piqued my curiosity (well, maybe he's from Carleton). And since I always sympathize with the underdog, I've posted his little paper handout up here. I even visited his website briefly. Now I admit that a bit of passion out there is a GOOD thing, and he's got his heart in the RIGHT place, and what he stands for is certainly ETHICALLY and SOCIALLY responsible, even commendable. HOWEVER, I think he uses too many CAPITAL LETTERS (which is interpreted as "screaming") to express his views, and the website is also lacking in navigability and design. Of course that is easily fixable; it is the ideas that are hard to come by. And I wish the guy the best; I also urge you to check it out, because I feel the little tug of my conscience - he is doing something proactive to improve the world: more than most of us are doing.

Breakfast: Life Multigrain remnants, Raisin Bran cereal remnants, marshmallow remnants, 2 cups milk $1.12
Lunch: Turkey, roast potatoes and salad at the Mission (free! Thx to Chris & the gang) $0.00
Dinner: 5 cups splitpea soup with ham, Ca/ D $1.13
Snack: Poptarts (free! Thanks Alex), tea with milk, 2 cups of coffee $0.46
Other: Multivitamin, Ca/ D $0.13

Day 13 Total: $2.84

Day 12: The Calorie as an unbiased predictor of satiety.

Today I finally began to experience a kind of subordination of taste to satiety; in other words, taste is becoming much less important to me than it was before. It is not that I experience the flavours to a lesser extent, but rather that "flavour" is not itself an important element in the eat-to-live reality. As long as the calorie is reasonably nutritious and (of course) inexpensive, it is equal to any other calorie contained in any other food - and I prefer not one over the other.

Today - all day - I ate split pea soup. For dinner I had 2 cups of milk and 240g dry cereal (most of a Life Multigrain trial pack), and later a hot chocolate with marshmallows. I felt pretty much indifferent to eating anything else, and just wanted to avoid wasting the perishables. Actually, the act of eating is losing its lustre now; it's more just a chore.

However, my latest discovery does nothing to solve the riddle of the cantankerous homeless guys, complaining about the food. Hmm.

Breakfast: 3 cups splitpea soup with ham, 2 cups coffee $0.94
Lunch: 5 cups splitpea soup with ham, tea (free from sample in mail) $1.10
Dinner: 240g dry cereal, 2 cups milk, 1 cup hot chocolate with marshmallows $1.88
Other: Multivitamin, Ca/ D $0.13

Day 12 Total: $4.05

Day 11: The Joy of Leftovers

Today was a pretty easy day, thanks to the leftovers from last night. I even had two workouts today - a 9k run at lunch, and a good workout in the gym in the evening - and experienced no hunger pangs. I missed having Vector & marshmallows with tea; what a treat that was tonight!

No other news, except that the weather is finally cooling off. I saw someone run around on the semi-frozen canal at about 10pm today ... a few of us were watching over the Laurier bridge to see if the idiot would fall through the ice, but it didn't happen.

I walked by a discarded Second Cup paper beverage cup today and thought how strange it was ... to not have purchased a Second Cup coffee since I finished school & started this experiment! Funny thing is, I wonder why it always was so necessary for me to take one to class? My coffee tastes good at home (way to go Nabob).

Breakfast: 3 cups splitpea soup with ham, 2 cups coffee $0.94
Lunch: Leftover spaghetti sauce, 4 slices whole wheat bread (free!), tea $0.05
Dinner: 3 cups splitpea soup with ham, apple $1.38
Snack: Some of Mike's candy $0.00
Other: 2 cups of tea with milk, 3 cups Vector cereal & marshmallows, multivitamin & Ca/ D $2.61

Day 11 Total: $4.98

Day 10: It is good to have friends who cook.

I won't write much today, I'm still ruminating on the wonderful feast I had tonight - thanks to Ang & Mike. Spaghetti with homemade sauce (mushrooms, beef, peppers... mmm) dressed with olives and cheese, whole-wheat garlic toast, a REAL milkshake (courtesy of Mike and his fancy Hamilton Beach milkshake-making gadget - now I want one to make protein shakes with!), and some old-fashioned candy necklaces (don't ask).

Here's part of the dinner invite I received last night from the coolest people on earth:

You are coming to our house for dinner tomorrow night!
We are having spaghetti, and if you don't get your butt here we are going to call the police, and send you to jail!
Because frankly people in prison are being fed better than you!!! [...]
We read your blog, and there is no need for you to go hungry when you have peeps to feed you :D
[...]

see you soon!

Ang, Mike, Dusty & Bandit

(To clarify, Dusty & Bandit don't do a lot of cooking or inviting, being canine and feline respectively). So this was a real treat.

Not only that, but I was sent off into the (newly frigid) winter weather with leftover tomato sauce, some chocolate, and 2 cans of Beeferoni (hey, nostalgia!). Moral of the story is, you just gotta get yourself some good friends who can cook (nope, I'm not telling ya where they live).

Many thanks, and compliments to the chef(s)!!

Breakfast: 125g dry cereal, 2 cups of coffee $0.74
Lunch: 4 cups vegetable-barley soup, tea, 1/2 granola bar (free! Thanks Paul), 1 packet instant organic oatmeal $1.35
Dinner: Spaghetti with meat sauce, whole-wheat garlic toast, chocolate milkshake (free! Thanks Ang & Mike) $0.00
Snack:1 cup splitpea soup with ham, 1 cup chocolate milk $0.47
Other: Tea, 1/2 of Mike's chocolate bar, Multivitamin & Ca/ D: $0.23

Day 10 Total: $2.79

Day 9: It's all about soup.

Another self-supported day, and I fared a bit better this time. I took a day off working out though - to try and get a decent night's sleep - and so my calorie needs were reduced. I'm going to have to make up for that tomorrow night... so I have to budget my food accordingly. I was checking out the regular bodybuilding site (www.bodybuilding.com) this time, and came upon this transformation. Geez, I can't be cheap OR vegan if I want to build that kind of muscle!

I also spent some time surfing around to find some cheap eats... looks like soup is the way to go. In fact, I found out that I overpriced my vegetable-barley soup for the last couple of days, so I had a "free" cup tonight. For the record: one dry cup of barley (200g) has 700 calories and 40g of protein for $0.22; one dry cup of green lentils (200g) has 700 calories and 52g of protein for $0.33; 1 dry cup of long-grain brown rice (200g) has 725 calories and 30g of protein for somewhere between $0.22 and $0.33, apparently depending on whether you buy it "on sale".

I love barley; creamy, smooth and comforting. I threw some in my next batch of splitpea soup (on the stove tonight, gotta wait til tomorrow to see if it turns out!).

Hope there's no typos, I'm wearing gloves at the keyboard ... sigh.

Breakfast: 3 cups vegetable-barley soup, 1/4 loaf crusty bread with margarine, 2 coffees with milk $1.56
Lunch: 4 cups vegetable-barley soup, tea $0.85
Dinner: 3 cups vegetable-barley soup, 1/4 loaf crusty bread with margarine $0.97
Snack: 200g cereal & 2 cups cocoa $1.39
Other: Multivitamin & Glucosamine* $0.13

Day 9 Total: $4.89
*For those who might wonder what Glucosamine (sulphate) is and why I spend 2.5 cents on it per dose, I take it as "joint support" in the days following a long run, until my achiness wears off. It's supposed to stimulate cartilage regeneration, but there are many conflicting studies. It doesn't hurt me and it's cheap, so what the heck.

Day 8: "Crazy with hunger".

Today I learned some important lessons:

1. Hunger can drive a person to do pretty crazy things.
2. When you're really hungry, you can't think about ANYTHING else.
3. Hunger is really a base thing; for the first time I realize how it dehumanizes us.

Now you're saying, "whatever", this girl doesn't know hunger from an oak tree. And perhaps you're right; I can always cheat on my diet, I am not homeless and not (quite) broke, and food is in great supply in this country. In fact, most of us have more than we know what to do with. We may even waste more food than others in this world get to eat... and that is a very sad thought. So no, I can't begin to imagine what the truly hungry people of this world feel like. The closest I can get is to drastically reduce my food intake - while keeping all other factors constant - and see how it affects my daily life.

The last couple days now, I've kept a pretty heavy workout schedule and not had too many freebies in terms of food... I'm flying solo you could say... and I'm feeling it. It's cumulative: a few days of not eating all that I want to, and it builds until it's hard to sleep at night with my stomach gnawing. So tonight I "cheated" and went over by 26 cents... I've banked some surplus so I felt it was alright, plus I am in danger of having my milk go sour and I don't want to waste it.

The faint-hearted can skip this next part:
By the time I got home from work today, I was so hungry that I felt nauseated and weak. The first thing I could get my hands on was some bread and I ate it so fast that it stuck in my throat... but I was so relieved I could have cried!... and then I ate spoon after spoon of my barley concoction and 1/2 a loaf of bread, before hitting the gym. Soon I realized that all my food was just a temporary fix ... the hunger started again. I had run out of money for the day and thus I went over by an extra cup of milk (did a lot of lifting and needed the protein). But all of this solidified my resolve that if I can survive past January, I'll be making some kind of donation to the Ottawa Food Bank. This experiment is certainly an eye-opener.

Oh, and for all you dear cynics who look at my food results and scoff at the large amounts I seem to consume ANYWAYS, let me say in my own defense that I happen to be 5'11", 150 lbs, use my own feet for transportation at least 2 hours per day, and workout 2-3 hours per day. So basically I am a giant machine. Thanks for your understanding...

Breakfast: Turkey sandwich with mustard, Glucosamine $1.14
Lunch: 1 bowl creamy pasta & tuna with green pepper, apple, Tim's coffee & cookie & 1/2 granola bar (free! Thanks Paul) $1.48
Dinner: 4 cups vegetable-barley soup, 2 slices bread with margarine $1.13
Snack: 1/2 loaf crusty bread, 1 tbsp Nutella, 1 tsp margarine, 2 cups milk $1.38
Other: Multivitamin & Glucosamine $0.13

Day 8 Total: $5.26

Day 7: Why the homeless don't run marathons.

I ran an 18k pick-up this afternoon and "ran" right into a problem; while running suppresses the appetite, about 2 hours later your body is clamouring for those calories to be replaced and the recovery process to start. Yet, I really can't afford another 1600 or so calories per day on my diet... unless I eat less nutritious foods or... do a lot of research. Since I have lots of beans, rice and grains, I began to surf the 'net for some suitable low-cost recipes and came across this one for Vegetable Barley Soup.

Well I modified it by adding dry lentils, more barley, more water, more veggies, and different spices (cumin, cardamom, red pepper and garam masala in addition to the curry). The amazing thing? A HUGE (estimated 20 cups) pot of this soup cost me $4.06, and it contains beans and grains for complete protein, pretty much all the vitamins I'd need, and tastes great too! Curry and tomato is a great combination (but I'm biased, I like everything hot).

I was also surfing around and came across some sites about vegan bodybuilding (i.e. www.veganbodybuilding.com). Now of course the first thing that popped into my head was, "hm, are steroids vegan?" However, there is also a more intelligent little piece with HLNYC doing an interview with America's first vegan bodybuilder. I can see why vegetarian/ vegan eating is generally healthier, and certainly more environmentally responsible, so I think it's something I should check out. I don't think I'll cut animal products completely out, as there is a lot of good nutrition in that too... despite what the vegan camp says. But a few more meatless meals are probably a good idea (and right now, all I can afford). Stay tuned.

Brunch: 1 bowl creamy pasta* & tuna with green pepper, 2 cups Vector cereal & marshmallows $2.26
Dinner: Turkey sandwich with mustard, 2 cups decaf coffee & 2 cups milk $1.62
Snack: 1 slice bread with Nutella, 2 cups homemade vegetable-barley soup, 1 cup chocolate milk $0.96
Other: Multivitamin, Glucosamine $0.13

Day 7 Total: $4.96
*It's "creamy" pasta because I added undiluted cream-of-mushroom soup to make it more like White Trash Casserole (er... Kraft Dinner)

Day 6: Loblaws 99-cent sale

I hit a milestone today: I got genuinely excited by the Loblaws 99-cent sale. I carted home a backpack full of food for under $10, and I was so thrilled that I have posted the proof of my spoils below.

Just to clarify, the cereal is about 350g worth (not a full-size box), the milk is 1L, and the Hunt's tomato sauce was purchased in a moment of weakness... it boasts 8g of sugar per 1/2 cup serving. For some reason, I thought it would be better than no-name because I saw "healthy choice" labels on it with low-fat claims and vegetable content. I looked at the ingredients when I got home and it was depressing: tomato puree, sugar, soybean oil, salt, corn syrup, carrot powder, dehydrated garlic, olive oil, dehydrated green chiles, garlic flavour, spices, crushed red pepper, citric acid, sesame. First of all, the sugar content bothered me; second of all, what the hell is carrot powder!? I also fail to see why corn syrup and soybean oil is necessary. All the vegetables are processed and/or reconstituted, and for the first time I can really see why making everything yourself is a good idea. It's cheaper and much more nutritious. It's just crazy what are we eating nowadays (yup, this from the girl who ate Doritos yesterday - and loved 'em).

I enjoyed a great lunch during my volunteer shift today; hearty beef stew and rice. (I have to say, the homeless can eat well in Ottawa if they know where to go). Also relished my first cup of Tim Hortons coffee since the experiment started - thanks to Paul's gift certificates - and the awesome care package from Alex, which included not only chocolate but a colourful issue of "Road" magazine!

Breakfast: 2 bowls split pea soup with ham, 1 cup milk $0.64
Lunch: Beef stew and rice (free! thx to Chris & gang) $0.00
Dinner: 2 cups vegan chili, 3 slices bread with margarine, 1 cup yogurt $2.88
Snack: Timmy's coffee (free! thx Paul), chocolates (free! thx Alex), tea with milk $0.18
Other: Multivitamin and Ca/D $0.13

Day 6 Total: $3.83

Day 5: Hockey, Corona, and Split-pea Soup

Ok, I'm throwing all modesty aside here... I made kick-ass split-pea soup with ham the other night. Since the ham was free (the last of the leftovers from the feast at Paul & Amanda's), a pot containing 4 large servings cost me a grand total of $0.66 (this included the split peas, the onions, and spices). I can't remember ever having pea soup before but it was awesome; I made it so thick "you could stand a spoon in it" although it was an accident... I just put some peas in some water and an hour later I was surprised to see it had turned to mush! Trust me, it tastes better than it sounds... or looks. In the morning it had cooled and congealed in the fridge, and I was somewhat taken aback to see that it looked a bit like phlegm... well erase that thought, because when heated it transformed back into deliciousness.

Interesting lessons for the day: an onion costs 13.5 cents and that's about the same price as a slice of wholegrain bread (on sale). Also learned that it is hard to work on an empty, gnawing stomach: made me realize the importance of the breakfast programs in schools.

When I got home, a bowl of soup and some bread appeased my stomach somewhat, and I was planning for a run when I got the welcome voicemail ... a group of my friends were going to see the 67's game, free tickets and box seats! Well it sounded like fun, despite the fact that I wasn't quite sure if it was going to be hockey or football... yeah yeah yeah I knoooooooow (Mike thanks for the enlightenment, you're just too cool yo!).

And then a walk back to Mike & Ang's in the fog by the canal, the eerie fog of a January in Ottawa that is 15 degrees warmer than the norm... global warming is here, and the only thing that gives me a glimmer of hope is the cabinet shuffle - Baird had better be good. Anyways, we soon lifted our spirits with beer and snacks, as Angèlie in her wisdom saw the hungry look in my eyes and made a scrumptious salad, complete with my fave vegetable: red peppers. Absolutely wonderful! In my reduced-calorie state, the beer hit me pretty good, but all was well by 3am when I finally made it home (thx for the escort folks).

Breakfast: 1 bowl split pea soup with ham, 2 cups coffee $0.45
Lunch: Cheap tea with creamer, 1 cup vegan chili, 3 slices wholegrain bread $1.26
Dinner: 1 bowl split pea soup with ham, 1 cup vegan chili, 1 cup OJ, 2 slices bread $1.59
Snack: Beer, Doritos, brownies, salad, Triscuits & pretzels (free! Thank you Ang & Mike) and granola bar (free! thanks Amanda) $0.00

Day 5 Total: $3.29

Day 4: Reality sets in!

Day 4 is over ... and already I have a new appreciation for food. Today was the first day that I actually felt the pinch of hunger (well, the first day since my first year of undergrad, but I won't get into that!) It's amazing how good a stale Saltine cracker tastes when you're really hungry; and by hunger I mean the day-by-day kind, not the "oh, I'm 10 minutes late for lunch" kind. Fascinating. I really taste every morsel of food ... and I'm eating slower so that I feel more satisfied with my meal. My next phase of eating will be based on rice, beans and pasta with limited extras - so I'll be needing those enhanced taste receptors. I also had my first food craving today: I'm already planning my feast at the end of this, brunch at Cora's perhaps - with UNLIMITED coffee. Anyways, I digress.

Today I walked through Loblaws again, comparing prices between stores. I scored a 450g bag of navy beans (the little white ones) for a paltry $0.69, but shied away from purchasing a 2kg bag of mung beans because I couldn't decide whether to buy them whole or hulled (price = $3.99). I looked at the tomato sauce and picked up a No-Name can for $0.99, but as I was waiting in line I noticed that each serving contained 6 grams of sugar! So I went back and exchanged it for a (larger) can of diced tomatoes (3g of sugar) for $0.89. I've discovered that there are only three types of cheap foods: sugar-foods, starch-foods, and salt-foods. Since prepared tomato sauce is loaded with sugar, I'm going to make my own.

Breakfast: 85g boiled carrots, 100g Brussels sprouts, 2 cups coffee $0.97
Lunch: 1 cup vegan chili, 2 homemade buns (free!), 2 granola bars (free! Thanks Paul*) $0.81
Dinner: 2 cups vegan chili, 1/2 cup yogurt $1.98
Snack: Microwave croutons made from 1/4 loaf sourdough, margarine & spices, 1/2 cup OJ $0.84
Other: Tea with milk, Poptarts (free! Thanks Amanda - S'mores are the best), Multivitamin and Ca/ D $0.31

Day 4 Total: $4.91
*I also credit Paul for the famed saltine cracker. Really hits the spot.

Day 3: Croutons and boiled veggies save the day

Day3 began with a heroic effort to preserve the edibility of the stale sourdough and semi-slimy carrots; thus, shortly after midnight I was gamely tearing the bread into pieces and smearing each with margarine to make microwave croutons. Since my smoke alarm is finicky and the oven is right under it (no kidding, about 5 ft up) this was a precarious chore indeed.

The fun didn't stop there. To preserve the carrots I boiled them along with some Brussels sprouts I found in the back of my "mock" freezer. (I can't honestly call it a freezer since it is more like a tall ice-cube tray holder). In case anyone is wondering why I specify some amounts in grams, well I own a small kitchen scale and I counted those frozen sprouts onto it one by one until I reached 200g.

The Good News: carrots turned out ok, and so did the croutons - surprisingly. I stored them in an airtight container in the fridge, and there were ok for a snack today with OJ.

The Bad News: boiling Brussels sprouts is a smelly endeavour. I can't exactly describe the aroma but it's something between BO and dirty laundry. You get my drift. I mean, they taste great, but I eat them chilled now to avoid re-contaminating the air a second time!

I'm still hoarding a few "free" food items so I should make it through tomorrow alright before I need to start with the "genuine cheap food". Looked into the price of dried beans today and was pleasantly surprised: Loblaws-Vanier sells 900g split peas for $0.99 I also bought 900g of barley for the same amount, 3 pounds of onions for $1.49, and 2.27 kg of elbow pasta for $2.99 (because that radioactive simu-cheese in Kraft Dinner scares me).

One last piece of advice: Have you ever seen those sleeves of garlic (usually 5 to a sleeve) sold in the grocery store? Well they're a RIPOFF - at least in winter. Do not - I repeat do not - be suckered into buying them simply because you believe foods are cheaper in bulk. Loblaws-Rideau has them for sale at $1.99, which prices each individual unit at $0.40. However, the price per kg for loose garlic varies little throughout the year, and at $3.28 per kg you can expect to pay about $0.20 per unit regardless of sales or seasonality. Even when the sleeves are "on sale" for $0.99, there are no savings to be had. Pick your own garlic from the bin to ensure you have the freshest cloves for your precious cents, and to minimize spoilage.

Breakfast: 2 pieces of pita bread, 1/3 container of hummus (Loeb), 2 cups coffee $1.77
Lunch: 85g boiled carrots, 100g Brussels sprouts, the last portion of ham & potatoes (free!) $0.69
Dinner: 1 cup homemade vegan chili*, 1/2 cup yogurt, 2 homemade buns (free!) $1.17
Snack: Microwave croutons (made from 1/4 loaf sourdough, margarine & spices), 1 cup OJ $1.01
Other: Tea with milk, Nanaimo bar (free!), Multivitamin and Ca/ D $0.31

Day 3 Total: $4.95
*Vegan chili made with tofu ground, canned black beans and chickpeas, frozen mixed vegetables, canned tomatoes, onion, garlic & spices. I costed the entire pot at $6.51 (8 cups); however I could have saved about $1.50 by cooking my own beans and using the cheaper yellow onions.

Day 2: "Hey I kinda like this, everyone is feeding me."

What did I learn on Day 2? Prepared hummus is NOT in the budget. To be honest, I bought this on December 31st and expected it to be my lunch - so having to cost it out now is killing my numbers. 227g of Mediterranean brand hummus costs $2.79 at Loeb and $3.49 at Loblaws this week; even using the Loeb price it cannot possibly feed me on a $5 day! I have estimated that prepared hummus costs about 4 times as much as homemade hummus - I even have the ingredients (to make: tahini, chickpeas, lemon, garlic, cumin/spices, salt & pepper in a blender, adding water to reach desired consistency). My little blender chokes so much while making this that I have been lazy and bought prepared hummus for months.

Other than that, I have been using one teabag to make two cups of tea and skimping on the milk... Earl Grey is so good. I used to use one bag per cup - again, lazy... I don't have a teapot - but now I just line up 2 cups of boiling water and steep them one after the other.

Finally, I have been worried with the idea of waste and spoiled food. Since I am costing only by food consumed, in order to get a true value I have to cost everything that I throw into the garbage as well. I have 1/2 of a stale loaf of sourdough and 1/2 a bag of borderline slimy carrots... time to get creative or else I'll be hungry tomorrow!

Breakfast: Leftover ham & potatoes from last night's dinner (free!), 2 cups coffee $0.28
Lunch: 3 pieces of pita bread, 2/3 container of hummus (Loeb), tea, apple $3.09
Dinner: Leftover ham & potatoes again (free!), 170g carrots, 1 cup OJ* $1.10
Snack: Tea with milk, Nanaimo bars (free! thanks Amanda) $0.18
Other: Multivitamin and Ca/ D $0.13

Day 2 Total: $4.78
*Tropicana 2L for $2.49 (Loblaws) this week, splurging before I have to resort to frozen cans of concentrate.

Day 1: No, I wouldn't call it "cheating".

My first day has come and gone, and I must admit it's not exactly how I envisioned it! Still full from yesterday's dinner and other foods (remember, it was New Year's Eve) I slept until 1:30 and didn't eat much in the afternoon. Then I visited with friends who are very good cooks ... and enjoyed a wonderful dinner that cost me nothing; however I will not even try to guess the actual price of the meal - which certainly would not have fit my budget! But that's not all: fearing that I will starve during this experiment, they sent me home with tasty leftovers... Altogether on Day 1, I ate like a queen.

It was suggested by kriscip that I explain where I purchased the various foods; so I have updated the introductory post, and I will also say here that all foods were purchased from Loblaws-Rideau unless otherwise noted. Now wait, you say: "Isn't food cheaper at Giant Tiger or Zellers?" And the truth is, yes... I may have to check these stores out and report back later. For now, Loblaws is more convenient.

Brunch: 100g Sourdough bread, margarine, 28g sliced turkey, 2 cups coffee $1.19
Dinner: Baked ham with pineapple, mashed potatoes, corn, white wine, tea & dessert (free! thanks to Amanda & Paul)
Snack: Tea with milk $0.18
Other: Multivitamin and Calcium/ D $0.13

Day 1 Total: $1.50

January 2007: Eat for $5 a day (Updated)

For January 2007 I have decided to take on the challenge of living on only 5$ per day of consumables. Due to my snobbish preferences at the grocery store, the fact that I am hooked on Tim Hortons coffee, and a few too many meals out, I have calculated my total expenditures on food items (not including nutritional supplements, junk food and other extras such as beer) for November 2006 to be over $500.

To actually crunch those numbers and see that I am wasting money and food every day, while also working for the homeless shelter on the weekends, was a sobering experience. While it is true that I have a serious exercise regimen, I should be able to get adequate protein, vitamins, and quality carbs with a food budget less than half of what I have now.

To prove it, I am going to live for the next 31 days on $5 a day - or less - of consumables, including the small supply of food, spices and nutritional supplements I already have. I hope to teach myself the value of a dollar in terms of food, and to try and put myself in the clients' shoes... I acknowledge that those less fortunate may need to subsist on less than $5 per day, and do not have access to extras like multivitamins, which I will be taking and costing due to my additional nutritional requirements as an athlete.

Update Jan 2nd: All food purchased from Loblaws-Rideau unless otherwise noted. For brevity I have just posted the price per meal and general food-types in the blog, however I have a detailed cost breakdown, recipes, brands, and other info available if anyone is interested.