8/27/09 - The Beginning of the end....

Today I begin my $30.00 for 30 days challenge - which basically means, I have shopped for $30.00 worth of food from which I will eat every meal for the next 30 days. I still have a little under 4 bucks left, which I'm planning on blowing on pasta or raman noodles. I am unsure exactly when I'll do the remainder of my shopping since a horrible ear ache has slowed my progress down a little for the past day or so.

Anyway, the following is the food I have purchased so far (see photo to left also):

1. Jasmine Rice = 5Ibs.; 2. Eggs = 2 dozen;

3. Lentils = 2.4Ibs; 4. Pinto Beans = 2.4Ibs.
5. Rolled Oats = (2) 42 oz cartons; 6. Margarine = 4 sticks; 7. Potatoes = 10 Ib bag (30 ea);

8. Carrots = 2Ib bag; 9. Cabbage = 1 head; 10. Green Tea = 24 tea bags; 11. Corn Tortillas = 4.58 Ibs.; 12. Can of tomato sauce = (2) 8 oz cans; 13. Seasoned salt = 4.5 oz.; 14. All purpose Hot & Spicy Sauce - 1 bottle. That all comes to approx. $26.08 + 10 cents for a banana I bought, which leaves me with approx $3.92 to blow anyway I'd like!

Below is the picture I wanted to post - but my wife said it made my maturity level too obvious.

Anyway, I'm doing this for a few reasons - The first is the fact that I am an extremely fortunate man who lives a reasonably comfortable life - safe and sound except for whatever the news tells me I need to be scared of (the crime rate in Germantown, TN is fairly low and everyone has an alarm system just in case). My biggest fear here in Germantown is to remember to take the recycling down to the corner on Wednesday morning - I don't even have to take the garbage down, since the garbage men come all the way up our driveway to empty our cans! Even though I live a life of relative comfort - I forget how truly lucky my family and I really are. Therefore, 30 days for $30.00 will allow me to walk in someone else's shoes just for a little bit. I am not naive and understand that I'm barely scratching the surface here, but nevertheless, I will gain a little more insight in the life of the less fortunate.

The second reason I'm taking this exercise is just to see if I can do it - why the hell not? I can't go hiking up the Alps, since I don't have the vacation and am in terrible shape - so, why not be adventurous in other ways - especially one you have little chance of dying from!?!?

My biggest challenge will be 24/7 food availability - portions 3 times what we should be consuming and mostly non-nutritional junk tempting me at every corner. On top of that, I have discovered that I am an impulsive, serial snacker and eat much more than my share (which tends to be the trend here in the U.S. these days.) So, as you can imagine, it will be a challenge. Anyway, missing a burger or two here and there ain't never gonna hurt no one - am I right? Junk food will still be there when I'm done with this.

The third reason is the fact I could stand to lose some weight - yes, I am the fattest I've ever been my entire life! And I took a nice 'before' belly photo, but my wife told me posting it would be in poor taste. 185 pounds used to be my fat weight, but now I'm 200 +...of course, I carry it well. Another Plus, I'm pursuing this nutritionally, not just by purchasing a "bunch of raman noodles" which someone suggested...that will very likely lower my cholesterol level - so, who can argue against that? Not to mention an increased energy level and a more positive general outlook...now that's worth it to me.

The fourth reason and most important reason for this adventure is charity - I plan on giving the amount we normally spend on groceries that is saved during the 30 days to charity (still determining who and where). If you are already calling me a yellow-bellied, commie, liberal at this point, all I can do is leave you with one thought: When has it ever hurt anyone to give a man who's down a hand? Helping others is well beyond politics, my friend. Also, anyone who is interested in donating feel free to let me know - I'll produce the name of a charity shortly....

So, those 4 reasons ought to be plenty. From now on, I'll begin to post daily or every other day a sort of 'diary' of what I eat and experience. Keep in mind, if I say anything that will offend anyone, or what might seem like shot at your manliness and crap like that, I don't mean to and am not looking for a fight, I just tend to ramble sometimes...