Yesterday was not as tough as I expected after the challenge of Wednesday. All three main meals and snacks went down well and there were no where near as many moans as the previous day. I think now the end is in sight we are just keeping going. The kids are bored with the same snacks, thoroughly sick of rice pudding and flapjacks. Eating on such a strict budget restricts choices and means a limited amount of fruit and vegetables. Not being able to just grab fruit from the fruit bowl or a portion of yoghurt from the fridge to snack on has been difficult for all of us. The lack of homemade jam, cordial and seasonings has been challenging as has the strict portion control and rationing to enable our food supply to last the 5 days. If we didn't have fresh herbs growing in the garden and allotment produce to supplement our store bought groceries it would have made the week even more difficult.
Not being able to give into my pregnancy cravings has also been tough. I have had to put my apple juice addiction on hold for the week, no avocado and vegemite on toast, no grapes, melon or mangoes either. I've still got bad morning sickness which is a mixed blessing, whilst I've felt awful it did leave more food for everyone else.
We have eaten well this week, it is much easier for us as a family of 5 with £25 for food to take on the challenge than those individuals with only £5 to spend.
We have eaten well this week, it is much easier for us as a family of 5 with £25 for food to take on the challenge than those individuals with only £5 to spend.
Our final Live Below The Line dinner was Vegetable and Rice Bake with steamed chard.
Today is the last day of Live Below The Line and we are all looking forward to the end of the challenge. All of us are keen to take part again next year, it is a great life experience for us all and we help raise money and awareness for those much less fortunate than ourselves. We are so very lucky to be able to resume our normal diet and routines at the end of these 5 days. We may be relieved to see the end of the challenge but what about those who live this, and worse, every day. In this rich and developed nation there are families who are in poverty, with no store cupboard to fall back on, no allotment to pick fresh produce from, who have to chose between heating and eating on a regular basis. There are also 1.2 billion people currently living in extreme poverty worldwide, that's nearly 20 times the population of the UK.
Whilst Live Below The Line highlights the issue of poverty and is a valuable life experience for those taking part, it is a brief spotlight on an issue that is an ongoing reality for so many. Please sponsor us to raise money to help those in need.
If you can spare a few pennies, you can sponsor us:
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