Day 21 - "Here's What You've Got To Do..."
I have this friend who, among other things, is a bit of a minimalist. I think it’s just a lifestyle that fits him well, not really a conscious decision. He lives in a big house out in the middle of no where with a dog and a cat. Oh yeah, and two horses, a ten foot snake and a turtle that permanently resides in his bathtub. He’s that guy you call when you want to have a big bon fire because A.) He’s got the room, and B.) He’s always got big things like couches or beds or occasionally a Jeep that you can burn.
Anyway, to this point, this guy is the only person I’ve met that’s thought the whole dollar a day thing sounded easy.
“Here’s what you want to do: Get yourself some Nutty Bars from the gas station. I can give you a list of where they sell them for only a quarter a pack if you want. There’s like 325 calories in each pack. That’s 1300 calories a day for your dollar. Hell, that’s more than you actually need. And I’ve lived like that before, so I’m pretty sure it won’t hurt you.”
posted by Evan at 9:24 AM
12 Comments:
The main problem with your experiment is that you're consuming food based on monetary value, and ignoring the possibly large impact on health.
Trans fat, for instance, has been found to cause inflammation and deteriorate of the tissue that surrounds the heart.
Trans fat is typically in the form of partially hydrogenated oils, which is common in snacks and crap like Ramen.
i have a buddy exactly like that... great job, amazing house in the woods, and a wonderful wife, but insists on buying food at the grocery outlet ("gross out"), and buying the crappiest/cheapest beer ever.
maybe that's why he'll be able to retire at 40...
I used to eat chocolate bars for lunch and supper when I was in high school. By the age of 17 I weighted only 130 lbs at about 5'11"!
Balanced health is certainly a concern when on, well, ANY kind of diet program. In the times in my life where I've been on dollar-a-day scenarios, I've tried to make sure I "splurged" on some basic 1-a-day vitamins to help mitigate the balance-failures.
I cant believe the gall of some people to think that those who can only afford to live off of say.. $1 a day... have the money and energy to worry about things like trans fats.... good god people!
I used to eat these in high school. When I worked out the calories they were actually about the same as a peanut butter sandwich in terms of calories and protein, but tasted way better.
Less fiber, though. If you're worried about constipation.
That’s 1300 calories a day for your dollar. Hell, that’s more than you actually need.
Umm, no it's not. It's just about enough, though still less than desirable. Assuming you're doing something at least resembling work.
I cant believe the gall of some people to think that those who can only afford to live off of say.. $1 a day... have the money and energy to worry about things like trans fats.... good god people!
I can't tell if you're kidding or not.
The poorest on this planet subsist on healthy diets--rice, beans, etc.
Where does your imagined 'gall' come in?
Since when is a diet of rice and beans "healthy"? Food pyramid, anyone??? Rice and beans is NOT a balanced diet...but, as others have stated before me, what Evan is doing here isn't about trying to lose weight or following a health regimen....This is about survival, just doing what you have to with what you have so you don't STARVE. This is an experiment...but a lot of people have to live like this for far, far longer than 30 days. That doesn't mean they're eating that way because they're ignorant about the value of a balanced diet. It just means that in this country, as well as others, eating a balanced diet isn't exactly promoted by our economic system.
There are many healthy ways to live on less thatn a $ a day. You have to use you imiganation and THINK.
It is very important for poor peoplt to think of things like trans fats Lea, with the cost of health care and the lack of insurance, you can't afford a heart attack.
Whole grains, beans, oat meal, barley, rice and lentils all are healthy and cheap.
check out this blog http://lessisenough.wordpress.com
I moved to NYC when I was 18 with no clue, and no plan. Rent was considerably more than I made in a month. I ate beans mostly. Milk and eggs were a LOT cheaper than that back then, but I still only had them as a treat. I lived in Brooklyn for a while, and would buy 1 or 2 pieces of fresh ravioli every once in a while, for around $.50, but that was also a treat. I agree, you loose weight on the $1 day diet. My staple was usually a baguette- probably not less than a $1 now, but a baguette bought down at the corner would usually keep me full all day. I would buy 1/2 pound of cheese a week, and supplement it with lentils and rice. I was a food thief, (a french fry or potato chip here and there from co-workers when they weren't looking at lunch- anything you could sneak or play off- "oh they looked so good I just had to try one") The weird thing was, my skin, hair and nails were so much healthier than they are now, my hair and nails grew really, really fast- and I felt so much healthier than I do now, but I was hungry ALL the time.
"The weird thing was, my skin, hair and nails were so much healthier than they are now, my hair and nails grew really, really fast- and I felt so much healthier than I do now, but I was hungry ALL the time."
That is because you were young. No mystery there in any sense of the word.
-------------------------
"For God's sake, people. Stop calling things that are "healthy" in the 1st world healthy for the 3rd.
Rice and beans are all well and good here, we can get all we friggin want.
But a subsistence farmer in Uganda doesn't give a damn about eating "healthy," that's a lost cause. He's just praying he can grow enough of the calorie and nutrition devoid crap that people call healthy, to keep moving so he can do it again."
Wow, you are ignorant as hell. Beans and rice are very healthy and so are the veggies that you would naturally add to them if you were a farmer. In other words, you are a foolish idiot who thinks they are kind-hearted. and helpful.
Post a Comment
<< Home