Yesterday, September 30, was the official last day of the Hunger Challenge.  I appreciate all the blog and Facebook comments…Yes, I am living proof that you can teach an old dog new ‘techno tricks.’  Your thoughts and words were truly motivating and inspired me to work through the hunger pangs, and the umpteen bowls of oatmeal.  I know the challenge was no easy task for my Hunger Challenge Buddies, too.  Kudos to Attilio D’Agostino from ALIVE Magazine, Rachel Storch, State Rep of 64th District, and Jeff Smith State Senator from the 4th  District to sticking to their guns.

I am done with the 7-day challenge, but I was—and continue to be—reminded of people who don’t have an end, who have to survive on meager amounts of food stamps.  I did get a call yesterday from a gentleman who works at a drug/convenience store, not to diminish any of the intention of the challenge, but to tell me that there are people who use food stamps to buy 'snacks, soda, and crappy stuff'  (his words not mine).  I guess he meant processed food items.   I will take his word for it.  My response to him and you is that ‘they’ may not know any better, which has been the case with many of our clients.  Before they met our Dietitian Josh, some of our clients were ‘super-sizing’ at a fast food restaurants, looking for relatively inexpensive meals to fill the belly. Nutrition was not a priority… COST was the important factor.   Turns out that many 'cheap' items are just not good for you.   Should the items you can buy with food stamps be tightened?   Only someone more knowledgeable than I can have an opinion.  Having a nutrition discussion with food stamp recipients?  Ideally but highly unlikely.   At Food Outreach, our clients can rely on us to provide them with vital nutrition knowledge to get the best value if they also have food stamps.  For those clients that do and those that don't, we encourage to order more expensive items from us even though these items are free.  That way when they use the stamps, they can get more food for their food stamp 'dollar.'

One of the drawbacks of taking the challenge for only 7 days is that I wasn’t able to buy in bulk, or be able to shop around for more bargains...took the bus the first day and it was a 2-hour trip.  You could be surprised ...as I was...to learn that some of ALDIs prices are comparable to Trader Joe's.  One of the strategies of ALDIs is to have one size for many items.  This cuts down on their cost, which I don’t dispute, but it left me with fewer size options to choose from.  Consequently, I have food left over, so I guess I ate for less.  Another thing about the challenge is that I had pretty easy access to a nearby ALDIs...only one bus transfer, but some people only have access to 'mini-marts' (for lack of a better term,) or convenience stores which are notorious for having higher prices.   So, people get less with any money or food stamps they have, and are truly paying for 'convenience' ? 

 As with anything, there is learning.  I learned never to bite off more than you can chew, which should be a life strategy too.  But we are obsessed with eating ‘large.’  Portion size is out of control.  I am amazed how hard it is to be a member of the ‘clean plate club’ at some restaurants.  And I am reminded of all the ‘wasted’ food out there, from a meal made at home to a food festival in the heart of the city.  Like I said before, take a peek in a trash can, and you’ll see what I mean.  I will make it a point to listen to my body and hunger urges, and not just ‘Eat to Eat.’  Cutting down on the volume of food I order, forgoing appetizers when maybe an entrée would do just fine.   You can see that I talk about eating out since I am culinary-challenged.

That reminds me… another lesson I have learned is that I need some cooking lessons.  Thinking back, I probably could have gotten ‘better deals’ on items that I had to cook rather then buying for convenience, which was my modus operandi before and during the challenge.  For example, buying frozen chicken breasts instead of a whole, fresh chicken, cooking it and cutting it up—imagine.

This was an exercise in willpower.  I could have easily cheated on the challenge, and who would know? Well, I would know… and this was a personal mission for me.   I wanted to better understand the food limitations facing our clients, and show how powerful our services can be for people battling life-threatening illness.

And lastly, I have a renewed appreciation for the hungry (eligible to be a Food Outreach client or not).  People can be hungry because of no fault of their own.  So, today I begin again with my eyes wide open to the impact that food can have on socialization, health, attitude, and overall quality of life.  Hunger Action Month may be ‘officially’ over, but the need is still there.  I have one final request for you:  commit yourself to helping put an end to hunger.  Donate your time, your services, your dollars… whatever you can do to help those in need.     

After enjoying a ‘delicious’ lunch with visitors from Bellevue Pharmacy who had  steamed broccoli, glazed ham with pineapple, AND bread pudding—one of my favs,  I decided to have another can of tuna for dinner.   Never said I wasn’t a creature of habit.  I pulled out the can opener and picked up the nearest can of tuna—not paying attention to the ‘slight’ bulge.  I jammed the opener into the can, and a geyser of tuna juice spurted out.  Being a tuna buyer in a previous life, I ‘learnt’ rule number 1:  when a can squirts… chances are there is something growing in there that you don’t want to eat.   And since I wanted to live to continue to write my blog, I violated my goal of NOT throwing away any of the food I bought.   But, I understood the food dangers possibly lurking in that can.   The questions is:  what if I had no other choice? What would it be like if the contents of that questionable can of tuna were my only food option?  I would have to go to bed hungry, like so many people in our society—and I would imagine some clients before enrolling into Food Outreach.  A society that has $10 billion to spend on a war—that’s billion with a ‘B’, and has not waged a war on hunger.  I am reminded of a client who had to depend on other residents in the hotel where she was living to give her leftovers.  I can’t imagine.

Luckily, I had one remaining can (sans geyser of juice) which I snarfed down with a cut up semi-hard boiled egg (I am getting better at boiling water) and a sleeve of crackers.  Having nothing to mix it with, I decided not to drain the tuna.  I ending up having a small, watery mix of tuna and egg, washed down with salty crackers.

As I always say there is learning in everything.  What I ‘learnt’ today is sometimes things aren’t always what they appear to be…  and to be a better grocery shopper.  Maybe I am '33 and a third' iving in a 78-speed world and not a 45-speed (record reference)…dating myself again.  But I did walk 15 miles in the snow to get to school every morning. 

Wouldn’t you know that I picked the ‘week’ for the challenge when there are many food festivals going on…should be one of ‘Murphy’s Laws.’  And yesterday was such a glorious day temperature-wise…the few in St. Louis so you have to grab them when you can.

Not that I am a glutton for punishment, but I did venture to the Taste of St. Louis—certainly not to eat anything since I couldn’t afford anything with my stash at home.  But great music, and people watching while strolling through the food booths—however briefly since this wasn’t a ‘funnel cake and corn dog event’—would have turned those down anyway—and the smells were making my mouth water.  

For those of you, not in the know…this is a ‘tasting’ event where you can sample specialties from some of the top-notch restaurants.  During my stroll, I noticed an unbelievable amount of food that was half-eaten or just thrown away, and these were just ‘samples!’  It was amazing to me how cavalier some people were, and had not only visions of children in India starving, but people in our own fair city.  Maybe I was more sensitive since I was having a few hunger pangs.  Do me a favor, walk but a public garbage can sometime to see what I mean.  

We do have several homeless clients, who may have known to do MORE than just walk by garbage cans before becoming clients. A sister agency which addresses the homeless HIV-positive community, Positive Directions, brings their clients to our congregate lunch every Monday.  There they have a 3-course lunch served restaurant-style at tables draped with white linens.  We started the lunch to target people who are truly disenfranchised because of HIV disease, and who may not have any other reason to get up out of bed and go somewhere.  

So tomorrow, I will be reminded again how our services treat client with dignity.  And since there is no such thing as a free lunch, I plan to nosh on canned tuna, crackers and the penultimate apple…a good thing, since only two more days with the challenge.

I will have to try my hand in the kitchen again since oatmeal for dinner isn’t quite cutting it.  Though filling…I had two bowls since I was invited to a birthday party.., how many times a day can you eat it—it's been my staple breakfast since Day 2.  I knew that the buffet table at the party would be brimming with delectable goodies, but I didn’t want to eat any of it.  To walk in our clients’ shoes…I figured that they normally wouldn’t be invited to such a fete.  

When I first started the challenge I thought I knew exactly what I would eat each day, but monotony has set in, and I am trying to be creative with the food that I have left.   Ever tried oatmeal and tomato sauce?    Not bad actually, but don’t think that Betty Crocker will be calling any time soon.

These last two days, I have not had the energy to do much of anything.   Though clearly less calories are going in, there hasn’t been much physical activity to maintain any muscle health or tone.

 I describe these last few days as being on 33 and a 1/3 in a 45-speed world.  OK, so I am dating myself having played ‘vinyl records’ when a teen.  Just a bit off with my thinking and speech patterns. 

It’s getting harder and harder to have a balanced diet.  I would imagine that someone with limited and no income doesn’t do meal plans.   They would eat anything that is available—more of a fill the belly kind of thing.  They don’t have a choice.  With choice comes dignity.  Some people think of Food Outreach as a Meal on Wheels type of program.  It is, but it is more than that.   Yes, we do have homebound clients, but they get to choose what they want to eat like all of our clients.  Something that may have sounded or tasted good before, now they may not be able to stomach.   Having the choice not only gives them the dignity, but also gives them power..  We never want to ‘force feed’ our clients for lack of better terms which further ensures that no food goes to waste. 

I did it again…I snarfed down an apple while watching Jay Leno last night.  So what if I am not loyal to any late night TV show.  By my count…I can have an apple a day for the rest of the challenge (4 days) with one to grow on.  My mind is racing how I will splurge with the remaining lone apple.  Will I use it as a special treat dipping slices into PB (provided I have any left) or just take big bites out of it and savor its tangy juices?  I have to say I have never eaten apples so completely of late, gnawing the very last bit from their cores knowing that it might be 24 hours until I have the ‘delicacy’ again.

When I look at the remaining food, I notice that more that half of the protein is gone with still a lot of carbs.  Haven’t had any pasta and tomato sauce yet—meat flavored…I really should read labels more carefully.  That is too special for a week night.  Plus that would mean that I would have to boil water again.

It is a good thing that I don’t have diabetes like many of our clients who are on a particular HIV drug class, protease inhibitors.  You see… just by taking these life-saving drugs, you can get diabetes.   A heavy carb diet certainly costs less ‘dough’ and is more readily available.  So who wouldn’t fill their belly with this food group if that was all there was.  But my sugars would be totally out of whack if I also had diabetes to worry about.

I do have to say, there has been several people when they learn of the challenge say, “What only 7 days?  I could do that.”  But when you are used to eating three balanced meals a day—OK, somewhat balanced, and now taking in half the daily calories, this is stuff.  I am not going to sugar coat it.  Would be the same for someone whose life was clicking along, and now 'down-sized' and given less hours at their hourly-wage job...compound that with having to struggle with either HIV disease or cancer.  I say talk is cheap.

An apple a day to keep the doctor away?  It wouldn’t hurt. But for our clients, a better way is healthy meals, education and a concerted effort to stick to their drugs—drugs that require certain foods to be effective.  Food that we provide which also helps clients tolerate severe GI side effects.  It's all about quality of life, too.

We got the call from Deanne Lane at KSDK, and they want to do a cover story about the Hunger Challenge (to air on Monday Sept 29 at 10PM.) Here’s the catch…  as part of the story, they wanted to ‘film’ me actually fixing dinner.  I decided to make it easy and boil some eggs.  So there I am, tv cameras rolling, watching the pot boil (was fascinated), carefully putting the eggs in the pot and waiting for them to ‘get firm.’  Well who knew that it takes 10 minutes?  I certainly didn’t.  Okay, I feel a little bit like an idiot, but hey we all have our talents and mine aren’t in the kitchen.  I normally would have thrown them out, but eggs are now precious and needless to say that I had 2 semi-hard boiled eggs for dinner and a handful of baby carrots.   

I tell this story because I think of our clients who may not know how to cook or don’t have the energy to make dinner because they are wiped out from the chemo they had that day.  Luckily, they are able to toss our frozen meals into the microwave, and sit down to a nutritious meal in 3 minutes.

I also feel like an outsider in an ‘eating’ world.  Food all of a sudden is always around me.  Food can be a connector but when you don’t have it or on a strict diet, you naturally limit your socialization—or I have. Gone are the days…at least for now…when I can eat lunch with the staff since they are heating up leftovers (man, they smelled good) or ordering BBQ takeout.  That’s it…rub it in—just kidding.   I had my second PB and J sandwich, and wonder if I am smearing more PB than I should to make it last through the challenge.

Don’t know if the headaches I am having are due to caffeine withdrawal or not having a full belly.  Close friends will tell you that I can get irritable if I don’t eat.  I am trying to ‘play nice.’  I tend to watch the clock, counting down the hours and minutes when I can have my next ‘meal.’  And decided to have a stash of oatmeal at the ready just in case, and a microwave—one of the perks of working at Food Outreach, but I’d be hosed if I didn’t.   Are microwaves a luxury?  They are for some of our clients who barely have a pot in their kitchens.

First day done, six to go—but who’s counting.  I am.  I am one of the lucky ones who can have a count down unlike our clients who have to be very creative and yes, somewhat desperate to make ends meet.

I actually will put one of their tricks to task since I decided NOT to buy catsup at the grocery—if I need any, I will raid some packets at some fast food restaurants, the same with salt and pepper.  Hey, catsup was over a dollar.

They say that misery loved company.  Not that taking the challenge is misery, but it did help to have some fellow shoppers with me—real troopers.  Rachel Storch and Jeff Smith who are in the state legislature, along with Attilio D’Agostino are three people that decided to take the plunge. 

Rachel came prepared with calculator in hand.   I, on the other hand , was trying to figure the running total in my head.   The gray matter ain’t what it used to be.  And of course, when I go to checkout, I placed the items in order of importance, and had to put back a box of ‘mac and cheese,’ along with applesauce, yogurt, and ice cream sandwiches.  Seen as treats or rewards—I do have a sweet tooth at times—but stuff I could and should live without…well at least the ice cream, but they are a source of calcium, right?

Before I started my challenge, I was a bit anxious but also a bit cocky—this will be a piece of cake—pardon the pun…but last night watching David Letterman…I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side and cancel at the very last minute…the hunger pangs were getting the best of me.  Not wanting to really fix anything since I am culinary challenged to begin with, I ate half an apple knowing that I had carefully planned to have at least one apple a day.  With most best laid plans, that will probably change since my goal is now in jeopardy.  Wonder what will happen tonight…maybe I should just go to bed early.

Yesterday was especially tough, or I am trying to convince myself of that.   I didn’t have anything to eat before my shopping ‘spree’ so I skipped breakfast.  I had my first peanut butter and jelly sandwich since grade school.  And it tasted good, or I was just hungry.  I don’t know which.  The true test will be today (Day 2) when I have the same thing.

What’s for dinner?  I wish beef but beef is out of the question at least for 7 days, and who knows after this experience I may tone it down a bit.  So it was tuna and crackers.  And have you read any food labels lately?  A 6-ounce can is 2 and ½ servings?  Give me a break!!!  For those counting calories, beware.

One of the bright spots yesterday was a random meeting with one of our former clients unbeknownst to me at the time.  When we were getting off the bus, an African-American woman came up to me and asked if she knew me.  She had sunglasses on so I didn’t think so, but she swore she’d seen me somewhere.  Well, that certainly narrowed it down.  She asked me where I worked, and somewhat hesitant I said that I work for a charity (really hate that term, but I figured it would make more sense at the time) and that we feed people who are sick.  She said, “That’s it!  I knew you looked familiar; I came to Food Outreach a year and a half ago because I really fell on hard times.  God bless, you got me through it.  Having you guys there was a real help since I had one less worry.  My life was really crap, but I knew that I would have enough food.  Haven’t been back for a while, but I never forget a face.”

She and our 1,500+ clients make the challenge worth it.