We had an incredible Thanksgiving with family and friends: delicious food, great conversation, games, a precious new pup, Henry, and lots of laughter. Having barely swallowed some of my favorite foods last night, I found myself craving them again. (Nope, didn't do such a good job of being in the present.) I'm feeling both anxious and excited about stepping into these next four weeks of self-imposed, food-choice forfeiture. I had seconds of stuffing, enjoyed an extra glass of wine, and coffee with lots of cream (rarely do I drink coffee in late afternoon). I think the gratitude I felt seemed more poignant than years past. In part, because I knew what I was about to be “losing.”
A few months ago I sat down with an incredible KP dietitian, Mary Englick, and explained my project. My food selection criteria was fairly simple. I wanted foods that were relatively inexpensive, generally within this growing season, nutritionally balanced, offered some variety, and would ensure my caloric intake wouldn't vary much from my usual diet. We agreed on the following choices, and I'll be eating these exclusively for the next 28 days: nuts, eggs, yogurt, beans, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots; five condiments, olive oil, curry powder, salt, pepper, and honey; and one beverage, water. I can combine these foods in any way and eat the various varieties within each group, cashews and almonds, sweet and red potatoes for example.
At this moment, though, I would really love a steaming cup of joe. Not going to happen.
28 Days | $700 | 3 Non-profits
For the next 28 days, from November 27 through December 24, I'll significantly reduce my food choices: I'll eat only 7 foods, 5 condiments, and drink only 1 beverage (what are they? You'll have to read my blog to find out!). Lattes, fish and chips, veggie pad thai, and vino be gone--Yaaouch! By doing this, I will save approximately $700 that I will then donate to three extraordinary, greater-Denver non-profit organizations.
We've all felt the pinch of these tough economic times. Hit especially hard are organizations that function solely to help the most vulnerable among us. Click the links on the right to learn more about the great work of three such organizations, and then cast your vote. Your vote will determine the percentage of the $700 that each organization will receive. I encourage you to influence the votes of others–but please only vote once. I'll blog about my G.U.L.P. journey and update my progress daily. If you scroll down, you'll find my daily blog postings. Your comments are encouraged!
WHY FOOD, WHY NOW? I wanted my G.U.L.P. choice to be a significant but realistic sacrifice. Food seemed an obvious choice for several reasons: First, I spend a lot of money on food. Not just basic sustenance, but on brunches, dinners out, pricey markets, happy hours, and expensive take-out. When I reviewed my budget and found that I spend roughly $700 each month on eating and drinking, I realized I needed to check this luxury. Second, I think the act of eating is relatively thoughtless for many of us--it has been for me. The question isn't what will I eat, but rather, what do I want to eat. Finally, I chose this time of year for my G.U.L.P. project because the holidays tend to intensify our emotions. For those who have plenty, it’s often a time of celebration and feelings of joy can be readily identified. For those who are barely getting by, the holidays can be agonizing.
JOIN ME: What would you give up for 28 days? I have chosen to limit food choices, but that's just one idea. If each one of us gave up a non-essential item, service, or even a certain food for a manageable period of time--something that we've been conditioned to believe is a need rather than a want, and commit the money saved to an effective community organization, imagine the impact! If you decide to give something up--and I hope you do!--I'd love to hear about your experiences.
Friday, November 27, 2009
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I love that you are doing this. Stay strong--especially after you are a few days into your "diet." Looking forward to hearing about how you are mixing up your seven foods and about what others are giving up. I'm thinking about what I can give up for 28 days...anyway, kudos to you for this project! It's going to be a ride!
ReplyDeleteSo what did you eat so far? Have you tried combining any of the different foods?
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