A delicious dinner of white flour and white rice covered in homemade gravy.
“I don’t feel good” has been the slogan around here lately. My sickness this week has been followed by Christopher having an upset stomach for the past 24 hours. I spent most of the day moping around with a headache. We have not been a cheerful lot today… well, the dogs have, but they are always happy.
I actually seriously considered quitting twice today. Trying to do everything that we do with such a change in diet has been a challenge. On top of not feeling well and running on less fuel, I am trying to keep up with everything I need to stay on top of at work (grades are due Monday and I have been frantically working all day to get caught up), trying to figure out what we can afford to eat, and just dealing with the everyday stresses of life has been difficult.
Adding this to the fact that we only have a couple of days left does not make it easier. When we started, I looked forward to meals because even if it was not much, it was new and an adventure. Now I get annoyed trying to decide what we should have. Even writing about it seems like a chore many days. I feel like I have nothing new or insightful to say. I have moved away from thoughtful and on to whiny. I am even whining about that.
We had ramen noodles today. It was hard to find something ready to eat, so we took the lazy way out. As usual with ramen, it seems like a good idea for a meal, and I might have even enjoyed it while I ate , but afterwards I wished I had eaten something else. Despite the fact that I was longing for it earlier, I now realize that we have been lucky to avoid it. It is filling, but it has very little nutritional value, and too much salt.
Three days left,
Kerri
Daily Totals:
Breakfast: 1 Waffle – $0.20, 2 TBSP syrup – $0.08
Lunch: 1 package Oriental Flavored Ramen Noodles – $0.17
Dinner: Wheat Gluten cutlets w/ Gravy – $0.31, Steamed White Rice – $0.05, 1 slice of homemade bread – $0.10, 1 TBSP margarine $0.06
Christopher Total: $0.97
Kerri Total: $0.97
Donation Total: $717
(THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DONATE!)
NOTE: If you think what we’re doing is interesting, inspiring, or just plain nutty, consider SPONSORING our efforts. Simply enter in an amount, click “update total” and follow the prompting. If you don’t have PayPal, it will let you use a credit card. At the end of the of the month all proceeds will go to the Community Resource Center (here in Encinitas, CA). We will post evidence of donations at the end.
One Dollar Diet Project 
I just read through the entire blog. You are doing so well and so close to the end. I admire you. Today is “grocery day” and you have definately made me reconsider my list. I could never complete your mission- and not only because we are far from vegetarians- but because giving up my coffee would be like draining the blood from my veins.
You have given me much to think on before I head out for the day’s errands. Thank you for blogging this journey!
Don’t worry about whining! What you’ve done is very hard and it is certainly understandable that you would be tired of it by now and on top of that, you’re not feeling well. Please ease up on yourself.
Reading your blog has helped me gain perspective on food issues and also helped me to make some much-needed changes in my life. You may never know how much good your project has accomplished. Many people may benefit and learn from what you’ve done, but never post about it or let you know. But I’m sure that there will be a ripple effect. I’ve shared your blog with many people.
Hang in there. I think it was very courageous and caring that you two undertook this project and have seen it through.
IKWYM about ramen noodles. I usually leave the ‘flavor packet’ out, drain them, and throw a little butter (or margerine) on them instead.
You’re almost done!
Hey, I just found your blog and well…am eagerly awaiting the end.
But with regards to the early quitting, muslims were fasting in Ramadan (september this year, dawn to sunset)…and the hardest days for me are always the first few days and the last days. It’s like my head starts manufacturing reasons to be ill so I can break the fast early…
This post reminds me of growing up Catholic and going through Lent. Granted it was only meatless Friday but I always vacilitated about giving things up for Lent.
@katiyah
i am ignorant of the meaning of vacilitate, please enlighten me. what is the root?
Drew it’s actually vacillate, and in means “to waver” or to be undecided
I really admire what you guys did here. I’m reading from the beginning, and I really must say I’m impressed that it took you this long to resort to ramen. Just a suggestion, if ramen comes into the picture again in the future: I nix the flavor packet (full of msg) and make my own sauce with soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil and fish sauce (which you could leave out, being a vegetarian). I boil the noodles with some frozen mixed veggies and an egg or some tofu. I get a complete and rather tasty meal, for about 50 cents. It would break your current budget, but its well within my very broke college student budget. You guys have given me some ideas as to new foods I can eat and still live within my budget. Thanks!