Welfare Food Challenge- sentiments

Ok so today would have been day 5, sadly I didn’t last past day one. I would have never expected to be that sick. My headache was one of the worst I’ve had in my life, I could barely see.  No amount of pain killer would get rid of the headache. I felt nauseous, exhausted and foggy, but why? 

I figured a few things; the meager amount of food, the low quality of food, the lack of certain food groups and the food dye, preservatives and adatives in the food. Does high quality food and a balanced meal make that much of a difference? So much of a difference that I couldn’t finish the day? I couldn’t sit up? I couldn’t see straight? I was irritable? So sick that I thought I had the flu? It’s absolutely does and it’s something I will never take for granted again. Nutrition is the backbone to daily functioning- that’s why when you’re a kid you’re told to never skip breakfast. That’s why they have the breakfast program in inner city schools. That’s why our parents told us to eat our fruits and vegetables. That’s why I nearly gag every morning on my “gut shot” that my nutritionist made me buy. 

It’s because FOOD IS IMPORTANT, it is so important that it could mean the difference between completing your day or not being able to finish. It could mean having ambition or staying in bed. It could mean starting the first day of the rest of your life or not. 

As I shamefully tell you that I couldn’t even survive one day in the Welfare Food Challenge, I am also shameful to say that I had no idea it was the hard. I am reminded of a specific client I had who had a gluten and dairy allergy. While on welfare I know she didn’t get enough to eat. While homeless she accessed community food programs, most weren’t gluten or dairy free. She would buy gluten free bread and tuna or peanut butter and make the same sandwich everyday. The laughable “nutrition” supplements offered her $20 a month extra to help with food costs, as if that put a dent into specialty foods. 

Socio economical disadvantages seem near impossible to escape, particularly when even something that is suppose to get you on your feet (like welfare) just gives you a big kick in the stomach. Another client of mine once said “how are you suppose to pick yourself up by the boot straps without any boots?”. 

He was right, it’s impossible to pull up your boots straps without boots. It’s impossible to get ahead when you feel like you’ve been hit by a train. We as a province cannot allow our fellow British Columbians to live in extreme poverty. 

Because I couldn’t finish the challenge I donated money to First United Church’s food program. $20  for each day I did not complete, that was a total of $120. 

This was eye opening, it was sad, it was surprising and it was painful. 

Welfare Food Challenge- Day two

It’s 5:15am and I just woke up. I went to bed at 6:45pm and probably fell asleep about an hour later. I feel hungover this morning, like I had an insane college night of partying. I feel slightly less nauseous and my headache has almost cleared. I spent some time looking up food allergies and I’m like allergic to food dye. No excuses because I’m sure lots of people are, but it really felt like having the worst flu ever. 

I can’t eat anything now anyways, I’m suppose to fast until after my MRI. Still undecided if I can continue... I’m afraid of another reaction like yesterday. I feel foolish fearing my body shutting down because of “less then perfect food”, but I guess that is the reality. Reality is sad, this challenge is heartbreaking, eye opening and incredibly humbling. 

I’m angry! Angry that in a province with so much wealth that there is so much pain, pain from poverty that is preventable. This experience is reminding me of a client of mine, who had a gluten/soy allergy and rarely got enough to eat. She started off without any income and had to survive off to free meals. What free meals can gurantee you gluten free? NONE! So she would take a risk everyday or not eat. Then when she was finally approved for welfare, the meager amount would easily be spent in two week on gluten free items. We had to cut through all the red tape to get a nutrition supplement for her. But the supplement is only $25 more... not a week a month!! What kind of gluten free products can you buy for a month for $25...!? 

Being on welfare must initially rid you of dignity, for no good reason. MSD workers have to ask you when you run out of money or ask for a food voucher; “have you tried all the free options?”, “what did you spend your money on”. Well for F sake I spent it on BASIC NECESSITIES TO LIFE! I get they have questions that they have to ask, but seriously, how degrading. How awful is our system that people don’t get enough food or don’t get quality food to eat. I can’t imagine going to work every day feeling this awful. 

Making my donation today- I’m done. 

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Made my donation of $120 to the food program at First United Church, $20 ($19 founded) for every day I failed to complete the challenge. There is proof below. I had no idea how truly difficult this was. BC THINGS NEED TO CHANGE!!!!

Welfare Food Challenge- day one

So I’ve had a headache since I ate breakfast and it’s getting progressively worse. Breakfast sucked, I had a small egg, with cheese on some dry toast. Lunch was worse then breakfast, a cheese sandwich, with the same bread and cheese I had for breakfast. My body was craving nutrition so I ate my banana and guzzled some water. 

It’s so hard to continue on with my day with this headache looming. I can only hope dinner will be better. 

I’ve had about three pieces of Halloween candy that had been lingering in my office. I also took my supplements this morning, which I think was cheating (probably?) they were milk thistle and digestive enzymes. I was also going to fry my egg this morning, but I only have coconut oil or olive oil, both of which are more then $19 a bottle/container. Both of which I felt would be cheating, so I microwaved my egg. I was going to throw my cheese sandwich in the toaster oven at work, but was so hungry by 11:30am I just needed to eat it. It’s not even really hunger, it’s craving nutrition! I want leafy greens and a fruit salad. 

CONT’

So here we are at 6:45pm, my usual arrival home time after work and appointments and I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus. I’m in my bed, in the dark, sipping on an organic fruit smoothie. Yes I know I cheated and I’m ashamed, really and truly ashamed. Honestly I didn’t think I’d make it without cheating over even the whole 7 days but I never thought I’d be cheating on day one. 

Whether it was the food dye in the cheese or the lack of nutrients and food in my lunch and breakfast I feel like SHIT. Before I got into my bed I thought I was going to hurl, I took and extra strength Tylenol to attemp to cure my headache and it did nothing! I have been yawning since noon and I’m exhausted. I fell asleep at my after work appointment which never happens. Honestly I can’t tell you if I’m going to pick up again and try tomorrow... if I don’t I’ll donate $20 (rounded up from $19) for each day I’ve failed to First United’s food program. If this isn’t a reality check I don’t know what is. I’m feeling pretty damn grateful that I have the CHOICE to stop eating this way.