21 Days for World Hunger: Day 3

Staples

I wonder how those living in hunger manage.  Here I am already struggling on day three of a limited diet.  During this 21 Days for World Hunger experience, I can for the most part have as sedentary of a life as I choose, so I’m choosing to exert very little energy; and it’s still hard.  I wonder what it’s like to have to haul wood or carry water, potentially walking for miles on such small amounts of food. 

Last year the UN produced a report showing various hunger statistics, including a country’s proportion of undernourished compared to the total population.  While the report is dated 2009, much of the information is actually from 2005.  But, I have as of yet to find such comprehensive information that’s more current.

The following information shows, in descending order, only those countries that have 15% or more of their population identified as undernourished.  I feel guilty not mentioning all the countries who are listed.  Countries like Vietnam and Nigeria have 14 – 9% (respectively) of their population as undernourished.  Looking at Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Burundi and Haiti, you will see that 58 – 76% of the population of each is undernourished.  Can anyone fathom these figures?  58-76% of the entire population undernourished?  Hungry?

Day 3…only 18 more to go…sigh

The scale told me I weigh 118 pounds.  Turns out that particular scale only measures in half pounds, so these are not exact figures.  Close enough I suppose.

I awoke this morning at 5:00 am to the low, distantly-familiar rumblings of my stomach.  I lay there caught between a tired body not willing to move and an alert mind racing with thoughts.  I was acutely aware of a hollow feeling in my gut.  The glass of water I drank did no justice, as it hit rock bottom with a steel-like thud.  I didn’t want to get out of bed, because I knew there existed twelve hours of food-waiting ahead of me.  I much preferred the idea of putting off at least another hour of it in sleep, but my mind would have none of that.  I had a vague recollection of reading about Ben Franklin or Albert Einstein or one of those really clever guys and how they dealt with insomnia.  During sleepless periods he – whichever one – would get out of bed and stand on the cold kitchen tiles with the idea of making the one situation (bare feet on cold tiles) more miserable than the other situation (discomfort of sleeplessness); thus instilling a motivation to go back to bed and sleep.  And there may be something about cooling off the body too.  We don’t have tiles in our kitchen, so I stood on the bathroom floor for about 5 seconds quickly wanting the comfort of bed.  Still, I was wide awake.  I considered getting up and working, and that appealed to me about this (ZERO) much.  I attempted another trick I learned from Ben or Al or someone.  It involves focusing on one point – a shadow, point of light, something – in the room.  I tried that for roughly two minutes and my eyes became very tired.  I was so excited about feeling sleepy that I once again became alert.  Bummer.  I pulled myself up by the proverbial slipper-straps and dragged my tired hungry body out of bed to face the day.

I have to admit that I’m not as miserable as I thought I would be.  This is, of course, being only the third day.  I would consider my mood as displeased more than miserable.  I’ve only had a couple moments of irritation and they were minor at best.  Still, when I think about the fact I’m only on Day 3 out of 21, I can feel my heart sink.  Twenty-one days feels like a long time to be doing this.  I frankly don’t know if I can hold out.  I humbly accept all judgments from anyone reading this post. I’ve already resolved myself to eating twice tomorrow and Wednesday because I know my work will dictate the need for more energy.  I haven’t decided if I’m going to have two small meals in place of the one big meal yet.  I’ll cross that burner when I get to it.

After an appointment this morning, I found myself in the grocery store.  Just wandered in.  At one point I was shaken from a moment of unconsciousness staring blankly at an aisle of treats – chocolate treats.  I scuttled myself away from that place and picked up the following not-so-tempting items instead:

Plantains $4.04
Barley $2.99
Peanut oil – $3.13
Red onion – $1.65
Total:  $11.81

Grand Total so far this week: 50.75

I now probably have more food than what is needed for the rest of the week.  I have to fess up.  I had a chai tea today around Noon. I needed some quick energy, and it sufficed for about an hour.  I made it myself with Tazo tea and soy milk.

Our meal today was African Style Black-Eyed Peas with Cinnamon and Cumin on Barley

This is an adaptation from a Suite 101 recipe. Black-eyed peas, a good source of calcium, are actually a bean, and I soaked the beans for about four hours prior to filling a pan with water (enough to cover the beans), bringing to a boil and then simmering for about 20 minutes.  Black-eyed peas can be served with brown rice or couscous, but I served ours with barley.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 6 cloves of garlic minced (we really like garlic)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon ground
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin ground
• 1 tablespoon salt (okay, really, I think we used a LOT more salt than 1 tablespoon)
• 2 medium sized tomatoes chopped
• ½ eggplant cubed *disclaimer – the type of eggplant available in California is apparently quite different than those found in Africa
• 1 cup Spinach
• 2 cups dried black-eyed peas, prepared as shown above
• Handful of peanuts for good measure

Preparation

• In a large pan sauté the chopped onion in oil for five minutes, or until soft.
• Add the minced garlic and stir well for another minute.
• Stir through the spices for another minute.
• Add chopped tomatoes and pre-cooked black-eyed peas.
• Simmer until all ingredients are cooked for about half an hour.

The nutritional value for today’s meal and Chai:

I was feeling a bit weak in the knees while preparing tonight’s dinner.  Each night we’re eating slightly earlier than the last.  While I’m not so keen on eggplant, this seemed like the yummiest stick-to-your-belly meal thus far.  My husband liked the last two better.  I think it’s important to note that the likelihood of those living in hunger eating such a variety or even this quantity of foods in one meal is fairly low.  Also remembering something that Linda Cole mentioned – most of their food is boiled.  I sautéed.

And tomorrow is another day.  One day at a time, right?

I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for the minds and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr., taken from his remarks upon acceptance of the Nobel Prize

If anyone has any hunger information to share with me, please leave a comment.  I am gathering as much information as I can about this important issue.

To support the organizations I write about in this series, purchase a World Hunger: Be the Solution Tee.  Proceeds from the shirt will go to the Small Planet Institute Fund and the International Fund for Africa.  All tees are sweat free and available in organic cotton.  To see the selection of World Hunger tees at Conducive’s Humanitarian & Human Rights Tee store, click here

To follow this series from the beginning, click the links below:

21 Days for World Hunger:  Day 1

21 Days for World Hunger:  Day 2

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 4

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 5

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 6

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 7

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 8

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 9

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 10

21 Days for World Hunger:  Day 11

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 12

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 13

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 14

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 15

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 16

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 17

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 18

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 19

21 Days for World Hunger: Day 20

Solutions for World Hunger: Part I

Solutions for World Hunger: Part II

Solutions for World Hunger: Part III