Hunger Challenge Day 1: This year, planning

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I'm hungry already.

Taking on the "Hunger Challenge" is a daunting assignment, but beginning the challenge on the same day you're launching a new show on the radio has been an experience so far.

Today's first show was really exhilarating. So much so that I forgot to eat.

As I write this (it's 2 p.m. already), I'm catching up. I've had two bananas, and am now working on a bowl of cereal.

Welcome to Day One of the Hunger Challenge. A little background: The idea is to call attention to the many people here on our area who struggle on a daily basis to provide healthy meals for themselves and their families. Throw in a sour economy, and there are a lot more people... perhaps you know some of them... suddenly thrust into a life of not knowing if there will be enough food tomorrow.

The Hunger Challenge is part of "Hunger Action Week," and the plan is to get this issue on your radar this week.

I took the Hunger Challenge last year, and I failed.

My thought in 2009 was pretty straight-forward: Take the daily allotment of money and eat what I could until it ran out. While I solicited help from those of you kind enough to follow my journey, I didn't take much of the advice at the time.

It was really important to me to be true to the times. If you remember, last year, a lot of people I knew were losing their jobs. They literally went from kings to paupers overnight. In other words, they had to learn in the moment how to spend money differently, and how to adapt shopping habits and eating habits to a new situation. They probably didn't have much help. They learned how to stretch dollars by first spending several dollars unwisely.

So, armed with little help, I set-out to take the challenge. As you know (or may have guessed by now), the money didn't last the entire week, and I conceded the challenge at lunchtime Friday, knowing I didn't have a single thing to eat that night for dinner.

This time around, I am still planning on approaching things sincerely, just a little differently. So many of you left comments and e-mails with so much helpful advice, that I am now listening.

You have become my support system, and this year, I am going to beat this challenge with your help. It's not going to be pretty, and I will be eating things because of necessity, not because I merely like or want these items. Armed with the good advice you left last year, I'm off and running.

Here are the basic rules I follow:

- First, you get $7 a day, or $35 for the week. This is food only (laundry detergent and toilet paper don't count). The focus here is food, so I really think it benefits the most people to keep my eyes on the prize.

- If I eat it or drink it, it comes out of the budget. The only exceptions are things that you normally wouldn't pay for. For example, there was a lot of criticism last year after I wrote I couldn't live without my favorite coffee beans. Such a drama queen! This year, I'm not buying coffee beans, I'm merely waiting until I get to work to enjoy the free sludge (I use the term affectionately) provided in the lunch room.

- In addition to the last point, I deduct everything I pay for to the penny. Everything. It was pointed out to me last time that people suddenly facing a small food budget often don't start from ground zero. There are things in the pantry, flour in the bin, and cooking oil above the stove.

I understand this, I really do, but I still keep track of everything. It would be wasteful to buy an entire bottle of cooking oil when I already have some at home. So for accounting purposes, if I use something at home I already have, I figure out how much the item costs, and subtract the price of the percentage I used. That was a complicated way of saying you can take my integrity on this project to the bank.

- And finally, while there are food banks available to me, and friends who would gladly buy me a meal, I do not pursue those opportunities.

So here we go...

I actually got my grocery shopping accomplished last week. Safeway was gracious enough to let me do my shopping on camera, and you can actually watch my shopping trip below. Normally, I would understand if you took a pass on that last invitation, but again, for the integrity of the project, take a look at how much money I saved! I had a shopping list in hand, and nearly everything I bought was on sale. I was very fortunate. Here's the list:

- beans
- rice
- pasta
- chicken
- veggies
- fruit
- milk
- tuna
- kashi cereal
- cheese
- tomato sauce
- broth
- bread

With your suggestions, I'm planning on making some pasta, chicken dishes, and the beans and rice for dinner, tuna salads and soup for lunch, and the cereal for breakfast. Thanks again to everyone who helped last year. This list is all you.

I got up to the register, and the total came to just over $33. I have a budget of $35 for the week, so I made it, but there was really no wiggle room. If you watch the video of the shopping trip, you'll see the worry on my face, and then see me take an item back for a refund. This is the kind of decision-making you have to use when you're on a tight budget. I hated it, and felt somewhat humiliated, although Brian at Safeway was very kind and understanding. After getting my refund, I have just over $4 cash to use for emergencies or incidentals.

So, the good news about Day One: I have a lot of food, but I've barely touched it, because it's just been one of those days at work. No breakfast, free coffee at work, and finally, a couple of bananas and a cup of my Kashi cereal (which was way on sale, so don't be critical - it's also very high in protein, and that's a good thing).

Once I get home tonight, I will cook up the chicken (which I found for 99 cents a pound!) and probably do some sort of a pasta bake for tonight. A little cheese, some tomato sauce, some chicken, pasta...it should be good. I'm salivating already.