It’s Sunday evening so I guess that means we’re over half way there. So far the best part of being involved in this for me has been the fact that it has been a conversation starter. A chance to talk about poverty and food security with people who might not have thought much about it otherwise.
One realization I had this weekend was how poverty can really impact relationships. I was in a slowpitch tournament this weekend and wasn’t able to hang out with the team between games when they went for food and beer because I had to go home to make my own food. Furthermore I wouldn’t have been comfortable going out with them because I know my friends would be constantly offering to buy me a meal or a beer if I couldn’t afford it and I’d have to decline. I’d be declining this weekend because that would violate the rules and spirit of this challenge, but if I were truly short on money I would turn them down just to be polite. I would feel uncomfortable having my friends buying stuff for me. If I were truly struggling with money I could see how I might end up isolating myself from my friends so as not to be in situations where I couldn’t afford to do what they were doing. Which, over time, might lead drifting away as friends and to the loss of some of those friendships. And it wouldn’t be my friends not wanting to hang out with me because I couldn’t afford to do what they could, it’d be me isolating myself from them so I could avoid the awkwardness of it all.
I am doing ok from a hunger stand point. I think I’m getting used to that feeling in my stomach. The lack of variety and being unable to pick up something to eat on the fly as I often do is the hardest part. And the food is all I think about is frustrating. As is this foggy brian and fatigue!
Like I said, I had a slowpitch tournament this weekend as well as my first hockey game of the season tonight so I ate a few more of my food basket items that I had rationed for myself per day (I even started into my dumplings that I was saving for company!). I wanted to make sure I had enough energy to compete properly. My energy levels while playing were ok, but I really noticed that my recovery between activities was affected.
I now realize that I’m going to run out of food before Wednesday evening when the challenge is over, or when I would be able to pick up another basket if I was needing to continue to use the Food Bank’s services. I am going to need to find other sources of calories to get me through the day. I think I’m going to try and go to the Friendship Inn tomorrow for lunch. I’ll let you know how that goes…
September 16, 2012 at 11:02 pm
I hear you John! I never realized how much my socializing relied on food and beverage. I hope you get a good lunch tomorrow!
Heather
P.s. My dad, Dennis, worked at the clinic for years!
September 17, 2012 at 1:35 am
The social aspects of food are often ignored but are significantly important. Eating is a social activity in most cultures. Food is a part of our celebrations…in fact, food is usually a part of any gathering. Our systems, (school, work, family life, activities…) are organized around the concept of three meals a day. We all make plans accordingly. Everybody has to do it. Three times a day, nearly everybody will eat food at roughly the same time. People share this activity, so it makes sense that it become a time designated for social interaction. BUT…
What if you couldn’t bring a lunch (no groceries left)? What if you have no money to join your friends at the resteraunt after the game is over? No money for a b’day cake? No money for a family BBQ? What if there isn’t enough food for the entire family so you skip a meal or even two? What if there is no local grocery store and you acquire your food in a “socially unacceptable” way? What will people think? Feel? What if your child is begging for fresh fruit but its too expensive so you have to settle for something pre-packaged? The “what if’s” are endless really. Clearly food insecurity reduces people’s opportunities for social interactions. Quantity and quality of social interactions directly affect a person’s quality of life and is identified as a determinant of good health. Food can not be reduced to mere nutrition. Food is a connector between people. It’s important!