Now I have completed the Live Below The Line challenge it has made me realise just how important food is for well being - both physically and mentally, health, concentration, mood, energy levels, enjoyment of life.
I found it hard as in the developed world food is more than subsistence, it is a social and celebratory tool. In the UK as we celebrate the royal wedding people up and down the country are having street parties, friends around or just time with family to celebrate. And food will be a big part of this. To know that I can not engage in this celebratory event in the same way that everyone else is was very hard.
It has made me want to no longer eat unless I am hungry. To try and have more control over portions and what foods I buy. To really think about waste and only buy what is necessary. These seem like standard things that people do anyways but I know I certainly did not live like this before, and I am sure many of us are the same.
I am lucky that after the tough last days of the challenge I can now go back to eating a more balanced, healthy diet. For 1.4 billion people they will continue to face the challenges I did but they have no option but to continue with this existence. All of the issues I faced would only become worse the longer I continued and for so many people this is their daily life.
And lest we forget that for 800 million people they will go hungry today as they will not even have three meals a day I have had, if they have any food at all.
I find it quite astonishing that people are still starving to death in the 21st century. There is enough food to feed everyone in the world and we must start fighting harder to ensure that everyone does receive the nutrition they need. The mental and physical affects I have felt by undertaking this short challenge have shocked me, especially just how quickly they settle in.
Everyone has the right to live a happy life. Food is at the core of this. If you don't eat there is a chance you will die. But aside from that if you don't have energy or concentration then you can't learn at school or do well at work. If you don't have an education you have little chance to work your way out of poverty. You are more likely to be ill. If you are lucky enough to have access to treatment most medicines do not work, or make you extremely ill, if you do not take them with food. The knock on effect of food really is life changing.
I am most surprised that I have been able to live off of £1 a day in the UK and still have a surplus of food left. It is incredible! But if this is possible for me to achieve imagine how far £1 can go in the developing world. Whenever you have the opportunity please donate whatever you can. As I have learned even £1 can totally change someones life.
Until next time, much happiness.
