Ration Challenge 2021 : update

 As I sit and write this, this morning, I have my little bowl of seasoned rice, a cup of cumin hot water and my water.  I already have my teabag in a pot to make a tea concentrate for some cups of tea later in the day and I have my 45 dried chickpeas, in the mini frying pan covered with water, boiling to enable me to eat them and have some aquafaba later (you do not want to get rid of anything! you need that water to help add flavour!!) 

 I don't know how many people know that I have been doing a ration challenge (well I'm guessing a lot as I do post a lot about it) but have you actually looked into what it is? 

This week (from Sunday 13th - Saturday 19th June) I will am eating what a Syrian refugee eats. Rice, lentils, chickpeas, sardines, kidney beans, flour and oil - in limited quantities.  With sponsorship I have been able to unlock so extra rewards (these are also limited quantities) such as spice, salt, milk,a vegetable, a protein,   and the last reward is a well earned hot or cold drink.  

I am so grateful for everyone who has sponsored me as I have been doing this challenge.  When I signed up I thought that if I could get £200 I would be happy.  I made that target and I increased it again ... In fact I increased my goal 3 times! I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am for this support, I know the money isn't for me but it really helps with staying motivated.  So a MASSIVE THANK YOU 😀

My sponsorship page 

So how have I been getting on? 

I'll be honest with you, it has been extremely tough to do this challenge.  It began on Sunday morning and so did my period.  My back went as a result of that and I have had to take painkillers for both things.  Thankfully the back pain has subsided but the period pain hasn't. It made me think of women in the same situation and how hard it must be for them to live on these rations, for a pregnant woman  or a breastfeeding woman.  I remember the cravings and the need for extra food while feeding to keep up my energy.  

Breakfast is a small bowl of spiced rice 

I have tried to keep my week as normal as possible so far.  I am still getting up at 630am to do my workout, I'm still getting the kids ready for school and walking Rose to school and then walking to pick her up.  My energy in the afternoon is limited, so I do what I can and try and muster some extra oomph for when it comes to dinner time.  I have been fortunate that Dale has been able to make the dinners for them as I found even just the smells of them were very difficult to handle.  

Small bowl of spiced rice, lentils and kidney beans mashed together
with the onion rations and a small flat bread (that's a side plate) 

The first two days I split the rations equally for lunch and dinner which meant that I didn't have a lot of flavour in either so yesterday I decided that I was have rice for breakfast and lunch and I would keep all of the lentils, chick peas and beans etc for dinner.  This actually worked really well for me.  I was definitely HANGRY through the day 😅 but when i got to sit and eat dinner last night, it felt so good to have a little more flavour.  I made a mini dahl and added my rationed out veg reward of onion (I think its around 24g per day and it has been so good to add some yumminess)  and half of my protein reward (60g of chicken - keeping the other half for Saturday nights dinner) and chickpeas.  I kept my kidney beans to mash them up to have with some flat bread as a snack before bed time.  

 Dinner on day 3 after saving all extra day rations 

The flatbread - we have been on a little journey this food and I.  When i made it pre-challenge I hated it.  It was horrendous and now that I am full swing in the challenge we have found a very happy place.  Last nights flatbread was like a giant crisp I rolled it that thin, which was actually quite a nice thing to have with my mashed kidney beans.

Going forward this week I'm hoping that the pain ends, the headaches end and I get a little more energy.  

The main point of the challenge for me was to show me what it is like to eat like a refugee.  I can honestly say that I didn't really think about how difficult it would be to do it.  I thought it would be easy but when you actually start to use your rations it's not easy.  

some examples of how much different things cost.

I've had comments of 'that's actually really healthy' and 'you'll not starve'.  There is truth in both of those comments BUT the small amount that you actually get  does not provide you with enough nutrients for the long term.  From just a few days of not having the normal protein, fruit and vegetables etc in my diet I have noticed quite a difference in energy levels and also recovery from workouts as well.  It is quite shocking the lack of energy, I wasn't prepared for such a drop so quickly. 

At this (just over) half way point I want to thank everyone who has sponsored this challenge and enabled Syrian Refugees access to medical care, education and food.  

Click Here if you would still like to donate x