#NotGoingToExerciseThisWeek

[breanneoncollegewelfare-blog]

Welfare Challenge: Pre-Thoughts. (March 7)

Hi, my name is Breanne and I am in my second year of the BScN program! Through our global health class, we have been exposed to some of the treacherous conditions people of lower income countries have to face. This class has opened my eyes to these conditions, but also made myself feel extremely grateful for the opportunities we have been given here in Canada. 

I have chosen to participate in the Welfare Food Challenge in order to test myself (and my cravings…) I typically include nutritious ingredients in my cooking and snacks, but I am also a sucker for all things cheese (all of which are not cheap items). For more information about this challenge, visit their website: https://welfarefoodchallenge.org/2016challenge/. According to the website, you have $18 to spend for the week, but our class has been given the leniency of $21 for the week. According to one website, the average Kenyan spends just $543 a year ($10.44 per week) on food, which is approximately 46.7% of their annual income (World Economic Forum, 2016). According to that same website, Canada spends approximately 9.1% of their annual income on food (World Economic Forum, 2016). One person households in Canada spend approximately $4650 annually ($89.42 weekly) on food (Statistics Canada, 2018). 

To go grocery shopping and keep myself (and my spending) on track, I brought a friend along for the ride. I found it very difficult to find nutritious foods that did not bring my price over budget. Therefore, the only really healthy items I could afford is one english cucumber and some frozen veggies. I decided to go with heavier foods, in order to satisfy my hunger a little more effectively. Unfortunately, I had to buy more snack foods as when I do not eat for a while, I become very shaky and weak. 

My grocery haul included: frozen vegetables, yogurt, hot dogs, blueberry muffins, applesauce, cucumber, spaghettini, bread, macaroni and cheese and milk. I only spent $17.56 to leave myself a few dollars for one caffeine fix in the middle of the week. Spending this little on groceries took a lot of effort and planning, when I am the type of person to buy food as it appeals to me from the shelf, on sale or not. 

I do feel like this will be an extreme challenge since I live on residence with 2 other girls and temptations of wings, pizza, ice cream, etc. And yes, I labelled all of my food so it doesn’t get eaten by someone else (which would put me at a further disadvantage)!

Wish me luck this week!

References:

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/12/this-map-shows-how-much-each-country-spends-on-food/

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2018053-eng.htm

https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/?wbdisable=true I also included the Canada Food Guide for myself to glance at throughout the week and realize where I am lacking the most.