December 16, 2008
$1 a day
An American couple, both high school teachers, decided to try an experiment for a month - they wanted to see how they would fare spending only $1 a day per person on food.
For breakfast they survived on plain oatmeal every day. For lunch they had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on homemade bread. Dinner comprised just beans, rice and tortillas. They couldn't afford fruits and vegetables and other fresh food.
The guy lost 14 pounds in 30 days and the lady said she felt 'tired and drained' and rather 'cranky' pretty often.
This is one experiment I wouldn't even bother to try 'cos I wouldn't even survive one morning! And realistically, it's not doable in Singapore. I can't see how really.
Watch their interview here.
Posted by DSD at December 16, 2008 9:08 AM
Great post!!
In the United States, marketers do a great job with branding. Thus, most of the things we eat are things we see from TV. Having traveled over the world, I find that people in USA do not have portion control.
While in Paris, croissants filled with butter heightens my senses. But at a glance, most people were not fat. It is all about portion control.
keep writing!!!
$1 a day is doable.
breakfast - bowl of soy beancurd - 50c
lunch - plate of fried beansprouts with garlic and chilli - 20c (ok, 30c to include cost of garlic/chilli/oil)
dinner - skip it. :)
vegetables can be varied (kangkong, kailan...etc) One bunch for less than 50c from the market.
got your protein, fiber, vitamins...etc
and healthy too.
Of course we do benefit from having a cheaper source of foodstuffs from the wet market, which the americans don't.
Not that I would do it of course. ;)