Breakfast

As I mentioned, I made myself a massive amount of juice this morning, and it was so so good!

The hardest thing about live below the line is how uniform everything tastes. We actually finished with about 1/2 a chicken left over (we were both being so cautious at the beginning of the week) and three eggs. The things is, you can't buy 1/2 a box of eggs, and we got the chicken at a really low price, so less wouldn't have been cheaper.

There really was just no way we could budget in fruit. We barely had any vegetables as it was.

I think it's the lack of carbohydrates that was making me feel a little light headed because with in a few minutes of drinking my juice my mood was visibly brighter and I was convinced I was having a mild 'caffeine buzz' (despite no caffeine) and my head was clearing.

It's horrible to think that for some people this isn't just an unpleasant week, but a lifestyle.

How long can the body cope on that kind of diet, without long term damaging effects? Sure, I felt a little foggy and light headed, but if this was my long term diet, would I be causing serious damage?
Is there a link between poverty and learning disabilities?
Is that why children from poorer areas achieve less?

Live below the line has once again made me so thankful for things like breakfast cake, but more importantly for the privilege of being able to feed my children, good nourishing foods, make the best choices for their educations and give them opportunities that millions of people around the globe will never have.

It makes me thank God for where I was born, and when I was born.

Midnight feast time!!

Oh Ribena! How I have missed you!!!

We feasted tonight




Stuffed peppers, chicken kievs, spinach & rocket salad with mango chilli and lime dressing.

We followed it up with chocolate mousse (for Matt) and passionfruit for me.

Soooo grateful for fruits and Salad right now.

Irfan said he was going to hit mcDonalds drive thru.
#amateur

- Kj
Xxx

Final day update

Matt here,

Just to update on yesterday's final day of above the line living.

At Matt and Mickey's house I had 4 cupcakes and a crispy creme donut and 2 glasses of squash and a cuppa. I didn't ask how much they cost!

After dinner we had some of KJ's home made truffles. I have to admit at this point that I may have stolen 2 of my son's jellybabies at quarter to twelve as a final luxury. Does that make me a bad parent?

Anyway bring it on.

My expectations are that it will not be that difficult. But I must admit that I am slightly embarrassed at how indulgent our lifestyle has become. If this week can add a bit of perspective to ours and other people's lives I will be happy.

Of course I will no doubt be proved wrong and be complaining about how starving I am by Wednesday.

Lets see....

(Eating our final dinner with Adam and Riika and a beer..)

Our Final Decadent Day of 'Above the Line' Living

So today is our final day of living 'above the line' before our challenge begins. I thought it would be interesting to share what we have eaten as a comparison for the rest of the week so that you don't assume we all eat very little anyway.

We aren't including the kids in the challenge (horrifyingly we wouldn't even be able to afford formula for Elisha, let alone any food!) so here is what Matt and I ate so far today:

Matt

eggs x 2 - 40p

toast (with butter) x 3 - 21p

Bread x 2 - 7p

butter - 5p

cheese - 40p

onion - 15p

sweet chilli sauce - 12p

Krispy Kreme donut -83p

Hunters chicken casserole - £3

roasted veg - 40p

Potato au gratin - 75p

Toy story easter egg - £1.50

Ribena - 10p

Red Wine - 62p

Total = £8.60

KJ

egg - 20p

toast (with butter)x 2 - 12p

Krispy Kreme donut -83p

passionfruit kefir - 5p

Hunters chicken casserole - £3

roasted veg - 40p

Potato au gratin - 75p

Red wine - 62p

Total = £5.97

This is of course, assuming that we don't eat anything else today (I've factored in dinner which is already in the slow cooker). If we do, obviously I'll have to update.

We probably will as we are going to someone's house for tea and cakes this afternoon. How do you factor in how much a cake someone else made cost? Is it rude to ask them how much they paid for it?

Probably yes.

I'll just have to make an educated guess...