In solidarity with the nearly 500,000 teens who will give up food for 30 hours this year and raise money - and awareness - to fight hunger as part of World Vision's
30 Hour Famine, I thought I would give it a try this weekend.
I had been doing a lot of work to promote it with journalists around the country, and I thought I would get a better sense of what it's like for the students if I did it myself. I've fasted before, but for some reason, this time around was really, really tough.
Here are some of my journal entries from this weekend:
Friday, Feb. 27, 12 a.m. Fast begins. I just came from a party with friends and had two glasses of Chardonnay and two
pumpkin whoopie pies as "my final meal." I've been nervous all week about going without food for 30 hours, but if the 12-year-old kids I've met can do it, I can do it.
Saturday, Feb. 28, 10:30 a.m.Went to one of the
local food banks in Cambridge to see if they needed any volunteers - but they were all set for the day. Saw a girl who looked a lot like me - dark hair pulled back, black pea coat, late 20's - but she was on the other side of the line, waiting for food from the pantry. I was just there as a volunteer. Guess you never know who needs help - sometimes it's not people halfway around the world in Zimbabwe but right in your own neighborhood.
Saturday, Feb. 28, 1 p.m.I'm hungry and have had a headache since 9 a.m. I'm realizing that if I quit now, no one would know. But something in me stops me from cracking open the refrigerator. I'd like to think it's my altruistic conscience, but it may just be a function of my first-born-very-stubborn self. Must. keep. going.
Saturday, Feb. 28, 5 p.m.Just threw up. With nothing in my stomach. That can't be normal - is it? I can't imagine how hard it is for kids to go for DAYS without food and still do chores, go to school, and care for their siblings. I feel like a wuss. In Australia and New Zealand, the kids do a
40 HOUR Famine!
Sunday, Feb. 29, 8 a.m.Shot out of bed, excited to eat again. Realized that I wasn't even hungry! Still, the first thing I put in my mouth - a BIG spoonful of peanut butter. Mmmmmm. And then I made the UNIMIX. Not as mmmmm, but still pretty sweet and somewhat tasty.
All that being said, I would still do it again. I think it was one of the more memorable ways I've spent 30 hours of my life in a long time. Even in such a short period of time, I had such a tangible feeling of hunger, poverty, and helplessness! It gave me a good perspective on our lives as Americans and the value of doing something - anything we can - to help our neighbors in need.
To break the fast, I made UNIMIX, a food often served to extremely malnourished children at emergency feeding centers around the world. Children are given this type of food because it's easily absorbed into their bodies until their strength starts to return.
It certainly wasn't the french-toast-bacon-and-eggs breakfast that I was dreaming about during the fast, but it reminded me that for so many people, food is not about taste, smell, or the aesthetic pleasure of enjoying a beautiful meal. Food, for the nearly 850 million people who are hungry each day, is simply about sustenance.
Here's the recipe in case you want to give it a whirl:
UNIMIX (recipe quantities are estimated and would make approx. 3 cups of food)
little bit less than 1 c. corn meal
1/3 c. oil
1/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. milk (or 1/3 c. milk powder)
little bit more than 1 c. mashed or ground bean (I used small white beans for this)
Mix the ingredients together and heat. Eat.
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