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5 things I’ve learned from 2 days of doing #RationChallenge

June 21, 2016 by Rebecca Bowyer

I’ve completed 2 full days of eating the same rations a Syrian refugee eats in a Jordan refugee camp. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.

1. I’m tired

I expected to be hungry, and I am, but not famine-level hunger.

What gets me most is a real lack of energy. The food that I’m eating is enough to keep me alive, but I’m light-headed and all I want to do is sleep.

There’s a whole lot of rice – which is filling – but very little protein. No fruit, a tiny amount of vegetables, no sugar and no caffeine or ‘superfoods’ to pick me up.

2. Making food takes effort

That may sound like a stupid statement, but there is very little in the ration kit that you can open and just eat.

The dried lentils have to be boiled for an hour. The dried chickpeas need to be soaked overnight and then boiled. Rice and flour need water and heat to make them edible.

#RationChallenge #Day1 Breakfast #EatLikeARefugee

A photo posted by Rebecca Bowyer (@rebeccabowyerwriter) on Jun 18, 2016 at 3:57pm PDT

3. Rice is really boring

Rice and butter chicken – ace. Rice with sweet and sour pork – mmmm. Rice with coconut milk -heaven.

Rice with a couple of teaspoons of chicken stock, 6 kidney beans and a few slivers of capsicum? Nup. Not so much.

4. Any food tastes really good when you’re hungry

By lunch time on Day 2 I didn’t care that it was just rice with a few beans and a bit of capsicum. I savoured each mouthful, chewed slowly and made sure I got every last grain in the bowl.

And that hot cup of black tea that I made to go with it? Out of the same teabag I’d already used for 2 cups of tea that day? Heavenly.

Onto my third cuppa with this teabag! I only get 8 for the entire week, so gotta make them last! #RationChallenge #Day2 #EatLikeARefugee

A photo posted by Rebecca Bowyer (@rebeccabowyerwriter) on Jun 19, 2016 at 7:28pm PDT

5. Those sardines are starting to look mighty appetising

Make sure you’re following along on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Tomorrow is sardine day…

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far!
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Filed Under: Everything else Tagged With: Ration Challenge

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kylie Purtell says

    June 28, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    I honestly don’t know if I would have made a full week, I’m in awe of you and Em (the people I know doing it) and how well you did. It certainly is an eye opener, that’s for sure, and definitely makes me check my privilege!
    Belatedly catching up from #teamIBOT

  2. Natalie @ Our Parallel Connection says

    June 21, 2016 at 4:39 pm

    You are amazing Bec so keep up the great work. Not many people would do this and you are not only doing it but putting yourself out there so you have to complete it. Mashed sardines are actually nice.
    Natalie @ Our Parallel Connection recently posted…If your kids read what you wrote online, they would be embarrassed?My Profile

  3. Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid says

    June 21, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    I love sardines! Especially on toast, but I guess you don’t have any of that either! I am impressed by the value added teabag and humbled by the whole ration challenge. I feel hungry just thinking about your rations yet a bit sickened by my privilege. You’re doing an ace job!

  4. Raych aka Mystery Case says

    June 21, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    I love sardines but I’m not great with rice. Mind you I think this challenge would put me off sardines and rice for good.

  5. Hugzilla says

    June 21, 2016 at 1:21 pm

    OMG I go through like 8 tea bags a day at least (yes, I have a problem but it’s better than the cigarettes they replaced). No way I could handle that ration! My privilege is making me feel a bit sick right now…
    Hugzilla recently posted…How to Kick Mummy Judgement in the Crotch… With SWAGGERMy Profile

  6. Josefa says

    June 21, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    What an amazing thing to be doing! Really quite food for perspective xx

  7. Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says

    June 21, 2016 at 11:01 am

    So it’s the rice that’s killing me – so bloating and I feel blah. Because of what I did before this I am used to feeling tired, eg no protein dairy but I’m missing my green smoothie and tasty garlic and onion soups. It’s way easier than I thought it would be and it’s nearly day 4! I’d say by Friday though I’ll be OVER it. (I have sugar which does help though – I put it in flat bread and it’s my breakfast with warmed rice) x
    Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me recently posted…News story: A mum’s shocking road rage incident on the Gold Coast’s M1My Profile

  8. Kez @ Awesomely Unprepared says

    June 21, 2016 at 10:51 am

    I feel hangry just thinking about what you’re doing! Which I think is the point xx
    Kez @ Awesomely Unprepared recently posted…How to apologise properly.My Profile

  9. Becky from BeckyandJames says

    June 21, 2016 at 9:56 am

    What an amazing thing you’re doing! It sounds so depressing and it just is so sad that this is what people have to eat all the time. You’re doing a great job.
    Becky from BeckyandJames recently posted…DMW ChallengeMy Profile

  10. Amy @ HandbagMafia says

    June 21, 2016 at 8:15 am

    It sounds really hard. To be honest, it’s the sardines that put me off trying this purely because I don’t eat seafood generally- makes me queasy. Very first world of me, I know!

  11. Ingrid @ Fabulous and Fun Life says

    June 21, 2016 at 8:03 am

    Interesting experience to do this. It sure puts my children’s complaints of “there’s nothing here to eat mum” into perspective!
    Ingrid @ Fabulous and Fun Life recently posted…SHARE By Curtis Stone dining & Lotus Spa pampering onboard the Sun PrincessMy Profile

  12. Lydia C. Lee says

    June 21, 2016 at 6:58 am

    My teen lives on white rice and soy sauce. They’d be in heaven. I’m the one making them add veges…go you! Great work!
    Lydia C. Lee recently posted…Never look backwards or you’ll fall down the stairs. Rudyard KiplingMy Profile

    • Rebecca Bowyer says

      June 21, 2016 at 7:30 am

      I’m salivating at the words SOY SAUCE. Mmmmm what I wouldn’t give for a condiment or 5…. Tell your teen to do Ration Challenge and raise some money! 😉

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