Monday, March 22, 2010

Butter-Baller on a Budget

Hi Folks!

So it has been an interesting past couple weeks since my last post. I briefly mentioned how I would be undertaking a little project from March 1st to May 1st. This project/experiment/self-discovery has a few rules. The main rule being that I'm allowed to spend only $10 a week on food. I was originally going for zero a week but soon decided that might be a bit too ambitious of me. I came up with this crazy idea after being inspired by a amazing yogi by the name of Swami Kripalu. He was well known for his fasts from food and from speaking. One story told to me by another amazing yogi by the name of Sam Chase who studied at the Kripalu Center, was particularly inspiring. I'm not going to tell the whole story because it takes a lot of body language to explain since Kripalu frequently went on silent spells. The story was about how Kripalu heard peanuts were the new miracle food and so he decided to fast for 90 days solely on peanuts and water in hopes of finding some type of enlightenment. 3o days in.... written on his mini chalkboard 'nah, not really diggin the peanuts, but its only been a month (obviously my words, Kripalu didn't use the word diggin)'...60 days in.....'i'm starting to think peanuts are not the miracle food, but who knows enlightenment can be just around the corner'....89 days....'peanuts are baaaaad, but what's one more day. you never know'. Well I thought the idea of only peanuts was funny and his attitude toward the experience was charming. But there was no way I was going to pick one so called miracle food like acai, mangosteen, or any trendy exotic super plant to fast on so I tailored one to my lifestyle.

As you know I cook during the day and work at the restaurant at night. At the end of the day I see a lot of food go to waste. I mean A LOT. There isn't really anyone to blame, customers expect fresh products. I have to admit that the sight of it is a little heartbreaking. Every new person at the restaurant has such a hard time at the beginning coming to grips with throwing away a dozen organic whole wheat homemade baguettes straight into the trash. All I can tell them is, " you''ll get over it." Then they do. But is this how we want to start looking at waste? Just a part of our daily routine? When I have left overs during the day from my cooking job I'm usually able to save it and take it home. Sometimes though I have to admit, I get a little snobbish. I say, "well its not going to taste as good later, I probably won't even eat it." In the trash it goes. With all of that said I've decided to go on this mini fast. It's a fast off of purchased foods. I've been using the term 'freegan'. Some of my friends have called me 'freegan crazy'.

Before the 1st I made a trip to Trader Joe's to buy a few staples like PB&J, vegan butter, oat bran, brown rice, almond milk, nuts, and few frozen veggies. I spent a total of $65. Since then I've spent a little over $20. The first week $7.5, second $2.5, third $10. I've been getting by with a lot of the food I take home from the restaurant like pasta, amazing soups they make every morning, gelato, and a LOT of bread.

The experience has been positive so far but I'm less than halfway through. I will give you guys a better idea of what I'm actually learning from this when I get closer to its completion. I will also be posting my recipe for my super cheap veggie lumpias.

PS: As part of the trip I've decided to watch documentaries regarding food, animals, consumerism, stupid americans, etc.... So far I've seen FOOD Inc, and The Cove. I would love recommendations for more:)

Thanks!

Keep 'Freegan' Cookin, Good Lookins!

Yve






1 comment:

  1. Have you watched No Impact Man yet? Think it came out last year. He essentially had the same idea but more concerned with how we waste energy. It takes place in Manhattan of all places.

    You should also watch Mondovino. It's about the natural wine movement. Sounds boring but it'll change the way you consume wine.

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