Who's all taking part in this challenge? Are they in, or reluctant? Is there any choice in the matter?
As I've stated before, we are a family of four with one fur-child. I will introduce you to them all.
1. Husband, Neville: an IT guru who also runs a successful jewelry company on the side. Two years ago he was diagnosed with colon cancer which radically changed our lives. After 18 months of treatments, he is now in the clear, but we do eat differently now and follow many of the food suggestions by the WHO to prevent cancer. That would be avoiding red meat consumption and nitrates mainly. I will write about the WHO/AICR recommendations to prevent cancer on another day. I 'think' he's supportive of this challenge..time will tell.
2. Wife(me), Leslie: an educator and student. I studied nutrition in Australia and an trying to finish a Canadian degree in nutrition so I am legally able to practice here. I have Celiac Disease and numerous food allergies which make buying some of the 'cheap' food impossible. I shop a lot in the health food aisle. This irritates me to no end; shouldn't all the food in a grocery store be 'health food'?
I call the cereal aisle the candy aisle. In no way should 'chocolate' be part of a healthy breakfast. I do buy cereals; Rice Chex, Rice Krispies, plain Cheerios, oatmeal and Raisin Bran. I do know that cereal is expensive and this may be one of the sacrifices to maintain the budget. We may end up eating an egg, oatmeal, quinoa as a trade, which really is better for you as a breakfast. Like many, breakfast time is fast and furious, so a cereal box is easier than prepping oatmeal or eggs.
I do cook most meals at home, hate chemical additives in food and try to cook from scratch when possible. Give me a potato, cauliflower, rice and some spices and I will make a mean curry!
3. Child one, Isabella: an active pre-teen who will eat most food. Even as a baby she liked fresh veggies and fruit and hated processed food and sweets. She will take to this challenge easy if I need to change the meals we eat.
4. Child two, Iain: an active boy and fussy eater. He can't tolerate lactose, so we need to buy lactose free milk and cheese. Have you seen the price of milk lately? Well, add another dollar for this stuff. I don't believe us humans actually need milk after weaning, but the kids like it in cereal and an occasional glass. I've tried to switch them to alternate drinks, but they don't really like the flavour. I choose my battles, I'll let them drink milk.
5. Fur-child, Zeus. A nine month old Doberman puppy. He cuts into the house budget in a minor way...about 35 dollars of food every three weeks then some bones. He keeps us active and we go outside a lot more since he's joined our family.
