Welcome to the final day of eating like a refugee. That’s Sean up there, holding the last of our food (oh, and a tin of sardines… but now that we’re this close I’m leaving them for Sean as I can see daybreak ahead).

Since yesterday I lost another 0.7kgs, bringing my weight loss to 3.4kgs or 7.5lbs. I feel like my body is reducing quickly now, and am sure that if I stayed on this diet I’d shed another 5-10lbs quickly. Thank goodness that won’t be the case – I’m not sure I could function if that happened. Already I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Despite our tired and haggard state, Sean had an audition this morning and we did a brief swim at Clovelly. The water feels a lot colder now, and the breeze cut right through me when I got out. I shivered and jumped from foot to foot, all the while conscious of how many calories I must be using, fully aware that a swim was only possible because I knew that rationing would be lifted tomorrow..

On our way to the beach we passed Iggy’s Bread, a local hotspot. Sean and I, while appreciative of the good community work Iggy’s does, often scoff at the people lining up down the block at 7am on a Saturday for a loaf of bread. Today was no different – it was perhaps even more impactful. I wonder at how people in such an abundant society, where bread and food are available everywhere,  choose to spend free time this way. You could take a photo of Iggy’s on a Saturday morning, dim the colour a bit and dress the people up from beachwear to parkas, and you’d think it was Russia in the 80s.

Throughout this campaign I’ve realised a very simple concept on a much deeper level: people need food. For all this simplicity, it shocks me that people still go hungry, that we don’t make simple, nutritious food available to everyone. It’s incredible to look at the way our food systems work. We allow so much waste, and we permit food marketing to children that will make them obese while undernourishing them. If you’re interested, search fatty liver disease in children, where liver damage due to poor diet results in a condition comparable to a seasoned alcoholic. Rates in the US sit around 2.6-3.2%… which is nuts. Peter Attia used to talk about this.

“First we eat, then we do everything else” – MFK Fisher

Joy.
A little more spinach goes a long way!

On the positive front, we’ve raised over $1700 from an amazing group of friends and supporters. From this incredible generosity we’re feeding a heck of a lot of people and Sean and I were able to earn two teabags and an extra serve of spinach (#thankyouthankyouthankyou). We’d love to keep that number growing and continue providing health and basics for life to more Syrian refugees. If you have anything to give, please head here to share what you can.

“…The people who give you their food give you their heart” – Cesar Chavez