I seriously thought I was going to wake up this morning and down a slice of the Godiva chocolate cheesecake that’s been hiding in my freezer since Father’s day. But you want to know what I ate for my first meal after eating packaged food for 30 days straight?
My goal was simple: to see what it would be like to live off a basic food storage kit for 30 days. I had no ulterior motives; I just wanted to see if I could eat what was in the box for 30 days. Sometimes I like to experience things or challenge myself in ways some people might think is odd. To me, I just see it as a fun experiment. Might be a bored housewife thing. Might be a quirk in my personality. Either way, I was actually oddly excited to try this. I was curious about so much.
Living off a 30 Day Supply of Dehydrated Food
- How bad, or GOOD would the food be?
- Would eating food out of a pouch for 30 days wear me down?
- Would I go crazy and start seeing flying cows?
- Would I break and run to Starbucks for a venti earl grey tea with 2 sugars and an inch of milk?
- Could I bake treat after treat for my family and REALLY not touch even a crumb?
Willpower people…. it was all about WILLPOWER.
Let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised that I LOVED the food. Had I not, this experiment might have taken a more drastic turn and I’m not sure I would have survived. But the food was actually really good. Eating out of a pouch didn’t bother me and there was enough variety in the basic food storage kit {that was meant to be supplemented with beans, rice and other pantry items} I did not get bored of eating the food.
I didn’t see flying cows, I didn’t make a run for Starbucks, and I was able to bake and participate in family functions without it being awkward. {This may be because my family knows I’m a little off my rocker though and I am always up to something a little crazy}. 😉
They were pretty supportive, as were all of you. That really did help. You guys took an interest in my crazy plan. I got encouraging comments everyday and emails from readers like this one:
Do you think this will change the “regular” food you eat next week? What about tea? If you feel better and look better, is this kind of a kick start to look at what you eat and drink and whether you want it anymore? I am wondering if you will find the regular food and tea aren’t as important anymore.
I thought you were going to give in last week, but I was hoping you wouldn’t because you’d come so far. You’re on the homestretch – way to go!
~Janet
Tea – before this challenge, there were days when I would drink up to 20 cups of tea a day. It was comforting, had sugar in it and I guess when you’ve done something for so long, drinking ridiculous amounts of tea each day just becomes a habit. Now that the challenge is over I plan to drink tea only occasionally, as a special treat.
As far as my overall eating habits, I learned I don’t need to snack as often as I thought {and I don’t need caffeine!}. That was a habit that was accidentally broken during this process. Want to know something else accidental that happened? I lost some weight.
I want to start by saying I don’t believe in diets. I think they are stupid and I don’t think they work in the long-term. We all know what you decide to put into your mouth everyday dictates how you feel and look, but the bottom line is everyone’s bodies are different.
I didn’t even want to post the scale pictures in the first place because sharing how much I weigh is {extremely} awkward and at the end of the day… it really doesn’t matter. It’s just a number.
But here goes…
I typically weigh more during the winter and early spring months because I am working outside less and because I generally pig out {like everyone else does} around the holidays.
My entire adult life I had basically been the same weight since I graduated high school {128 pounds}. However, over the last 3 years I have put on few extra pounds. Mainly because I spend a great deal of my time sitting in front of the computer talking to you people all day. 😉 Some people refer to it as “blogger’s butt.”
Before I had a blog, I was always busy running here and there and never really stopped moving. But whatever. People get older, they gain a few pounds… that’s normal. I really didn’t care and it wasn’t an issue for me. I was healthy and happy with my size. And anyway, who doesn’t want to be the plump grandma who goes to bingo twice a week and makes delicious cookies and cakes for their grandkids when they are 82? I know I do.
Again, this was not about losing weight. It was simply about seeing if I could survive on a basic food kit supplemented with rice and beans. That was it.
Losing weight was never my goal, but it happened.
If I could go back in time I would have taken the Premium Kit Valley Food Storage offered me after they got wind of my crazy experiment. {The premium kit has EVERYTHING 1 person needs for 30 Days – 205 servings of food}. I used the 30 Value Kit which was intended to be supplemented with things you already had in your food storage and rice and beans.
Because I jumped into this feet first without doing my research beforehand and then stuck to my guns about it because I am an idiot, I did lose weight. I added rice and beans but nothing else. Valley Food Storage is not a substitute for Weight Watchers, nor do they try to be. They are trying to ensure you are all set in the unlikely event of a Zombie Apocalypse {or some other more realistic natural disaster that is way less fun to say than zombie apocalypse}. But there is something to be said about a rigid calorie schedule and consistent food intake: you lose weight.
I am a BIG TIME snacker and could put any grazing cow to shame. I eat most of my food on the go {with the exception of dinner} and I missed being able to grab a treat whenever I felt like it.
Something to note which I did not realize until later: I was not wearing the same pajamas in the day 21 photo as I wore in the day 7 and 14 photos. I was wearing running shorts and a tank top which are much lighter than the flannel pajama bottoms and a long sleeve shirt.
The dramatic weight loss got me thinking though. If I was losing almost a half a pound a day on 1,000-1,200 calories a day, how many calories a day was I eating before I started this challenge?
My calorie needs have got to be more than the suggested 1650 – 1850 calories per day, wouldn’t you think? I’ve never really counted calories before so I don’t even know how many I would normally consume. But really, how much does an average dog walking, full-time gardener need?
I took Lucy to the vet to get her nails done yesterday {she gets them clipped about once a month} and they weighed her. I kid you not, LUCY GAINED 4 POUNDS in the last 30 days.
FOUR POUNDS!!!
How did it happen? Well, before I started my 30 day challenge I was taking her for an hour long walk each day. Sure, she came home exhausted, but that was the point, right? During the challenge though I didn’t want to burn all my calories walking Lucy for an hour everyday, so I had her play in the backyard most of the time instead {the kids did take her for short walks each day}. Well holy crackers people… apparently Lucy needs her one hour of exercise every day.
That was just one of the many things I learned over the course of the last 30 days. Here are a few others:
What I Learned Living off a 30 Day Emergency Supply of Food
1. I don’t want to eat rice and beans again for a very long time.
2. We are all stronger than we think we are, and willpower is an amazing tool.
3. I feel better than I have in a very long time.
4. A treat is really not a treat if you eat one every.single.day.
5. I function better WITHOUT caffeine.
6. My skin has never been better thanks to the 10 bottles of water I drank every day.
7. Valley Food Storage Products rock! I highly recommend them.
8. No matter how big your emergency food storage kit is, you need to supplement it with a few sweets.
9. Lucy needs exercise.
10. Challenging yourself and jumping outside your comfort zone is pretty awesome.
Valley Food Storage sent me their Value One Month Food Supply Kit to try out and review. When they did this, I had no idea this challenge would be born {they didn’t either, and like I mentioned earlier, they freaked out a bit worrying I was going to become skin and bones because I wasn’t using the kit as it was intended- with other foods supplementing it}. Because let’s be honest, who gets a big fat box of food storage pouches and thinks, “Hmmm. Looks like dinner {and breakfast and lunch} for the next 30 days,” when they have a stocked fridge and a pantry full of yummy food.
No one. That’s who says that.
But I did. And it actually turned out to be a pretty fun experiment. Lost a little weight. Learned a thing or two about myself and my eating habits. Broke my caffeine addiction. So all in all, I’d say it was a pretty successful 30 days.
~Mavis
Laurie says
I think you’re awesome!!
Pauline says
Way to go, Mavis! You did it! I think I am most in awe of your willpower in seeing the experiment through. Thanks for sharing the take-home points. I confess I did chuckle a bit at hearing that the folks who supplied the 30-day kit were a little freaked out by your experiment, too. Presumably your trial gave them some great feedback.
Kara says
Yay! I’ve been waiting on the east coast for this post all day 🙂
Jennifer Jo says
Congratulations! Great job!
Audrey says
Congratulations on sticking to it. I was indeed worried you would be skin and bones – but you look great! Pretty sure I could not have completed this challenge – I have a really have the grazing habit as well as the “don’t want to waste the last little bit by throwing it away” so I’ll eat it. I really enjoy following your blog. Thanks for the humor and the information you provide.
Sherry says
Way to go Mavis! And thank you for making me put some more thought into my emergency food supply!
Liliana says
Congratulations! Your will power is amazing!
Maxine says
Impressive! Great job! Thought of you today when I saw a t-shirt that had the Keep Calm crossed out and it said Run! Zombies! And good to know that in a true emergency the box, beans and rice could last for 30 days. The storms seem to be getting more intense and I’ve tried a few backpacking meals so I’ll have to try these to have on hand. THANK YOU! P.S. – I challenge myself too. I think its great! Although I lack your willpower. 🙂
Lisa L says
Brava!
Margo says
I’m impressed! You did it! It seems to have “reset” your basic nutritional tastes. I gave up coffee for Lent one year, and I sure missed it, but like you, found I didn’t really need it and found other non-caffeine alternatives that I enjoyed and otherwise would not have tried. Good work!
Monica says
You.Are.Amazing!!!
Laurie G says
I enjoyed following along as you embarked upon this challenge. Your opinions were honest and you stuck to your guns. We do have much more willpower than we think we do. I once went 5 months on a total liquid diet (medically supervised). Would I do it again. Oh heavens no! I admire your intestinal fortitude. You rock!
bobbi dougherty says
wow, you are amazing. I am proud of you…Good job. 🙂
Hey, if Lucy needs to walk an hour a day, maybe the lady walking the baby in the stroller could take her on one of her trips, lol.
Mavis says
Ha. Awesome idea. I should ask her!
Tia says
#4. I really need to subscribe to that philosophy. (Right now, I live by: after you eat a meal, you get dessert. ) Not sure where that came from….
So about those jeans you were trying to fit into last year, did you keep them? I bet they fit now!
Mavis Butterfield says
I did keep them. And yes they fit. 🙂
Lee says
I am so glad you stuck with this! I saw a few comments on Instagram part way through, and I was hoping you would continue despite the feedback to discontinue the challenge. It is healthy to push yourself out of your comfort zone in order to grow in new ways.
You noted that during your first week, you had “wanted to eat cake or cookies or bake a pie…”. I think this has to be one of the most significant things to me that stood out from this post. Sugar consumption is extremely difficult to cut back on presently, and to me, I was most curious to know how that would go for you. It is something I strive to do and have been cutting back on this summer, but I’m challenged by what is available at stores and time available to cook from scratch while working full time.
The second most significant thing to me was that if you were really in survival mode and having to fend for yourself, it will be very important to have some additional stores in order to maintain high caloric intake. I’m glad you noted that as well. Otherwise it would be very difficult to balance all of the scavenging, fort building, and zombie fighting!
Great experiment ^.^
Lynne says
You rock, Mavis! I cannot imagine doing what you did, but am so glad that you shared the experience (and the lessons – let’s not forget those) with all of us.
Diana says
Congrats! Knew you could do it.
So, what’s on the whiteboard for the next challenge? Hmmm? Lol…
Lisa Millar says
Congratulations! Only the stubbornest person could do that in spring surrounded by all the fresh stuff!!
I think its a bit funny how Lucy gained 4 pounds!! oopsie!
This was a fun challenge to watch from the comfort of my chair! Interesting to know how good it all tasted – it didn’t look too bad, but the ‘gloopiness’ of all the dishes made me crave something green and fresh!
Mavis says
I had to close my eyes sometimes because it wasn’t exactly pretty too look at. Ha!
Vicki says
Congratulations Mavis! There was never a doubt in my mind about your making it. I think you are made out of some pretty tough stuff. I think I can speak for all your readers by saying we are proud of you!
Mavis says
Thanks so much! It was certainly a journey, that’s for sure!
susan says
Way to go girly
Cassandra says
Awesome for sticking it out! Too bad the prices on those kits are too high for me to afford =(
JC says
I don’t think I could do it. I have no will power and I get hangry so quickly. Also you had so many days below 1000 calories. That to me is too low. I would probably rip someones head off by day 10.
Laetitia in Australia says
By saying you ‘don’t believe in diets’ do you just mean things like the Atkins / South Beach / Cabbage / Paleo / Other Latest Fad Diet or do you mean all systems of eating that rely at least partly on eating fewer calories than current-weight maintenance?
Kat says
This is a crazy cool challenge! I shared your blog with a bunch of people. I would love to try it, but would really have to stop burning calories!! Your strength of willpower is beyond impressive.
Also, I think that calorieking is crazy. I am 5’4″, 28 years old, and extremely active. It recommended that I eat 1850-2050 to maintain my weight. I would wither away if I only ate that many calories. I think, while they have a good range, it definitely wasn’t accurate for me. I would guess that I consume about 1850-2050 calories of food per day, plus tons of liquid calories (at least another 1000 a day), and still don’t really gain or lose much.
Bill says
Impressive! Glad you did it – for all of us.
Question: If no rice and beans – what then? What are they to total – bulk, carbs or?
Gordon Warlow says
Just found your blog. Great experiment! Congrats! Just curious, when you mention that you drank 10 bottles of water each day… Was that tap water or did you buy 10 bottles of water for each day’s supply? Anyway, great work! Cheers.
Mavis Butterfield says
I used a refillable water bottle. 🙂
JR says
I stumbled across this experiment of yours. I did a similar one, not by choice, on March 20th 2020, I locked myself and my wife in our NYC apt due to the raging virus. On May 2nd we got our first food delivery after trying every day for 6 weeks. I lost 17 pounds, the Bride maintained her weight. I got inspired when I saw how small of a footprint your 30 food box was. I cant seem to find the one you had or even the deluxe one you described, but before the week is out I will get two, 30 day emergency food boxes from someplace. That backup, along with what we always have in the cupboards will get us thru the next emergency and its one less thing for me to worry about. Thank you for doing this experiment, you gave an old man hope for the next lockdown.