Day 5

Breakfast: Bowl of raisin bran ($0.22) w/ skim milk ($0.08). $0.30

Snack: Banana. $0.09

Lunch. Exact same turkey sandwich as the last 3 days....$0.51 (btw I look forward to this meal every day)


Snack: 1/4 cup of rice with splash of soy sauce. $0.03


Dinner: Whole wheat spaghetti ($0.33), onions ($0.02), garlic ($0.02), fried egg ($0.12). $0.49



Late night snack: Split pea soup (split peas, turkey stock, onion, garlic, carrots) $0.09
BTW this was DELICIOUS, the best thing I've had in 4 days. I have to say, it's tough to find something as delicious and as cheap as lentils.


Dessert: Yogurt w/ jelly. $0.35


Day's total: $1.86.

Total rollover: $0.92

Here's how mike did.

Day 4

Breakfast: turkey broth. $0 (price of turkey was priced into the meat so the stock is free)

2nd Breakfast: Turkey broth w/ small serving of rice. $0.04


Lunch: Turkey sandwich. 2 slices bread ($0.20), mayo ($0.06), 4oz turkey (0.25). $0.51



Dinner: 8 oz turkey ($0.50), gravy (0.05), rice (0.10). $0.65.


Late night snack: Leftover tofu fried rice, 1/3 portion. $0.30


Total: $1.50

Total rollover: $0.78

Here's how mike did.

Day 3

Breakfast: 1 cup oatmeal ($0.14), sugar ($0.05), 1 banana ($0.09), coffee ($0.07). $0.35


Snack: 16 oz milk. $0.31

Lunch: 2 pieces dry toast ($0.20), 1 tbsp mayo ($0.06), 4oz leftover roast turkey ($0.25). $0.51


Snack: 2 peanut butter crackers. $0.10




Dinner: Thai stir fry rice with tofu. Tofu ($0.40), lemongrass ($0.10), soy sauce ($0.03), suguar ($0.03), garlic ($0.05), rice ($0.20), thai chiles ($0.04), thai basil ($0.05). $0.90


Day's total: $2.17. Surplus $0.28

I went over by $0.17, so I had to dip into the surplus.

Here's how mike did.

Day 2

Breakfast: Oatmeal with sugar ($0.10), 2 eggs ($0.24), dry toast ($0.10). $0.44




Lunch: 12oz milk ($0.22) leftover pork and cabbage from last night ($0.35). $0.55



Since we started this competition the day after thanksgiving, there was one great benefit.

So, dinner: 14oz Roast turkey leg ($0.45) w/ gravy ($0.01) and rice ($0.15). $0.61


Days total: $1.60. Total amount rolled over: $0.45

Here's how mike did.

Day 1 and Introduction

EDIT: Ok, I should probably begin this blog with a little explanation. My roommate Mike and I are having a friendly prop bet to see who can go the longest eating on $2 per day. Here are the stipulations:

-eating from the trash is a-ok
-free food is ok as long as it's not given to us directly by an individual. e.g. free samples at the grocery store is ok...free samples from a friend's mom is not ok.
-if the total $2 is not spent in one day the surplus is rolled over into the next day
-mike is allowed to buy coffee at the coffee shop because he studies there. I'm allowed to drink up to one protein shake per day (which cost around $0.40) because I'd sooner like to gain weight and don't want to lose any.

Some might call these protein shakes cheating. Well, call it what you will, but the purpose of this challenge isn't to starve ourselves. It's an exercise in self restraint, and also perhaps to prove that it is possible to eat well and healthy every day for the amount of money that one might normally spend on a single bottle of sugary water.

The loser has to cook ANY meal of the winner's choice. If we both last until December 16th then there will be a draw.

So it begins, day 1!


Breakfast: Bowl of rice w/ splash of soy sauce: $.15


Snack: Costco free samples - mango juice, banana nut bread, chili: $0




Lunch: 3 fried eggs, 1 piece dry toast, 1 banana: $0.55




Dinner: Pork stuffed cabbage rolls w/ rice. (ground pork, cabbage, lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce, seasonings) $0.90



Dessert: Plain yogurt w/ spoonful of jelly. $0.35



Day's total: $1.95. Current surplus: $0.05

Here's how mike did.