FOOD: A Lesson In Thankfulness

FOOD (Day 3)

Almost 60% of Hondurans live below the poverty line.  You can explain to your kids that if you lined up 10 Hondurans, 6 of them would be considered poor.  To put this in perspective, the poverty line in the United States is currently set at $23,050 (total yearly income) for a family of four.  The average American household budgets 13% of income on food.  For an American family at the poverty line, that would break down to spending $8 per day or $57 per week to feed a family of four. 

Eye Opener Activities

• Most families in Honduras live on a simple and not very nutritious diet: corn tortillas, beans, cassava melons, plantains, rice, and coffee.  The very poorest eat only rice, beans, and tortillas.  For a day, provide only these options for your family.

• Take your family to the grocery store with only $8 in cash (or adjust the amount to fit your family).  Explain to your kids that the $8 is all you have to buy food for the day.  Have them help you decide what you will buy to feed the family for the whole day.  If you’re brave enough and your kids are old enough to understand the lesson, really live the day on what you can buy for $8.  

Discussion Questions

• What is it like to only eat rice and beans?
• What treats or foods did you miss the most today?
• What healthy foods did you not get to each today?
• What would happen to a person who never ate fruits and vegetables?
• How did this experience change how you view the food choices you are given?

Prayer

Thank God for the amazing abundance of food you enjoy daily.  Confess any greed, discontent, or lack of thankfulness in regards to the way you view the food you consume.  Thank God for His grace that He loves us even when we make mistakes or have wrong attitudes. Pray for the people of Honduras and those in our country who live below the poverty line.

Our food options for the day included rice, beans, tortillas, and plantains.  This was the hardest day for me!  The kids actually like rice and beans so they didn't complain nearly as much as I thought they would but after eating nothing else all day, I think they had a healthy appreciation for variety.