Eating less, remembering more
The picture above is the dressed up version of what is becoming a staple meal in our house- home cooked black beans and organic basmati rice (fairly traded, purchased in bulk from Costco). Sometimes we just have bowls of the rice and beans with a little soy sauce or salsa and sour cream. It doesn’t cost much, the rice and beans together form complete proteins in our body, and it reminds us that simple food is the norm for so many people in the world- while we in developed nations feast on more yummy and divers foods in the course of a day than many do in the course of a life time. In many places in South America and the Congo, for example, a typical meal would be a small bowl of rice and beans. As a family, you could commit to eating this meal once a week or month, and deciding as a family where to give the small amount saved to someone in poverty. Or you could donate time as a family in a soup kitchen, or learn together about the many other ways to help those in poverty. A good place to start is thankfulness, and taking a step back once in a while from the excess, to clear our heads of clutter and look outward.
Want to know if you are rich? Click HERE.
Need inspiration for a more outward focused life?
Read ‘The Hole in Our Gospel’ with me.
Want to actively help a child that lives in poverty?
World Vision is one place to look.
Our desire is to live simply so we can give generously!
“Preach the Gospel always. Use words if necessary.”
- St. Francis of Assisi
Jess…we do this once a week! Got the idea from inpraiseofleftovers.com. I posted about our experience on my Facebook page several weeks ago. It is such a great thing. I love the conversation we have around the dinner table when we are eating rice and beans…filled with gratitude and we usually need to pull out a map to find a country that we are talking about! I have wanted to do a soup kitchen with the girls, but haven’t yet. Every Christmas we go downtown and deliver goods to the homeless on the street. So many just delight in the smile of a child. I love hearing all these ideas!
Comment by Tammy — November 10, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
So great to read your comment! Do your girls do well with the rice and beans? I can’t get Jude on board for more than a spoonful but maybe as he gets older and less picky…
Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to look you up of facebook!:)
Comment by Jess — November 10, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
if you’re ever feeling daring - you should try adding fresh sliced/chopped green apple to your black beans and rice/tacos. it’s a lovely combination..especially if there’s cheese.
Comment by sarahfae, aka auntie foo — November 11, 2009 @ 9:51 am
Yes! I was telling your bro the other day as he scoffed at me feeding applesauce mixed with pureed yam to Owen how good apple (I like tart) is in savory dishes, not just pie or crisp. I like it in stuffing too with wild rice and cranberries, as well as thinly sliced with a bit of Parmesan cheese. Not that you’d be into the cheese or stuffing (meat free in my house:) bit… but I like your thinking!:) Love ya Foo!
Comment by Jess — November 11, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
I love this post for many reasons! Of course for the thankfulness/ simplicity/ justice reasons, but also to be reminded that I have friends who eat like me.
I also get ostracised at work for the food that I eat (I think spelt crackers are good, and that seeds are a better energy source than diet coke). I like this idea of rice and beans once a week too - I think in England our version is beans on toast with marmite, a simple yet strangely addictive treat.
Can’t believe Jude is three! Miss you guys!
Comment by Alisha — November 17, 2009 @ 12:59 am