Living below the line: $2.25 a day - day four

Petra Bagust says the challenge to live off $2.25 a day brings everyday convenience into focus. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Herald will follow well known Kiwis for five days as they attempt to 'Live Below the Line' - by spending just $2.25 a day on food and drink. Beginning Monday (September 21), Petra Bagust, Geoff Scott, Ria Hall, Eve Gordon and Holly Arrowsmith will share their thoughts, struggles and hunger pangs with Herald readers as they attempt to live off little to raise funds for and awareness of TearFund's fight against human trafficking.

Day one
Day two
Day three

Day four

Petra Bagust

Breakfast - I am so hungry this morning. Soaked oats starts me off well. It's not great made with water but I am grateful for something to eat. A cup of tea feels more like a lifesaver.
Morning tea - None again.
Lunch - I have lettuce and steamed spinach and some orzo pasta for lunch and ignore the beef, meringues, chocolate cake, pastries and copious bowls of chocolate scattered throughout the venue.
Dinner - Dinner tonight could be interesting. I'm at an awards dinner and may only be able to eat the bread roll and 60 cents worth of something else! Socially, I'm not sure how that will go down, but that's life...this week anyway.

How I'm feeling: "Because I am hosting a forum and awards dinner today I'm working from 6:30am to 10:30pm. I'm a little nervous - it's going to be challenging. I feel like a nap - but keep sculling water, lots of water, and the occasional cup of tea."

Other thoughts: "Someone made a significant donation to my page on livebelowtheline.com - it was humbling and makes it all much more significant to keep going."

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Geoff Scott

Breakfast - Porridge with currants, vanilla, cinnamon and topped with some orange zest cooked in a little sugar and water - I had this sitting in the fridge at home - and it gave the porridge just that extra kick to brighten up the start to day 4 of the challenge. 50c

Lunch - A raw salad of lettuce, carrot, a little cheese grated, some green beans and the tiniest slice of shaved ham, olive oil and a splash of vinegar - sitting outside in the sun was just magic, fresh, tasty, nutritious and simple... and only one day to go! 60c

Dinner - This has been the challenge for me - a cooking challenge. For the first time EVER - I have mad dahl. yep - it was wickedly hot and I can't really do hot so the glands are still reveling! But the recipe was kindly given to me by Mohammed and his wife Fatima Bhikoo at the Hollywood dairy (my local) - I am under pressure to supply a small sample for them both to try tomorrow morning. Two of my staff loved it and poor old Pierre and I (also loved the taste) but sweated on it a bit!! 70c

Snacks - Just an apple

How I'm feeling: "Surprisingly not hungry at all. What's been most interesting is thinking about food, my and our families eating habits and what things cost in a completely different way. I've also been thinking a lot about just how lucky we are here in NZ , a land of plenty a land of pure milk and pure honey - and how far removed we are from the human trafficking and slavery in the modern sense. I'm feeling very grateful to all those who are supporting me - as i have very quickly realised how tough it is in the day and age to get sponsorship - so a huge thank you to all those who are supporting Live Below the Line this year, you massively rock!"

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Eve Gordon

Breakfast - On waking up I ate my daily ration of Mars bar!
Lunch - Steamed carrots with salt and pepper I nicked from my partner...
Afternoon lunch - Crackers and peanut butter
Dinner - Apples and licorice! :)

How I'm feeling: "I've started really looking at food in a different way. We live in such a affluent way and take good food so completely for granted it's crazy! I'm a little sick of carrots now but to be honest when you have a certain amount of simple food you really appreciate whatever it is!"

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Ria Hall

Breakfast - Porridge with banana and cinnamon (50 cents)
Lunch - Porridge with banana and cinnamon 50 cents)
Snack - Small bowl of brown rice with a dash of soy sauce (10 cents)
Dinner - Omelette

How I'm feeling: "I'm trying to write songs and it's pretty hard on low energy. I felt like porridge for lunch today so that's what I had. Looking forward to tomorrow being the last day! I would love a burger!"

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Holly Arrowsmith

Breakfast - fried egg and homemade bread (69 cents)
Lunch - pumpkin soup with brown rice (70 cents)
Dinner - cornbread with black beans (75 cents)

How I'm feeling: "I am missing the social aspect of food, meeting up with a friend for coffee for example. This week has really put some things in perspective when you compare the cost of your three daily meals to a latte and the latte is twice as much! Even though I have been a bit hungry between meals, it has highlighted the fact that we eat for the sake of it in west, if you are bored - you eat something. I don't think we appreciate food enough, where it comes from, etc. We are a little out of touch."

Quote of the day: 'To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.' Nelson Mandela."