Diet plan for the East, anyone?

You know what nobody talks about as a poor graduate student (or they do but not 'loud' enough), how difficult it is exactly to eat a decent meal without feeling guilt. Guilt about what I'm doing to my body and my wallet. And as a graduate student from Singapore, living in Vancouver, going from a SGD 4 substantial bowl of prawn noodles with a taste explosion to a 'cheap' CAD 6 bowl of pho that is missing half it's spices is a real heartbreaking shift. Why not cook at home, you ask? Well the simple economics of it is that getting the ingredients to cook for one person realistically can be likened to sawing my piggy bank unto half. Or I am not doing it right. And if I am not, by the time I figure it out, I would have graduated and gotten a real job.

So instead of lamenting about capitalism (because it always goes there eventually), I decided I shall get some basics - instant ramen, Safeway's Godsent full roasted chicken, whole wheat bread and two cans of Campbell  soup, Potatoes, and of course, spinach - Popeye played a pivotal role in my vegetable consumption. More importantly, I got a giant bottle of Adult multi vit chewable to last a year so I can get at least a decebt amount of the nutrients a grown adult requires to stay one short step away from malnutrition.

Side bar: Can nutritionist come up with diet plans and recipes for a population of people who grow up on their mama's green curry and papa's fried chicken? There's money to be made. Hell! India alone will make you rich. If I succeed in my journey, that shall be my product to the world. Beef rendang for the fit! #winner

Also at this juncture, I feel like I need to call out one of my bigger challenges - the Pavlovian effect of good smelling food on my mind. I need to learn to satisfy my cravings without compromising on dollar nor nutrition. So I'm looking at using more sauces, condiments in my ramen preparation. Also Subway seems to be a great way to go - cheap and pretty nutritious (debatable though).

Well so here is what I did today. 

I spent $30 on a week worth's of groceries, and of cos, a $6 Subway sandwich for lunch. I swayed away from buying unnecessary crap, and pulled my heartstrings away from a tall Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks. 

I also realised that if I do not exercise in the morning, first thing in the morning, I will procrastinate it till the next year. So I need to commit to daily morning exercises. 

So three things for tomorrow:

1. 2 hours of exercise is the first thing in the morning before any errand.

2. Spend little or nothing on food/drinks

3. Reach out to three more job opportunities. 

And I need to commit to chanting Nam Myo Ho Renge Ko, so I'm going to do that after exercise. 

Out.