The Mercy Regional College student and staff Berni Sinnott, Caitlin Rix and Claire Walsh ate primarily rice, lentils and kidney beans as part of the Act for Peace Ration Challenge.

They finished on Thursday with a greater appreciation of food and the luxury that it is.

They raised $3,500 for communities threatened by conflict and disaster and raised awareness of the plight of refugees.  

Chey, 18, said the challenge took a toll on her body and mind and while she didn’t get hungry, her concentration and energy was affected. She struggled to get out of bed, lost 2.5 kilograms and “almost my entire attention span.”

Chey refrained from eating out at her sister’s birthday dinner celebration. “It was tough but I’m pretty proud of myself,” Chey said. “I feel good to have done it. I’m glad it’s over but I’m happy I did it. What I am most proud of is the fact that we’ve started the conversation. People have been asking us questions and visiting the website, hopefully gaining a greater awareness of the plight of these refugees, learning they too can make a difference and perhaps ignorance is not so bliss.” 

Claire Walsh said the food was easy to eat but it was a little bland. “I didn’t find it difficult as such but I’m glad it was only a week,” she said. 

Act for Peace Ration Challenge participant Chey Beaver shares her food dairy and more about her experience here:

Thursday: Today I woke up feeling super excited and in good spirits, keen to get started. Breakfast – cinnamon rice, boiled with some water and a dash of milk Lunch – kidney beans with diced tomato, spinach and rice Dinner – basic hummus and basic flatbread Snack – cup of tea While I’m really craving some fresh fruit and I’m totally devastated that my family decided tonight would be a good night to have lasagne, I’m feeling fine and I’m not overly hungry. 

Friday: I wasn’t too hungry this morning. Breakfast – a couple of tablespoons of cinnamon rice Lunch – Dahl and flatbread Dinner – rice with capsicum and chorizo Snack – cup of tea Tonight was tough as it was year 12 trivia night, pizza included. Surely that counts as flat bread right? Apparently not! 

Saturday: I slept in this morning because it meant I’d have less time to be hungry! Brunch – plain rice Dinner - kidney beans with diced tomato, spinach and rice Snack – cup of tea I had to work today, at a bakery, if that isn’t a test I don’t know what is! I can safely say that this challenge is making me much more appreciative. When clearing tables today I had to empty a half-eaten bowl of chips into the bin, they were cold yet they looked so appealing! I couldn’t help but see it as such a sorry waste of food. 

Sunday: No time for a sleep in today, I started work at 8am. Breakfast – plain rice Lunch – lentil soup Dinner - rice with capsicum and chorizo Snack – cup of tea Starting work earlier than yesterday was certainly a struggle, the smell of freshly baked bread was still lingering. When I finally finished at 4 I was absolutely exhausted, I think it’s really starting to take its toll now, although I’m still not hungry. 

Monday: Today, I feel totally and utterly exhausted and I don’t think it’s ever been quite so hard to get out of bed and go to school, which is saying something! Breakfast – cup of tea (slept in, oops!) Lunch – flatbread Dinner – rice with capsicum and bacon I’m feeling quite lethargic and I’ve been finding it extremely difficult to concentrate but I’m not feeling very hungry. 

Tuesday: Getting out of bed seems to get harder every morning. Breakfast – plain rice Lunch – rice with capsicum and bacon Dinner – kidney beans with diced tomato, spinach, rice and chorizo I got home from school tonight and went straight to bed, my body and mind and are so tired, but knowing that tomorrow is my last day makes me feel so much better. Also today was my sister birthday, which meant tacos and cake. 

Wednesday: Last day!!! Breakfast – plain rice Lunch – kidney beans with diced tomato, spinach, rice and chorizo Dinner – rice with capsicum and bacon To know that I’ve gone managed to make it through the week gives me such a feeling of accomplishment. 

Chey’s reflection - What a week. As soon as I heard about the challenge I knew I had to do it, social justice and world events have always been important to me, so I signed up. 

I was excited to have the opportunity to make a difference, no matter how small, in the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people and now, looking back on the week, I feel so humbled to have done so. The challenge certainly took its toll on my body and mind, it’s not called a challenge for nothing! 

Between my first meal of cinnamon rice and my last of rice with capsicum and bacon, I lost 2 and half kilos and my entire attention span (almost), while this was most certainly not centred around weightloss and I must stress this was no goal of mine, it just goes to show the effect that eating in such a way can have on the body, and on the mind. 

I simply cannot imagine being as tired as I have been, constantly and I was continually reminding myself of how lucky I was to be able to return to my normal diet and what a luxury this is. 

In saying this, having such a fantastic team in (staff members) Berni (Sinnott), Claire (Walsh) and Caitlin (Rix) to get me through the week was honestly a godsend, not to mention Tori McCann, a good friend of mine, also took part in the challenge, starting just after us. 

These four people, alongside my family, were such a great source of comfort and everyone at school, and in the wider community have been so supportive and so involved. 

This could perhaps be what I’m most proud of. Not that I managed to resist cake and pizza and butter chicken, not the fact that as a team we raised over three and a half thousand dollars, and not that my face was on the third page of The Standard. 

What I am most proud of is the fact that we’ve started the conversation. People have been asking us questions and visiting the website, hopefully gaining a greater awareness of the plight of these refugees, learning that they too can make a difference and perhaps ignorance is not so bliss. 

To be able to take part in this challenge and to be healthy enough to do so without any problems is something I am so grateful for and something that has meant so much to me. 

To know that money we have raised by means of our wonderful, generous sponsors, will be actively making a difference in the lives of others, is almost overwhelming. 

Being the sook I am, I get emotional even thinking about it. However, to make it even better, this challenge was bigger than just us. As part of a greater movement of selfless, inspirational people, we have helped raise over $2.5 million and counting. 

So this morning (on the completion of the challenge) I enjoyed my bacon and eggs with new found satisfaction, and orange juice has never tasted so sweet.