No More

Bread
IN T HIS A C T IV IT Y, participants will reflect on per-
sonal food intake and the difference in average food con-
sumption between developed and developing countries.

TIME REQUIRED: 30-40 MINUTES | INTENDED FOR GRADES 6-8

» Copies of Handout 1, “Food Journal Chart,” one for each participant

MAT ERIALS
N EED ED

» Copies of Handout 2, ”Food Journal Comparison Chart,” one for each participant
» Pens or pencils, one for each participant

Note: A week before you conduct this activity, give each participant a copy of the “Food Journal Chart”
handout and ask them to use it to record all the food they consume in the next week. Ask them to bring their
completed charts on the date of the activity.

Activity Steps
1 INVITE PARTICIPANTS TO GATHER in groups of three or four and share with one another
the entries on their completed food journal charts.

2 AFTER ALLOWING SOME TIME FOR SHARING, give each participant a copy of the “Food
Journal Comparison Chart.” Then provide the following key points:

» You have just received a food journal that is based on the eating habits of a real child,
Simphiwe Dlanini, a 13-year-old girl from Swaziland.

» Simphiwe is the oldest of four children. Her father, Mefika, is currently unemployed, and
her mom, Busi, gets up at 4 a.m. to bake cakes for Simphiwe to sell at school.

PA G E 1 O F 5
 » The family is used to eating bread for breakfast but can no longer afford it.

» This food journal shows what might happen to a family that doesn’t get enough nutritious
food. At this point, Simphiwe’s family still has enough food, but they can no longer afford
certain types of food, and they are becoming anxious about having enough for the weeks
ahead.

3 INVITE THE GROUPS TO REVIEW the handout and do a quick comparison with their own
charts. Then have the participants gather into a single large group and lead them in a discussion
using the following questions:

» What’s missing from Simphiwe’s diet?

» How do the types of food you eat compare with the types of food eaten by Simphiwe?
What are the similarities and differences?

» How do your family’s weekly food costs compare with the amount Simphiwe’s family
spends on food?

» Compare your family’s weekly food budget with the average amount spent by other
families around the world (noted on the handout). What factors, in addition to family
income, explain the discrepancies in the amounts spent by families in different countries
around the world?

4 GIVE EACH PARTICIPANT A PEN OR PENCIL. Invite participants to take a few minutes
to write a one-page journal entry from Simphiwe’s point of view reflecting on her situation and
how it is affecting her life. They may use the back of their food journal chart to write this journal
entry.

5 AFTER EVERYONE IS DONE, invite a few participants to share their entries.

6 NOW, INVITE PARTICIPANTS to take a few minutes to write a one-page entry about how
they might help change the food situation in Swaziland or other countries where people are going
hungry. They may use the back of their food journal comparison chart to write this journal entry.

7 AFTER EVERYONE IS DONE, invite a few participants to share their entries.

8 CONCLUDE BY ENCOURAGING PARTICIPANTS to follow through on the action step they

selected earlier. Before dismissing the group, ask them to join you in prayer for all those who are
in need of food.
Copyright © 2010 World Vision, Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA
98063-9716, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved.
PA G E 2 O F 5
 PA G E 3 O F 5
In the chart below, record all the food you consume in one week. Include food eaten at home or brought from home, food bought in the
cafeteria, snacks bought from vending machines or stores, and meals eaten in restaurants. Record when and where, and even with whom,
you ate. Also record any special events you attend where food is served (for example, a special family dinner or party). At the end of each day,
provide an estimate of the cost of the food you ate that day. Be as accurate and realistic as possible.
M O N D AY T U E S D AY W E D N E S D AY T H U R S D AY F R I D AY S AT U R D AY S U N D AY
Morning
Noon
and

Permission to reproduce is granted. © 2010 by World Vision Inc.

Afternoon
Food Journal Chart

Evening
Cost of food
eaten per day
HANDOUT 1

Cost of food Number of people in Estimated family food

eaten by me this week my family costs for the week
$ X =$
 PA G E 4 O F 5
The fictional food journal is based on the eating habits of a real child, Simphiwe 1. M
 ake a list of the types of food Simphiwe eats in a week. What does she eat a lot of? What’s
Dlanini, a 13-year-old girl from Swaziland. Simphiwe is the eldest of four children. missing from her diet?
Her father, Mefika, is currently unemployed, and her mom, Busi, gets up at 4 a.m. 2. H
 ow do the types of food you eat compare to the types of food eaten by Simphiwe? What are
to bake cakes for Simphiwe to sell at school. The family is used to eating bread the similarities and differences?
for breakfast, but can no longer afford it. This food journal shows the possible 3. H
 ow does your family’s weekly food costs compare with the amount Simphiwe’s family
early effects of food insecurity on a family in a developing country. At this point, spends on food?
enough food is still available for the Dlaninis, but they can no longer afford 4. C
 ompare your family’s weekly food spending with the average amount spent by other families
certain types of food, and anxiety about having enough for the weeks ahead has around the world (see chart below). What factors, in addition to family income, explain the
set in. discrepancies in the amounts spent by different families around the world?
M O N D AY T U E S D AY W E D N E S D AY T H U R S D AY F R I D AY S AT U R D AY S U N D AY
Food Journal Comparison Chart

Morning Ate a slice of Ate a slice of No bread because No bread—ate left- Ate leftover porridge Checked with Woke up tired; we are
bread bread a loaf now costs over porridge neighbors to see if running out of maize
$1.14—ate nothing they have work for
me to earn a bit of
money—they do not
Noon Sold Mama’s cakes Sold cakes again; ate Sold cakes again; No cakes today Again, no cakes to sell Shared some roasted Mama and Papa
and at school for 7 cents a banana ate one because the cost of corn with my sister in talked about the
Afternoon each flour went up at the the market rising prices of flour,

Permission to reproduce is granted. © 2010 by World Vision Inc.

market sugar, and cooking
oil—all ingredients
she uses for her cake
business
Evening Helped Mama grind Helped Mama cook Helped Mama cook Papa sold one of our Helped Mama cook Helped Mama cook Helped Mama cook
maize and start a the same meal as the same evening family goats for extra the same evening the same evening the same evening
fire; cooked maize Monday night meal again income; ate porridge meal again meal again; she is meal again, but this
time there was not as
porridge and vegetable for dinner worried we’ll run out much porridge and
stew from pumpkin of maize stew; Mama ate less,
leaves, sweet but gave us the same
potatoes, and peanuts portions as usual
Cost of food $0.86 $0.86 $0.64 $0.70 $0.70 $0.70 $0.70
eaten per day
HANDOUT 2

Cost of food Number of people in Estimated family food

eaten by me this week my family costs for the week
$ 5.16 X 6 = $ 30.96
 About World Vision
W O R L D V IS IO N is a Christian humanitarian organization
dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities
worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of
poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World
Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of
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know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty
and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World Vision is unique:
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About World Vision Resources

E NDING GL O B A L PO V ERT Y and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on
human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world.

World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision.

World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty,
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For more information about our

resources, contact:
World Vision Resources
Mail Stop 321
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
Fax: 253-815-3340
wvresources@worldvision.org
www.worldvisionresources.com

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