Hello 10x10 Challenge, goodbye Ramen noodles

Ramen noodles are delicious, quick and filling. At 35 cents a package and a long shelf life, who wouldn’t want to get down on some Ramen? Well this girl is no longer getting down on the Ramen as a part of my pledge to the Local First 10x10 Challenge.

The Local First 10x10 Challenge focuses on individuals pledging to shift $10 of their weekly food budget to local food sources. Since Grand Rapids isn't renowned for its Ramen noodle production, I’ve decided to cut out my favorite source of MSG in favor of more locally sourced food.

As a recent graduate, Ramen noodles played an integral role in my budgeting/paying student loan strategy with my waitressing tips. Cutting them out means focusing on cheap local options to fill the hole Ramen left in my typical eating habits. First up are locally grown eggs, available at (among other places) Kingsma’s market or the Fulton Street Farmers Market. Ranging in price from 16-20 cents an egg, they rack up points for versatility and cheapness. Today for lunch I chose two scrambled eggs from Hudsonville, costing about 32 cents for the entire meal.

Continuing the cheap challenge, I headed to the farmers market with five dollars to spend. I ended up going home with two cucumbers, an avocado and a giant tomato. Which means for about $5.32 I get to eat cucumber tomato salad, and have a fried egg with avocado later on. In comparison, I could have bought a pint of Starbucks ice cream for the equivalent price. 

Today’s success upped the ante for my pledge that I will not only direct an additional $10 of my food budget to locally sourced products, but I’ll also save money doing it. Stay tuned for how I handle my Ramen noodle cravings and search for local food that fits into my budget.