Million Dollar Food Fight, Flop!!!

This weeks episode included special celebrity chefs Mark Brant, and Rod Bowers, both chefs were amazing and fun to work with. During this episode, we learned so much about how we eat, where, and how to save money by the choices we make. For example, going for coffee everyday, like I do, costs $1.80 a day, so that's $12.60 a week, that's $655.20 a year, not including a tip, and if you go for more than one coffee a day, add a muffin or donuts, you're spending money that could be used to pay off debt., or a much needed vacation.

During this episode you also saw me and Joe shopping with Preet Banerjee, to tell you the truth, this really was an eye opener, and I really was shocked!!!!! Our local Foodland was amazing to allow us to come into their store to film this clip. That week we only spent $12.10, as I used everything in our freezer and pantry, so we saved a ton of money that week. We also didn't eat out that week, instead, Joe made a fantastic meal with things we had in our freezer. See picture below, it was incredible, also included candles, it was quite romantic. Since the show finished filming in mid October, I shop very differently now, usually only things that are on sale. I save tons of money doing this, and actually end up with more.  Once in a while, I'll treat myself to a coffee, but since the show, I make it at home, another huge savings!!!!!

Here's MDN's 'Essential Grocery List' from tonight's episode. Stick to these nutritional basics, take this list with you when your go grocery shopping, and you'll stay on budget!

Some behind the scenes photo's while filming at my house, and during the Food Fight.

                                         
 Our Chef, Mark Brant

                                            The Crew taking a break,
                                                it was so hot that day.

                           
Me, Joe, Preet and Mark.

                                Me and Mike, the
                               mike guy.

                             
Joe as the chicken man as part of our promotions for the Food Fight, he was so hot in that suit, and I don't mean that in a good way. Joe was just soaked after we run up and down the streets trying to promote the Food fight.

                             
The lovely dinner Joe made me that week instead of going out.

                             


 This is me and some of the girls promoting the food fight.

                             




This is Jim and James, awesome people to work with.

                           



 Our great friend Jackson Field, yes the dumpster man.

During this week, Paulene Hinds and myself stood infront of Foodland and collected food for our local Food Bank, "Fill the Van" event, that we carried on throughout the months.

Together, we raised some money for the food bank along with a full van full of food........We did this again in October, and hope to make this an annual event.

More pictures from the food fight from my personal collection

We were setting up the decorations for the Food Fight

The famous snow cones

Getting ready to sell tickets

Getting the display ready

As you know, we were nominated this week, first let me say it was a total shock, each week we worked our buns off, but never expected to be nominated. It ended up being a community effort, and we were just doing what we intended to do, make each week a success. Now just because we didn't make the $100,000 that week, didn't mean we weren't  winners. We had so much fun that day, and pulled something off that would take weeks, or even months to pull off. This took place at a local golf course in Bowmanville, it was a long weekend in July, the warmest day of the summer, but we did it. So are we disappointed that we didn't win, of course we were, we wouldn't be honest if I said otherwise.  We worked long hours each and everyday, as we had been for the first three weeks, but what got me was the dedication, hard work, and community spirit. We never lost that, and to this day, we still embrace our experience with joy. 

Copyright 2013, Marina DiLisi