The dried peas remind me of my university days in Japan.

Through poor financial planning, I ended up without any money and had to survive on instant ramen and dried wasabi peas for more than two weeks.

Japan is perhaps the worst place in the world to be broke.

By the end of the two weeks, I was so weak that I could barely get out of bed. My dear friend found me pressed into my futon bed with barely enough energy to move. He rescued me with some more nutritious food.

When I got my strength back, I went out and got a couple lucrative jobs and never could eat instant ramen or wasabi peas again.

I guess the point of the story is that wasabi peas and instant ramen aren't very whole foods. The malnutrition can sneak up on you. Even though you are eating, you don't get enough nutrition to lead a normal active lifestyle.