Food Stamp Challenge starts on 4/23 - can you live on $35 a week for food? (no free/already bought)

[Liberal_in_LA]

What is the Greater Philadelphia Food Stamp Challenge?

Nearly 1 in 7 people in the greater Philadelphia region rely on food stamps (now known as SNAP). For the rest of us, the Greater Philadelphia Food Stamp Challenge offers a glimpse into their lives.

Participants take the Challenge for one week, living on just $5 a day in food—the average food stamp benefit for Philadelphia.

http://www.hungercoalition.org/foodstampchallenge

Get Started! Register for the Challenge
Total food budget: $35 for the week (April 23-29)

All food purchased and eaten during the Challenge, including dining out, must be counted. (*Note: In reality, food stamps cannot be spent at restaurants or fast-food establishments in Pennsylvania).
Only eat food that you bought for the Challenge. Do not eat food that you already purchased. This does not includes spices and condiments.
You do not have to include the entire price of a food item purchased, if you consumed only a portion of it. For instance, if you ate only half a box of pasta during the week, you only need to include half the price of that box in your total.
Planning to take the Challenge with your family? Check out our chart with the food stamp budget for your household size.

Try not to cheat!

Avoid accepting free food from friends, family or work.
Keep track of your receipts, and take notes on your thoughts and experiences.

Share your experiences.

[GobBluth]

1. I guess my family already does this

For a family of 5 the amount is $138.60/week. Is that just for food? Because my weekly grocery bill (food, toilet paper, cleaning, etc), is about $150 week. Maybe more if we are entertaining a lot. We do not really eat out (though we can afford to). HOWEVER, thanks to my MIL who likes to overstock her freezer, we got a lot of meat for free. My family does eat a lot of salad and veggies though. Oh, and we eat a ton of chili for some reason, beans and ground beef (I know, that's not really chili. Don't gang up on me!).

Also, I am home all day. 2 kids in school, one at home. So I have time to plan where I shop and what we are going to eat.

[HiPointDem]

99. you don't do it because: "we got a lot of meat for free."

[GobBluth]

113. But we eat meat maybe twice a week.

And the $150 is everything at the grocery store. Toilet paper, soaps, cat litter, dog bones, etc.

[HiPointDem]

114. terms of the challenge are nothing for free. so you don't do it.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. At one time in my life, I fed myself and 4 children on food stamps.

It can be done, but it's not easy and you spend almost as much time planning meals and food purchases as you do actual preparation time. It's almost imperative that you know at least basic cooking skills. You also learn to be rather inventive about the way you combine foods.

Prepared foods are out, snack foods are out, soft drinks are out. You look for the highest number of servings per $ and that means a lot of pasta and dried beans as the backbone of your menu. Meats are used more as a flavoring than as a main dish to the meal. Canned fruits and vegetables are usually more cost effective than fresh. Eggs can be an inexpensive source of protein. Hot cereals that you actually cook are a staple for breakfast. A package of oatmeal might feed the kids breakfast for a week, while that big box of cold cereal and a gallon of milk won't make it around the table twice.

[nobodyspecial]

12. Although you say meat is more of a flavoring, implying that is a bad thing,

that's actually a much healthier diet. Swap out white pasta and rice for store brand whole grains and you actually have a healthy diet. Oatmeal, especially steel cut, is way better than over processed cereals, especially if they are high in sugar.

I do agree with others that you have to cook from scratch and spend more time with meal planning and preparation, but if you are careful, you can end up with a much more nutritious menu. Organic is definitely out, but if you buy in season, focus on whole foods and limit meat, it can be done. So much food people buy no matter what their income is overprocessed, nutrient free crap. I find Aldi to be an amazing value and find great deals when buying their produce buys of the week.

[Honeycombe8]

77. Didn't you supplement the food stamps with SOME cash? I think that's what most people

are able to do. They use the food stamps to add to the cash they have for food?

[Arkansas Granny]

89. What cash? At that time, my only income was child support which barely covered

utilities and the small amount of rent that I was responsible for. Replacing a pair of worn out shoes was a major expenditure. Most of our clothes came from hand-me-downs and second hand stores. I had gone back to school so I could get a job paying better than minimum wage, but I didn't think I could do school, care for 4 kids and work outside the home without something suffering and it would probably have been the kids. Friends and family were supportive, but they were just barely scraping by themselves, so there was no financial help there.

I had a few advantages: I had grown up in a very frugal home, I had learned to cook at an early age and since I had elected to stay home during this time, I was able to spend the time necessary to cook many of the really cheap meals. It wasn't easy, but we always had food on the table, even if it wasn't really what you really wanted to eat.

[Gormy Cuss]

115. +1

[izquierdista]

3. I could

Because most of my food comes from the back yard. Sometimes I even have a surplus. Last week I gave a lot away: blackberries, strawberries, eggs. I still have to buy starches like pasta and bread, because I don't grow and process any wheat. I don't have my own source of milk, meat, or orange juice either, so I have to buy those as well. But I still have sweet potatoes from last fall's harvest though and this spring's regular potatoes are going great, so the grocery store is for taste and variety, not essential calorie intake.

Having a kitchen garden does a lot for food security and cutting down on the grocery bills. And unlike SNAP benefits, Republicans can't take it away from you.

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. I don't think the challenge allows eating from your backyard because most people on food stamps

don't have that option.

But congrats on your garden's!

[cali]

78. many people on food stamps where I live have gardens

I'm one of them.

[FedUpWithIt All]

104. I realize the challange doesn't allow it but that is a bit non-realistic.

Most people find ways to supplement the food stamps in some way, even if it is a food bank.

When we lived in WV we'd see veggie plants at the store labeled that they were available for purchase on food stamps. I'm not sure if all states allow that but we were impressed and thought that was a great idea.

[Aerows]

27. Oooo blackberries

We had some blackberries already this year, but they are gone now. It was an incredibly mild winter and shaping up to be a hotter than hell summer. Fresh blackberries rock

[muriel_volestrangler]

96. You've had blackberries before April?

That's worrying. Where do you live? That's climate weirdness on a huge scale.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/482462-when-are-blackberries-in-season/

[Aerows]

98. Southern MS

Deep south. No Blackberries now. I'm not kidding. I'm not climate change ideologist, but yes, this year? Just about no blackberries because the weather was so weird, and yes, we are scared as hell that we are going to have a bunch of hurricanes. I lived through Katrina and I'm scared as shit we are due for another one.

[Johnny Rico]

4. I suppose I could; I'll grant it wouldn't be fun or particularly easy...but why in the world

would I want to?

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. to experience how people on food stamps live/eat

[Johnny Rico]

10. And I would want to do that...why, exactly?

I have plenty of money for food. I frequently spend more than $35 on a single meal.

There are people who, as we speak, are starving to death. Something should be done about it. I support doing something about it.

Experiencing such hunger for a week would accomplish absolutely nothing, and trying to live on $35 of food in a week would also accomplish absolutely nothing. If I suffer more than I normally would otherwise, no one will suffer less.

[closeupready]

13. I suppose the thinking is, when someone says to you,

or tries to argue the point, that people are food stamps are getting too much money, or that you food stamp money can go "SO far", you can counter with "no, it does not go far, and I know that because I tried it myself." Or so that when you hear republicans go on like that, you know in your heart they are lying or just plain wrong (as always).

Maybe you don't have to, though, if you know all that already.

[Johnny Rico]

15. Being poor is a negative experience. What public polices should be enacted to ameliorate

such conditions has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not I have personally experienced them.

It's like college students pretending to be homeless for a night to "experience" the condition. Being homeless sucks, and anyone who is supposedly bright enough to be in college should realize that without having to play "camping in the street" for a night.

[closeupready]

16. Aren't those Marie Antoinette's famous last words?

[Johnny Rico]

20. Actually, Marie Antoinette's last words were:

"Pardon me sir, I meant not to do it", to Henri Sanson the executioner, whose foot she had accidentally stepped on after climbing the scaffold.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette#1793:_.22Widow_Capet.22_and_death

[HiPointDem]

101. I think realizing it one's head & in one's body are different experiences.

[Johnny Rico]

103. Some people can't afford their own car, and have to use public transportation.

I'm perfectly capable of imagining what that would be like without going through the inconvenience. Play-acting at being poor is absurd.

[LanternWaste]

106. If it allows empathy or understanding to other people who may not have your insight,

"Play-acting at being poor is absurd..."

If it allows empathy or understanding to other people who may not already posses your insight, what then is the precise and relevant reason it is "absurd"?

[HiPointDem]

112. It's my experience that you can't really know without the experience. Not sure that playacting

always gives you the experience, though.

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. so we don't become as clueless and insensitive as Mitt Romney

[Johnny Rico]

21. While I'm no fan of cluelessness, I think sensitivity is overrated.

It's actions that count, not feelings.

[Lex]

22. Feelings propel actions.

If you lack feeling or sensitivity to a situation, you are less likely to act.

[Johnny Rico]

25. Not necessarily.

Depending on the situation, you may be more likely to act in certain ways if feelings or mawkish sentimentality doesn't get in the way.

[Aerows]

33. Mawkish sentimentality?

Hmmm. Alright then. Empathy, Bad. Check.

[Lex]

42. "Mawkish sentimentality" was a big strawman offered

since no one mentioned such a thing but him.

[Aerows]

45. No kidding

That's why I had to highlight that particular comment. It's fascinating how the straw man arguments people use illuminates their character.

[JNelson6563]

61. Well I'll tell you what....

I'd rather have an enthusiastic, passionate person working to achieve shared goal than an emotionless, detached person.

Yes there are certainly times when emotion can get in the way, this isn't one of 'em. Oh here, I think you dropped this *hands over dog-eared copy of Atlas Shrugged*

Julie

[Johnny Rico]

64. To each their own.

[Ikonoklast]

83. Every time Atlas Shrugs

a Libertarian falls off Atlas' shoulders and lands on his head, knocking any sense he had right out of him.

[LanternWaste]

108. However, in many cases, our actions certainly are predicated on our emotions. And rather than gettin

However, in many cases, our actions certainly are predicated on our emotions. And rather than getting in the way, quite often they allow us additional perspectives that may indeed, allow an even clearer image of both the problems and one or more possible solutions.

However, I do realize that many people believe they do not in fact, act on their emotions-- believing themselves to posses an objective view of the world around them. They are wrong, of course; but I do realize they may indeed believe that.

[U4ikLefty]

74. okay Mitt nt

[Arkansas Granny]

35. I believe the intent is to raise awareness of the choices available to those

who receive food stamps in order to feed their families. There are some who feel that food stamp recipients are living high on the hog at government expense. We've all heard tales, I'm sure, of the luxury food items that some people waste their allotment on.

[Johnny Rico]

102. Since I use my own money to buy food, I'm perfectly aware of what $35 will buy.

I don't need to needlessly restrict my food budget to understand that.

[justabob]

6. yes...

I wish I had 35 a week for food, that would be great. I make do with considerably less than that. Having said that, I think it is great that this challenge exists. Some people are truly clueless about what people go through to eat.

[Liberal_in_LA]

32. how do you make do?

[justabob]

53. well

It is only me I have to feed.... and cats, but they don't really count for this. I buy a lot of stuff at the dollar store. I eat a lot of pasta, peanut butter is one of my favorite things, eggs, cheap ground beef and other meats on special, 2 for 1 bread specials lately.... and sometimes I miss a meal.

[blueamy66]

95. I love the 99cent store.....

I can ride my bike there and get a shitload of stuff for $11. Yesterday I bought 4 bottles of Gatorade, a bag of wild bird seed, gloves (to paint), dish soap, lettuce, a bag of onions and a bag of potatoes, salsa, EVOO and body soap.

Can't beat it with a stick.

I could feed myself on $35 a week.....no problem at all.....and since I quit my job 2 weeks ago, I just may have to....

to add: have peppers, cauliflower, tomatoes, onions and artichokes growing in the yard

[KG]

8. i don't know why anybody should have to...

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. I don't either.

[closeupready]

9. Yes, but it would be difficult.

Think Chinese-style cooking:

Lots of onion (I use a lot of green onions), garlic, ginger, tomatoes (canned), cheapest cooking fat you can find (I buy butter in bulk and freeze it), salt, pepper, potatoes, pasta, rice and bread (can be frozen well). Milk and eggs, and yogurt, if you use that a lot. Tea or coffee. Sugar. Pickles.

If you have these things, you can pretty much make just about anything for a main course - curried chickpeas; chicken tikka; stir-fried veggies, chicken; etc.

On edit, I see that the challenge does not include spices - that is, you can use spices already in your cupboard.

[CreekDog]

50. the challenge doesn't include using stuff you already have on hand

and consider that many poor people don't have access to kitchens or places to cook.

[Zax2me]

11. Can do for even less, if I coupon to death.

Can almost do it without but to tell the truth the fresh fruit prices push me over budget, and I love fresh fruit.

[cali]

41. you have to keep your eye out for sale prices

today I bought 3 lbs of apples for 2.99 (granny smith's), bananas for .49 a pound. strawberries for 1.99 for a large container and a big pineapple for 2.99. Quite a bit of fresh fruit for just about 10 bucks.

[CreekDog]

51. are you driving and gassing up to go find sales?

many in poverty don't have cars and certainly can't waste gas to seek out "deals".

[nobodyspecial]

70. You really don't aimlessly drive around looking for deals.

You do all of your research before leaving the house. This is a good site -- couponmom.com -- for finding sales and deals. It is easier if you have a number of stores in your area.

[all american girl]

14. When I was a kid

my mom got food stamps on/off...she hated it, so she would go off them, and then go on them once in a while. It was the 70's and tuna casserole was the dinner many nights...it goes a long way for 3 kids To this day, I can't stand it

I think this is a great idea for people who really have no idea how little you get. We did have a garden and mom would can tomatoes and freeze corn. It was very helpful, but we moved into a low income apartment and lost the garden...it was sad. Funny thing was, my mom used the starving children in China saying on us, when we didn't want to finish or didn't like our dinner...there is someone who worse off.

[closeupready]

54. Funny you say you can't stand tuna casserole

after having subsisted on that as a child.

That's almost like my story, too - and even though tuna casserole can be tasty, I also can't stand it today.

I think it must be that one can overdose not just on hard drugs but tuna casserole. There should be a government agency regulating tuna casserole consumption.

[CBGLuthier]

19. per person? That is more than we spend

But we are serious make it from scratch people who do not eat a lot of meat.

Also food is real cheap where I live.

A bag of masa harina and a couple bags of beans, 6 bucks or so. Supplement with produce and a little cheese. Oats and eggs for breakfast, bag of flour to make english muffins, half a gallon of milk to make half a gallon of yogurt, we drain a cup of whey off for the muffins.

But I have a lot of time on my hands.

[sammytko]

28. same here - 35 a week is about 100 more a month than I spend for two people

We eat basic food and will do the rice and beans with salsa and cheese for a couple nights a week. But we love it, so we don't mind.

Also eat oatmeal for breakfast and love homemade english muffins.....

[CBGLuthier]

30. and so much of it tastes so much better

We can buy fresh corn tortillas at a nearby mercado but they are easy enough to make. Mission and other brands are cardboard.

Yogurt is our most recent addition. I am hoping to try making some soft cheeses too.

[GoCubsGo]

37. Have you ever tried making yogurt cheese?

Strain the yogurt overnight through a cheesecloth. It comes out like cream cheese. Tastes a lot like it, too, although slightly more tart. It's easy to add flavors, like fruits, or herbs and garlic to it, too.

[CBGLuthier]

46. Sort of

Aware of the concept. We have strained it to make frozen soft serve which is quite nice too.

[FedUpWithIt All]

105. We spend less than that most weeks too but have a larger family.

I actually think it is tougher to feed one or two people at the price level sometimes because smaller portions often cost a lot more.

[freshwest]

23. I'm near that level, but without food stamps.

[GoCubsGo]

34. Me, too.

Thank goodness for coupons, sales and Aldi. Aldi has some really good produce prices. Twice in the past week, thanks to coupons, sales and markdowns, I was able to get $45 worth of groceries for around $15.

[freshwest]

44. That's very good. I try to go for all fresh food. I have to eat it fast, though, or lose it.

[RebelOne]

47. I have shopped at Aldi.

But money is becoming tight now. I think I will go back. There is one just down the road from my house and a new being opened at the end of May within a mile of me.

[GoCubsGo]

48. They have some fantastic produce deals this week.

[Mojorabbit]

24. I grew up in a large family

I could stretch a chicken and some rice for a week. Give me two chickens, some veggies,rice, box of spaghetti, can of tomato sauce,a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread, and I could probably go two weeks. It would get tedious but I could do it.

[ceile]

26. How many people is that supposed to feed?

My man and I could do it. Would be hard, but we could.
Let's see....bulk bag chicken or whole frier. Supplement over the week w/ pasta, rice, bulk grains. Seasonal veggies and canned. I can get coffee at work so that's not an issue (sugar too). Yogurt and cottage chz for breakfast. Sandwiches and yogurt for lunch. As horrible as it is I love Ramen so that would do me for lunch.
Maybe I'll give this a shot. I grew up poor, but my mom was always over that "line" financially so we never qualified for any assistance. We would get donations from our church: food, clothes, toys at Xmas...up until my last sibling went to college then she and I were ok.

[sammytko]

29. Just one person - each is alloted 35 dollars a week. n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

31. one person

[JVS]

56. Food stamp benefits are not intended to pay for all groceries, that's why as income rises...

the benefit decreases. It's not that the better earning families should eat less, it's that they can afford to pay for more of it themselves. Only the highest levels of benefits could be viewed as being intended to completely feed the recipients.

[Johnny Rico]

57. I just did a quick bit of googling, and the maximum benefits for a single person seems to be $200

per month. Given that, perhaps this food "challenge" should be $50 per week, not $35.

[Gormy Cuss]

91. That's a maximum national benefit amount, not an average benefit.

The national average for FY2011 was $133.85/mo
That's according to program data from the Food and Nutrition Service:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/snapmain.htm
Average Benefits per person.

The current fiscal year is FY2012 and that average may be a little higher but it will be nowhere near $50/pp/per week.

[Johnny Rico]

92. I agree it's not the average, but my understanding is that as one increases one's resources

the benefit is tapered off, so anyone getting $35 per week presumably has other income with which to buy food. Thus, $50 per week would be more appropriate.

[Dokkie]

36. Easy

I have lived on $60 a month(food) in 2009 and I did it as a personal challenge. I failed at $1/day but was able to do with for $2/day after a few adjustments. It just involved a lot of oatmeal, cereal and chicken/potato dishes which I already like. Actually on a normal month I spend about $120 on food grocery here in Omaha.

Cooking skills is very important for challenge without it, you will give in after 1 week

[Aerows]

38. We eat a lot of grits for breakfast

and we don't have to do so, but we like them. We never drink soft drinks, but make iced tea every day.

You can't eat things out of the garden?

[MrSlayer]

39. No, I cannot.

I already know I can't, so I'm not going to try. Besides, I already get the point. The people that need to get it will not. I think those that do participate in this are already sympathetic to the cause. This is something the Congress should do, particularly the baggers but they won't.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

40. I lived on about $35 or less in college - About $5/day was typical.

Corn is about $5 per 10lbs dried... 18000+ calories for $5. (Grits, cornbread, etc...)
Pepperoni Pizza (little ceasars or frozen pizza) is about 2500 calories for $5
1 pound pasta and jar of sauce is about $5 (cheaper if you buy it yourself) - roughly 1700 calories.
Rotsseri chckens at grocery stores around here are about $5 and 1600 calories.
If you can $0.35-$0.50 restaraunt wing specials that's about $4-5 for 10 wings.
There'll be some money to spare too. never know when you want to "splurge" - lol.

While you're not eating great and it can get boring... you're certainly not starving.
These are prices common in NE Ohio - I'm not sure what food costs in Philly.

[Yo_Mama]

43. That's all I ever spend a week for food for one person, except for holidays.

Usually it's more.

Having allergies makes you cook! You can't buy prepared foods. I spend the most on vegetables. It is certainly not a luxurious diet, but the reality is that many people in the US HAVE to eat like this, and most people around the world do.

It's an important life skill everyone should be taught - to live poor. It can stand you in good stead to get you through college or tough times. It's also healthier over the long run.

The biggest roadblock to being able to do it is for some families that can't drink their local tapwater. Buying bottled water or even doing the filters really cuts into their food budget.

[Odin2005]

49. I already do every week.

[RB TexLa]

52. I make it under that but that's because I believe the grocery stores do not deserve to have my money

so I eat as cheaply as I can.

[TheCruces]

66. Damn evil grocery stores...

[RB TexLa]

67. Nothing evil. They just don't deserve to have it.

[TheCruces]

75. Why not? Is it just grocery stores or does this extend to other stores?

[RB TexLa]

76. It extends to anyone. I worked for the money, I deserve to have it.

[Honeycombe8]

79. When you buy food, you ARE "having" your money. You are using it to stay alive & be healthy.

But I know what you mean about not wanting to give $ to stores. It seems that everyone and everything these days just wants to get whatever money I have. Every phone call (except for friends & family), every store (they're in teh business), dr's offices, you name it.

[TheCruces]

97. Saving is obviously good, but if you're just being cheap to hoard it, that's kind of weird & selfish

[Lars39]

100. And we reap the results!

Win-win.

[hobbit709]

55. Try living on $86/mo as a friend of mine gets here in TX.

She's on SSDI and that's all she gets.

[varelse]

58. In Santa Cruz, CA?

Hell no.

[Rex]

59. I could yes, but I live alone

and could live on 35 dollars a week if I had to (have in the past with less).

[panader0]

60. I could eat on 35 a week

But the beer bill is higher.........

[JI7]

62. maybe but i don't know how it would be very healthy

[WorseBeforeBetter]

63. I tried it and found the opposite to be true.

Rather than plunking down 4 bucks on a big bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos and $8 for a frozen Bertoli meal, I was dining on beans and rice, lentils, veggie chili, sweet potatoes, bananas, yogurt, and whole wheat English muffins with peanut butter (just a few examples). I tried it because a friend said her food budget was $35/week and I had my doubts as to how it could be done. It takes discipline and organization, meaning more cooking and practically no packaged foods, which I found to be much healthier.

[nobodyspecial]

69. I agree

It forces you to eat much lower on the food chain. Between couponing, stockpiling and gardening, I spend considerably less during than this during the summer. But, you really can't eat meat, junk food/pop or too much dairy. However, you really do need to have access to a kitchen and be able to cook. And organic, other than what you grow yourself, is out. It is quite a change for most people, however. I don't even like processed foods or eating out any more. Everything tastes way too salty or just sits uncomfortably in my stomach.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

72. I took advantage of the cheapie "Manager's Special"...

for dairy and meat--stuff that had a sell-by date of about 1 or 2 days. A big splurge was a Pom juice on sale and with a coupon, and I made it last 3 days. I have to admit this revised diet did make me feel better, but the need to be so organized was *exhausting.* There was no room for error, and while I tend not to waste food, absolutely nothing was wasted during this period. (I guess I say that because a family member lets her kids PILE food on their plates, then toss anything they don't eat, rather than save it for leftovers, which really ticks me off!)

I still dine out way too much, but am lucky to have a lot of cheap, fresh "ethnic" restaurants in my area. And after the salty, grease-bomb known as the Wendy's Bacon Portabello, I'm good for fast food for at least another quarter. Blech.

[cali]

80. it's not easy and it takes thought and skill but I do

it.

Last night I had tandoori chicken (thighs and legs at .79 a pound, plain yogurt at .50, spices in the cupboard) brown rice at 2 bucks a pound, a lemon at .50, cucumber raita. I figure my healthy dinner cost me aunder 2 dollars- oh and I had left over apple tart. The french apple tart cost me about 2 bucks to make and it serves 6 easily.

[Cleita]

65. Nope! Only if I grew a lot of my own and that would require having some property

to grow on, which probably would disqualify me from the program.

[cali]

81. I bet you could.

It's just not that hard. And no, you wouldn't be disqualified for growing your own on your property.

[Cleita]

84. That wasn't what I meant. I meant wouldn't home ownership disqualify one?

I don't know of any apartment owners that would let tenants grow food on the grounds.

[cali]

86. no, it doesn't disqualify you.

[keroro gunsou]

68. i could probably do it...

but i've got a rather unfair advantage, having had gastric bypass surgery and not needing to eat nearly as much now...

the point of the challenge is a valid one, it's not a bad thing to know what it's like to live off of food stamps, it might make one less likely to want to see them cut to those who need it the most.

we're rapidly becoming of a nation of "i've got got mine, so fuck the rest of you"-ers and that's not a good thing...

[Rowdyboy]

71. I would love to think that I could but I know better....food stamps must be unbelievably hard

especially for people with kids. There's no way to afford fresh fruits, vegetables and meat just basic rice, pasta, bread, dried beans and peas. Throw in a tiny bit of cheap meat for seasoning and you've spent your budget for the week. I know my mom raised 5 of us on little or nothing but that was in the 1960's when prices were lower. Also she had family who farmed; plus my dad sometime drove a truck which brought us whatever he could skim off the top. You do what you have to do to feed your family.

Its depressing to think how much worse the problem is today.

[jmowreader]

73. I can do it for less than that. I am not going to.

I used to be able to eat (poorly) for $26 per week. You do NOT want to know how.

I don't do that any longer. I refuse to.

[closeupready]

82. I think this is for all who have never had to do that.

You obviously already understand why food stamps are essential.

For those who were born with trust funds and such, this project is intended to help make them more empathic for the poor and hungry.

[newspeak]

90. is this challenge because the repugs in congress

passed a bill in house to decrease the amount of food stamps? I mean we can't tax the wealthy, it might be some kind of burden on them.

[cali]

85. For anyone who wants to take this challenge and likes to cook

here are some great sites:

http://www.culinaryschoolguide.org/blog/2009/top-100-blogs-for-the-frugal-gourmet/

[Fumesucker]

87. That's just about what I spend now...

If I was more personally interested in cooking I could do it for less than that but I buy too many convenience foods to keep from having to scratch cook every single meal.

[cali]

88. I imagine it's hard if you're not into cooking.

I spend just about that too, but I love to cook. I don't see how you can buy any convenience or processed foods on that amount of money and eat at all well.

When I cook, I usually make more than one meal and freeze it. Yesterday I did clean-out-the-fridge-soup. It's delicious, healthy and I made enough for 8 servings.

[Fumesucker]

93. I balance out the more expensive stuff with cheaper stuff..

Beans of various sorts can make three to four meals for a single person from a single package that costs less than two dollars, cooked up in the slow cooker I eat one meal's worth and freeze two to three more portions of the same size for later heating in the microwave..

I consider Ramen a convenience food so it's not necessarily true that convenience food means expensive in every case..

I could probably sustain life on $10 a week or maybe even less but I wouldn't enjoy it much and it wouldn't be particularly healthy.

Like many Americans I could stand to lose a few pounds anyway although I'm not technically obese according to my scales.

ETA: Consider that scratch cooking for one person is much more time intensive per meal served than doing the same for a family of several people, it doesn't take much longer to cook for four than it does for one.

[hunter]

94. I already do, but sometimes I don't, and that makes ALL the difference.

It's not a grind. I know if I occasionally break my food budget buying good coffee, beer or olive oil, or if go out to eat in some nicer place, it won't mean I'll be going hungry next week. I've always got my rice, beans, canola oil, canned foods, and cupboard full of spices, but I'm not limited to that.

I've been in situations where I've had to be extremely resourceful (...it's amazing how many condiments packs people throw away at fast food places...) but I've not starved except as a consequence of severe, untreated depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

I think health, education, and employment are the larger issue here, not the "can you eat for $35 a week?" Sure you can, but if all the rest of your life is impoverished, $35 a week in food stamps isn't going to lift you up to a better place. We need to reach beyond subsistance in our welfare system.

[WI_DEM]

107. probably but it would be a lot of crap food which is high in sodium & starches.

Not a lot of nutritional value.

[cali]

111. quite the opposite is true.

crap food is actually far more expensive than unprepared food. Lentil are cheap. Brown rice is cheap. bananas are cheap. pasta is cheap. and then there's stuff in season which is cheap. broccoli is never very expensive. carrots and cabbage and celery are cheap. Oatmeal is cheap. Eggs are cheap. None are high in sodium and though some are high in starches, others aren't/

Prepared foods are expensive. And high in sodium and fat.

[redqueen]

109. Per individual?

If so, I already do. That's my whole grocery budget, including cleaning supplies and other sundries.

[cali]

110. I've started making my own cleaning products

borax, baking soda, vinegar etc.