Now putting her effort aside, let’s say you are facing the same challenge - let’s round it off to $30 for a week of food. How would you stretch your food dollar??? Give it your best shot! We will assume you have spices and such at home already and we will take beverages out of the equation.
Estimate your costs.
Here’s my first shot:
Dozen eggs $1.50
Bulk oatmeal $ 1.50
Berries $2.50
Whole chicken $5
Bag apples $3
Small jar PB $2
Whole grain store brand english muffins $1.50
8 oz cheddar $2
Bunch romaine $1
Baby carrots or baby cucumbers $1
Brown rice $1.50
Chicken sausage $4.00
Onion .50
Cheap ice cream! $2
Look reasonable or not? Give it a shot. It can be difficult!
Add your foods up - you get quickly to $30 with a couple of proteins, fresh fruits/veggies and a couple of grains. Knowing myself, I needed to find room for that ice cream - evening snack IS a food group for me!
They are no longer called food stamps, the program is SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The allocation is not intended to provide for all the family food needs, but to supplement what the family could do without the assistance. Not to make light of the problem of low income families, but trying to get by on only the SNAP budget is a publicity stunt that misses the point.
^^^ Yes, I’m fully aware of that as I work with families who rely on SNAP. Much of the population however is more familiar with “food stamps” (as noted in the article linked) so that’s the lingo I went with. And of course, it is meant to supplement.
Putting the publicity aside (which I can see both sides - it being a stunt and publicity being awareness) it is interesting to think about how severely curtailing your weekly food budget could be a challenge.
There was a time in my life when we lived on food stamps and generous donations from our church food pantry. In a typical week, there were no fresh fruits or vegetables. Sometimes, bananas or apples. Sometimes iceberg lettuce - I know it’s not nutritious but my mom didn’t know any better. Canned green beans and carrots. Applesauce. Canned tuna. Spam. Cereal (it was cheaper back in the day). Bread. Eggs. Milk. A real treat was a sugar sandwich! Or occasionally raisins. We survived thanks to school lunches, but I wouldn’t want to do it again. That’s why I always contribute generously to food banks.
Well I couldn’t do it, because I have not ever seen food that cheap/ that didn’t taste like garbage.
Peanut butter for $2?
Here it is like $7.
Six eggs $2.50
Rest are equally expensive.
There are a good number of food pantries in our area, even in affluent suburbs. Our church collects donations every week and takes them to the closest one.
True, regionally prices will be different. Here in the midwest, I can get those prices. I might be buying off brand PB, but I can’t use 25% of my budget on my most favorite natural PB. The $29-$30 is suppose to be for one person. You won’t probably be pushing your cart down the Whole Foods aisle to spend your $30.
I think most people could survive on $29 a week, but most people want more variety in their lives. I mean, I can make a pot of pinto beans and eat on it for 4 days - but it gets pretty boring after 2 days. Money gives people choices including a choice of what to eat for dinner. Poverty limits your choices.
Right. But that is part of the challenge (or at least my challenge!) - do build a list of ingredients that would provide some variety, some nutrition and stretch for 3 meals/7 days.
I was thinking of taking that challenge before this thread. But I think Paltrow has the right idea. Rice and bean are cheap protein. Same with egg. But I would buy some cheap whole chicken, and make many meals out of it.
I could fast for a few days which could save money, but I don’t understand the gesture.
Anyone could probably go through it for a few days or even a week, but month after month, you would be malnourished and depressed from eating bad food.
(I also never shop at Whole Foods btw)
Again, I’m not trying to argue/defend or define the exact workings of the system, but just give thought to this $29 standard that is set in terms of SNAP (food stamps).
@abasket I think your menu is for a person in diet, not for a needy person.
I have done that before in college.
My weekly meals were loaded with potato, cabbage, spam, sliced ham (for lunch packing), celery, cauliflower, tomato, carrot, banana… besides bread, rice, egg, whole chicken. Once in a while I had pork chop, trout fish, and london broil beef.
I don’t understand @coolweather - why would my menu not be for a needy person???
“Needy” doesn’t mean you don’t want to eat well. And it’s your $30 to spend how you want - as long as it can last you for a week. Want to eat ice cream or potatoes all week - buy it! But will you really want to do that for 7 days?
