Food vs. Credit Challenge
Food Stamp Challenge: A daily log...
Pre-Challenge…prepping for the next seven days
Okay…at the suggestion of my co-worker, I went to a website to strategize about what I can get for $21…to create my shopping list. I decided to try to go with food I would eat normally…however, switching to non-organic and less expensive brands (and what is on sale) and then, minimizing portions. I am lactose intolerant and don’t eat a lot of carbs…so that also impacts my food choices. How long can I last?
Here is my shopping list:
Veggies
16 oz of carrots
16 oz of broccoli
Head of lettuce
Pint of tomatoes
Protein
6 eggs (good thing I don’t have high cholesterol!)
1 lb. ground chicken
1 can of tuna (5 oz)
14 oz pkg of tofu
Other
1 container soy milk (64 oz)
9 oz raisins
6 servings of oatmeal
I went to the grocery store…the ground chicken wasn’t packaged by the pound, so was more expensive. Also, the lettuce was more expensive than was indicated on the website. I decided to keep track of my overages, putting them on my credit card (that is, "going into debt"). I am in a position to pay off the credit card bill at the end of the month (or week, as the case may be), but most folks on food stamps are not. I have a new appreciation for the reason why so many people have huge credit card debt…and people use their Earned Income Tax Credit to pay back their debt incurred by everyday living expenses.
Debt…before I begin $1.11.
Day 1
It is Sunday morning…I have a bowl of oatmeal with soy milk and a few raisins. Not bad. I decide that I will get my coffee at the “coffee hour” after worship services…but that means I need to wait hours. Before I get my coffee, I develop a headache.
At lunch time, I eat a salad with 5 grape tomatoes, 5 carrots, and hard boiled egg. After lunch, I’m still hungry! I am trying to drink lots of water to feel full. TRY is the operative word. I went apple picking with friends and put $12 on my credit card (the orchard would probably not accept food stamps!). I won’t eat the apples this week to be in the spirit of the Food Stamp Challenge, but I added to my debt. Socially, do people on food stamps NOT go apple picking with friends? I guess not. I guess I’m not going to win the challenge! I declined an invitation to go out to dinner. I came home to make dinner, 6 very small chicken meatballs and a few broccoli flowerettes. I went to bed early (and took ibuprofen) because I was tired and had a headache.
Debt after Day 1: $13.11.
Day 2
Had a cup of hot water at home…and my bowl of oatmeal. Got to work with a headache because I hadn’t had coffee yet. Work coffee isn’t so great, but headache went away once I had a big cup. Brought in some of my soy milk to add to the coffee, but anticipating that I am going to run out of soy milk by week’s end. Maybe I will need to either wean myself off of coffee…or, learn to drink my coffee black. I packed up lunch for two days…(salads like I had yesterday)…that lettuce is not going to last me either!
YOu didn't make good choices
I'm a single mom of 2 hearty eating teens, and we live on $300/month for food. We don't get food stamps because we make too much money ($29K for a family of 3).
Ground chicken was a poor choice. The more your food is manufactured, the higher the cost. You pay for labor. Instead, beans are cheaper, heartier, and better for you. You also bought almost no carbs, and with that little to eat, you want to fill up with carbs to not feel hungry.
Make a big pot of soup, add brown rice or barley, and you have several meals instead of just one. Casseroles with pasta or rice are also good choices.
Fresh veggies and fruit are usually WAY out of a poor person's budget. They also do not give them at any of the food pantries we know of. Apple picking would be prohibitively expensive for me. We purchase bulk fruits (the kind in bags) as they are the cheapest. They're not the best, but it's what we can afford.
Meals that make sense are often crock pot meals, where you toss stuff in and let the flavors meld. Chili, stews, etc. So instead of getting ground chicken, buying a whole fryer (cheapest), cutting it into pieces yourself, and making a chicken stew with bisquits on the top would be another example of a wholesome and very filling meal.
You are absolutely right!
I wanted to see how far my current typical food choices would last me...and you are absolutely right, it won't last me long! I appreciated your bringing to the surface the labor cost...and taking that cost upon myself (and the increased time) to be able to purchase more (including the carbs) and feel more full. Thanks for your blog sharing your experience ...and offering food hints - very similar to my mother's, especially the crock pot and whole chicken, making the meat stretch. I should have followed her advice...and yours.
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