Food Stamp Challenge
Friday, October 3, 2008
It is Friday night before the challenge begins, and I am already an anxious wreck. I have been thinking about food all day... I have thought about the things I will miss most, namely coffee. I am, by my own admission, a coffee snob. My coffee is shipped from Puerto Rico in 5 pound bags, and I keep a French press at work to help satisfy the cravings through the day.
I also love to eat. As much as I'd like to blame my father's genes and that pesky hypothyroid problem for my size 14 frame, I know that my regular indulgence on steak, rice and beans, and plantains helps keep my robust shape. So does chocolate.
Nevertheless, my pre-challenge concerns have centered on one BIG problem: I have Celiac Disease.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. The disease is triggered by consumption of a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye (sometimes oats). The consequences of the disease can be very serious and include osteoporosis, anemia, seizures, and cancer. Following a gluten-free diet is the only known treatment and, although the diet sounds simple, it is not easy.
I have decided to take on the challenge to illustrate how it is virtually impossible for a celiac patient to live on $21 per week while maintaining a healthy diet (same for diabetics, and others with dietary restrictions). Recent studies have shown that 1 out of every 133 Americans has celiac disease, and, with these odds, it is clear that many people on food stamps will have to adopt gluten-free living.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
I committed to going shopping today for the challenge (see pictures below). I created a basic menu and crafted my shopping list. I don’t drive, nor did I have time to shop around for deals at different stores, so I ended up at my local supermarket in Brighton with my handy little list.
I intended to buy rice as my basic carbohydrate, but realized that rice was way too expensive. I shopped every brand in the store, but ended up settling on potatoes instead. This messed up my entire dinner menu which consisted of different Spanish rice dishes.
In the end, I splurged on eggs ($2.89 doz), some deli meat for lunch ($4.09), a bit of deli cheese ($1.50), ground beef ($4.50), and –of course- coffee ($2.49).
I spent $2.29 on potatoes for the week and $2.19 on carrots, my only vegetable. I also bought corn tortillas ($2.15) which will take the place of bread. I’m already over by $1.10 and considered cutting the coffee from my list to meet the budget. I reconsidered when I realized that the decaffeinated version of me would be intolerable to my friends. They’ll thank me later.
The shopping experience was very frustrating. I realized that most thrifty food options were out of bounds in the gluten-free diet. For instance, a pack of wheat spaghetti averaged $1.30, but the cheapest gluten-free option was $3.09. A gluten-free cereal box would have set me back $5.39 on average, while the gluten-containing equivalent was available for $3.50.
I don’t know how far I’ll make it.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
First thing I did was brew some coffee, but then I realized I had no milk available. I must remember to take some creamers from the office, although I will have to research its ingredients. I think the creamers contain gluten.
I had a scrambled egg with tortilla for breakfast, a tortilla sandwich for lunch, and two ground beef soft tacos for dinner.
By the time this is over, I will hate corn tortillas.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Same as yesterday, I woke up and brewed coffee. I had to wait to get to work for the creamer. Once here, I realized that the powdered version has gluten, but –lucky me!- we have a dairy option. Yum!
Photos from shopping (1. Coffee!! 2. Gluten Free Aisle 3. Gluten Free spaghetti ($3.09) 4. More Gluten free food, and finally 5. eggs and shopping bag.):
gluten free on a budget
I can really relate to you! I have to shop around quite a bit to find good deals to accomodate my gluten-free diet. I live in Portland, Oregon and have discovered that going to Asian food stores that carry things in bulk has been helpful. I buy 10-20 lb. bags of rice there for a good price. I have also found packets of quinoa and millet there for decent prices too.
Eggs and corn tortillas are a staple for me, as well, and nobody better try to pry the coffee from my hands!
Reflecting on the challenge...
It has been almost a month since I finished the food stamp challenge, and there has been a whirlwind of activity going on. As Malu suspects, I have been VERY busy. The launch of the Community Support Fund, which aims to support the basic needs of families in this time of crisis, has been keeping me on the move. Nevertheless, the experience of the Food Stamp challenge has stayed with me, and gives me perspective that helps me in my work each day.
I can sum up my findings in these 5 points:
With every day that passes I find some finer point of the experience that enlightens me, and encourages me to go on working on behalf of the community. I am reminded that -as French actress Sarah Bernhardt once said- "it is by spending oneself that one becomes rich." I invite you to Give, Advocate, and Volunteer in your community. We can do a lot more when we unite to advance the common good.
ex corde,
paola
Food Stamp Challenge
Dearest Paola, As I write you have finished your challenge and I can see that you didn´t do any entries in your blog since October 8. Did you survive?
Let me congratulate you on taking on this amazing challenge.. I remember that when I lived in Boston my challenge was a $2.00 lunch -- and my trick was to fill the salad bown with light lettuce (never iceberg!) leaves and 2 slices of tomato. Then I could hit the garnish bar and load up on onions and cheese! Well, that was then... wonder what the price is now...
I know you must be VERY busy. Send me an update the best way you see fit.
Muchos besos,
Malu
October 11th -day 7th-
My sister called to suggest we get together for Saturday brunch. I was thrilled! The only problem was that I woke up (hungry) at 9am, and we were meeting closer to noon. By the time we met I was famished. Evidently, I had not budgeted for brunch, so I was relying on Michelle's generosity to pick up my part of the tab (or I would end up further in debt for the week). I am very grateful and lucky to have her, but this made me remember that -only 4 months ago- I did not have any family nearby. With my family scattered around the world (my Mom lives over 1600 miles away from here), dropping by for dinner is not an option. I still count myself as one of the (very) lucky ones, because, in spite of the distance, I can always rely on my family when times get tough. Families are a valuable and important support network, and many of our neighbors may not be so lucky to have one around.
October 10th -day 6-
The week was a whirlwind of meetings and phone calls, so I set aside some time today to dig myself out from under a pile of paper and email. I only had one meeting scheduled at 11:30am, and it was in our building... or so I thought. A few minutes before 11:30, I was told the meeting had changed locations. I knew it was not my fault, but the stress of the moment was aggravated by the hunger kicking in. It was lunchtime, and going off-site meant that I wouldn't get to eat until much later. I couldn't help but cry. Luckily, a taxi got me there, albeit a bit late, and the meeting went well. I was back here eating my lunch by 1pm, and I felt better.
This evening has been the most difficult thus far. I started on my customary Friday afternoon walk, but ended up quitting by the time I got to Park St. I'm really missing being out and about the city, but I don't have the energy to do much. I tried to do some reading instead (just picked up a copy of the Pulitzer Prize winning "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz), but I couldn't focus on the words either. The only activity I could manage required no physical exertion and little brain function: T.V. watching. I just haven't felt like myself these days.
Day 5 -continued-
Earlier today, I realized that -in my fear of running out of food before the week was over- I have been extremely conservative with my portions. I was able to add some deli meat to my lunch sandwich, and another egg to my breakfast. I have 12 tortillas, 6 eggs, half of my potatoes, and half of my ground beef left. The one thing I'm almost out of is carrots.
One of my colleagues, Ashley, who's also a celiac, baked some gluten-free cookies for Leah's birthday. I had to try one... or three. This was a great (and unexpected) mid-afternoon treat.
I was planning to go out tonight for a movie, but my friend was so swamped with his law school stuff that he had to cancel. A part of me was upset, because I figured we'd end up having dinner somewhere, but I also felt odly relieved. I have not been feeling well. I had my dinner while watching TV, and noticed that for every furniture commercial there were three restaurant chain commercials...
In the end, I may have enough to get me through the week, but the choices have been tough and at the expense of good nutrition. Lucky for me, this food stamp challenge will end on Saturday. For many families this is an ongoing situation.
OMG
Mija, I would drop dead if I had to do this. Hunger causes migraines, disoreintation and bad moods in me. I don't want anyone to even look at me when I am hungry and I certainly spend a lot more that 21 dollars in a week. Just this week..I bought lunch twice and I know it was about 15 dollars.
YOu gotta write to that discovery channel guy and get on TV mija. yer a star.
October 9th -day five-
I set my alarm for the PM instead of the AM, so I ended up waking up a half hour later than usual. This half hour somehow made me 45minutes late for work, but I digress. Generally, I would have rushed through the morning routine to make up for lost time and picked up a latte on the way to work, but this time I could not afford to leave home without eating breakfast.
Lucky for me, my job is very accommodating, and I did not have any meetings scheduled in the morning. However, an inconvenience like this one could be a major setback for someone working an hourly job. If being tardy jeopardizes your job, do you opt go to work on an empty stomach? This is another challenge the working poor in our community face.
October 8th -Day Four -this isn't getting any easier-
I had just about 15 minutes to eat my lunch, which is not really a challenge when the meal is this small. Worse yet, today's tortilla was about as filling as a pixie stick... and just about as appetizing.
I did go to the meeting, and I was happy to see that no food was provided. One less temptation to field. Several colleagues there offered their support and encouragement, and one even offered me some organic grapes. Although tempting, I turned them down.
Our meeting was scheduled for two hours, but, being hungry, I could have sworn it lasted closer to four. The discussion was important and the participants extremely knowledgeable, but I had a hard time focusing. I noticed a can of soda on a table to my right, a woman behind me munching on some crackers, and another one in front of me with a peanut butter chocolate bar. The smell was intoxicating.
This experience made me think of children again, and what hunger and food insecurity do to limit their growth and learning potential. C-SNAP has documented the impact of hunger on children from birth to age 3 (visit: http://www.c-snap.org/), and many other reports also highlight the negative impact on school-aged children's ability to learn(i.e. http://www.endhunger.com/assets/Children/e41.pdf).
I left at 3:30 and considered taking the walk back from Government Center to my office by Fort Point, but I felt too tired. I opted to go home instead. A menu flyer from a local grill was pinned to my door, which was a bit of an irony if you ask me. Once there, I started cooking, but I worried that eating too early would make me hungry sooner. I had dinner at 5:15pm, and I hope it satisfies me 'til morning.
Day Four -so far-
This morning I felt better than yesterday. Not sure why, but that extra tortilla last night may have had something to do with it. I whipped up some scrambled eggs while my coffee brewed, and I realized that eggs -although expensive- were the single most important purchase on my basket. I don't usually eat a hearty breakfast (sorry Mom!), save for Sunday, but I now know how important this meal is each day. It breaks my heart to think of kids going to school and trying to learn on an empty stomach. What happens when they arrive too late for school breakfast?
Even before I left the apartment, my phone was buzzing with messages. It seemed that all my friends had lined up to get a copy of the Metro this morning which featured our challenge http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2008/10/08/01/2439-72/index.xml, although I know they just happen to read it every day. My celebrity status was confirmed during the commute when a guy pointed out I was on today’s paper. I hope this brings awareness to the real issue: some of our neighbors are going hungry each day.
I have a meeting to go to, so I’ll eat my lunch now to avoid the temptation to munch.
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