food stamps

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, "Celiac Disease is one of the most common genetic conditions in the world." It is estimated that 1 out of every 133 Americans have this "multi-system, multi-symptom disorder [which is] activated by eating gluten." How does a celiac patient (or anyone else on a restrictive diet, for that matter) survive on food stamps?  read more »

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?  read more »

I'm on Day 3 of the $21 a week challenge - and I'm so glad my colleagues suggested we take on this experience. So far I'm not eating a lot less than I typically do, but I have experienced some challenges. First and foremost, let me explain the title of this post. I hate oatmeal. Ok, that's probably pretty straightforward. Last Friday in an attempt to budget out a plan for the week and get the most bang or my buck I spent about 2 hours planning my strategy. I quickly realized how expensive milk was and decided to think outside my Cheerios box for a breakfast alternative.  read more »

I had the privilege to attend the first ever state-sponsored Hunger Summit aimed at identifying and recommending best practices to address the hunger crisis in Massachusetts. The event took place on March 27th at UMASS Boston and featured remarks from Mayor Thomas Menino, Governor Deval Patrick, and U.S. Congressman James McGovern, as well as a panel discussion by state and national food and nutrition experts.

The day-long summit was the first of its kind in Massachusetts because, unlike previous efforts, it was hosted by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). This effort speaks to the commitment of the current administration to address what has been called “an epidemic” of hunger in the Commonwealth.  read more »