Food Stamp Challenge

I started my food stamp challenge on a Friday. The Thursday before I spent all but 7 cents at Walmart to get my food for the week ahead. My purchase consisted of a loaf of whole wheat bread, peanut butter, 6 bananas, a gallon of skim milk, a bag of off-brand frosted mini-wheats, 3 large potatoes, 2% shredded cheese, a small bag of carrot chips, and a head of broccoli. I became a little frustrated during my shopping when I realized that fat free shredded cheese cost over a dollar more than the 2%! This may not sound like a lot of food to most people for one week, but I made it through the challenge on these foods and didn't cheat once!

The hardest part of my challenge was the beginning. Since I began on a Friday, I had the whole weekend ahead of me, and I couldn't go out to eat! Going out to eat on the weekends was always a treat that I no longer had. It was also hard to turn my friends down when they invited me out to eat, and I had to say no because I couldn't afford it. In this aspect, the challenge made me feel less sociable, and if I were on food stamps more permantly, it would no doubt make it harder for me to fit in.

Once I made it through the weekend though, it was much easier. The only challenge I really noticed after that was that I couldn't snack and there wasn't much variety in what I was eating. I did change the amount I exercised also. I know this is less healthy for me, but I knew I would get more hungry if I worked out every day. I only worked out one day of the entire week. Normally I work out 4 days of the week.

I ended up with enough food left over to last me about one more day, and I even shared several cups of my milk. The amount of food this challenge allowed wasn't that difficult to make last, but it didn't allow me to be as healthy as I should be. One serving of fruits and one serving of vegetables a day isn't what the food guide pyramid calls for, and unfortunately these are the quite a bit more pricey than junk foods. This challenge gave me a different perspective on why people aren't always able to eat healthy, and I hope after experiencing this people do more to help others.

Food Stamps Challenge

I started the Food Stamps Challenge on Sun., Oct. 5 and ended it Sat., Oct. 11. The Food Stamps Challenge was one of the hardest things I have done. I found it impossible to plan 3 meals a day for 7 days that were nutritionally sound meals.
With $21 I bought: 1 gallon of 1% milk, 1 loaf of whole grain bread, peanut butter, jelly, instant rice, kidney beans, fiber one bars and croissants. I usually like to have a banana for breakfast and another piece of fruit with lunch, but I could not afford it. By Wednesday night I had ran out of milk, fiber one bars, croissants and bread because my roommate ate my food too, although I told him not too. I was so hungry by the time dinner time arrived. I felt like it was a big challenge to eat only the foods I had purchased, especially since I was already running low on food. I have to be honest, I went to Posado's Cafe for dinner Wednesday night. I was so full and it felt good to eat again.

Thursday through Saturday I continued to eat only the foods I bought at the store which consisted of my remaining peanut butter and jelly mixed together and rice and the small amount of beans I had left. I was so hungry when Sunday came and I could eat real food! It felt like my stomach was growling all day.

One thing I really missed was drinking Dr. Pepper. I like to have soda in the afternoon almost everyday. I know this isn't healthy, but I love Dr. Pepper. On Sunday I went to Chicken Express and got a large fountain drink. For dinner I had grilled pork chops, green salad and corn on the cob.

I found that it was very difficult to eat on a budget and eat healthy at that. Now I know how people on food stamps feel.

Erin: More Than a Gesture

Have you ever seen one of those shows where someone beautiful and thin dresses up in a “fat suit” and walks down the street so that she can tell us about the horrible experience of being fat in our society?

I grew up poor. Let me make this clear, being poor sucks. I wish I could say that there was some quaintness or some incredible amount of character building going on, but those moments are far outweighed by indignities.

The last thing I mean to do is belittle the “Food Stamp Challenge”, I don’t compare it to putting on a fat suit because I think the challenge is not genuine. I am saying that it is a gesture. If you have ever known someone who shaved their head because their friend/sister/wife was going through chemo, you know the difference. A bald head doesn’t make you feel the fear of your children growing up without their mother nor does it make you exhausted and nauseous. But it is a gesture, it is a way of saying to someone that you love “I will fight this fight with you and, when you tire, I will keep fighting.” I am hopeful that this is what the challenge will ignite in people.

I have to be honest; I quit the challenge after 5 days. You don’t have to convince me that $21/week is not enough money to maintain a healthy diet, much less an appetizing one. I get it. My parents worked hard, often they both worked multiple jobs, but it isn’t as easy as just “working hard”. Forty percent of food pantry/soup kitchen clients are working poor. Add to that number the clients who are children and seniors and you don’t get a lot of ne’er-do-wells.

My point is this, the simple act of striving to understand what it feels like to be food insecure is a great lesson for everyone to experience at some point. But don’t allow it to just be a gesture. This isn’t just about the inexplicable mathematical formula that made $21 seem like a reasonable number. It is a reminder of the people who are trying to make their food budgets work for more than just one week. It is a reminder of why you chose to apply your talents to the nonprofit world. It is a reminder of why you write that check to the food bank or give your time. Mostly, it is a reminder that we must fight this fight with them until they grow weary, and then we must continue to fight for them. Don't just hang up the fat suit and go back to your original hotness.

On a lighter note, no one on food stamps ever turned down free coffee. I would even bet that people have chosen jobs based on the availability of free coffee.

Molly: Food Stamp Challenge Update

I will have an update on my Food Stamp Challenge tonight (Friday) on KLTV 7 news at five. If you miss it don't worry... it will be on our website kltv.com.

Thursday evening update for the week

Becky and I have made it through Thursday, after beginning the challenge last Sunday morning. Really, it's been pretty neat to see how we can stretch our food shopping dollar---although it's been Becky who has done all the stretching! I think I said before that she made chicken and dumplings one day, which we ate for two meals (and could have been three, but just got tired of it). Also, a great casserole was the menu for today, along with sandwiches for lunch, and our normal cereal for breakfast. What we've had to give up are things like fresh orange juice, salmon, some beef dishes we like to fix, and a few other things. I would not say that we have suffered, but the week so far has really made us plan and think about what we're eating. I have to admit, Tuesday evening I attended a company event, and we did eat that meal out (free), so we do feel we sort of "cheated" on that evening, but couldn't be helped. Otherwise, we have tried very hard to stay the course. I'll try to catch this blog one more time between now and Saturday night to keep all of you posted on our progress.

Molly: First Big Purchase

My first big purchase on Tuesday after my Food Stamp Challenge was a Starbuck's non-fat White Chocolate Mocha. I honestly don't buy them all that often because I ususally make coffee in the morning, but it was the fact I could. Plus, I ran out of regular coffee and didn't want to make instant coffee anymore :). I still have to go to the grocery store, which will be my big project today now that I finally have a day off. Again, I learned so much during the past week. I appreciate everyone's comments and encourgement and really it wasn't all that hard, but just an inconvienance at times. I think if I had children to worry about it would be a lot harder because I would worry about getting them the nutrition they need... and if there is one thing I learned eating healthy is not an option on food stamps. Again, I will never take another meal for granted... and waisting food is not an option. I'm sure I will be much more aware of every dollar I spend now on food, which is something I should be doing anyway.

First entry for the hunger challenge from Rick E.

A few weeks ago, I got home after work and following a food bank board meeting and discussed the food stamp challenge with my wife, Becky, thinking she would absolutely, positively not want to commit to a challenge like this.  Was I wrong!  She immediately began to work up a week's worth of menus (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and set our food budget up for the week beginning this past Sunday, September 14th.  So, we're on the program for this entire week.  This is my first time ever to participate in a blog, and I will do my best to keep you all updated as we go through the week, but so far it really hasn't been bad for us.  For example, today, Becky cooked a real, old fashioned chicken, de-boned it, and make a great chicken and dumplings dish---which we haven't had in our house in years!  But it was great and very filling.  One thing we both try to do is eat as healthy as we possibly can.  We cheat occasionally, but generally stay with it.  She said 'buying healthy foods on a very limited budget is very difficult', when she did her shopping for this week.  So we're three days in and counting!  Will keep you posted.

Molly - DAY SEVEN!!!

The week actually went by pretty fast. I can't believe it's over, but at the same time I am glad it is. I feel guilty saying that because others are not as fortunate. For breakfast today I had my usual. I have one piece of bread leftover :). I packed some noodles and butter for lunch and then baked a chicken breast for dinner and had some rice. I actually have two chicken breasts left, some noodles, a can of corn and a whole lot of rice. I believe I bought the right things, but at the same time they would get old after awhile.

I've learned so many things this past week that it's hard to write them all down. I truly believe this was a great experience for me because if there is anything I waist money on it's food. During hard economic times... it's good for me to learn what others have to go through all the time and appreciate what I do have. I'm never going to take another meal for granted... especially when I'm out to eat with my friends. The food may not always be great, but that's not the only reason we go to a restaurant... it's for the social experience, something those on food stamps don't have the luxury of experiencing all the time. Granted... I work hard for the money I do earn... and have worked hard in life to get where I'm at, but at the same time things are not always going to be great in life.

I encourage anyone who is considering taking on the Food Stamp Challenge to do so because it really makes you think. I've never thought so much about what I was going to eat... not even when I was trying to lose weight :). I really had to plan out every meal because running by Subway, or Jason's Deli for lunch is not an option. I'm sure more thoughts will come to mind later, but I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow is my Friday, so I may just have to go out to eat and celebrate :).

Molly - Day Six

I'm sorry I'm blogging a day late, but I had no time yesterday. Ike has really taken a toll on me, so I was busy reporting all day. I can tell you what... it was not a good day for me as far as the Food Stamp Challenge goes, but at the same time it was not entirely my fault. I tried to come to work prepared, so I brought some left over macaroni and cheese to eat for dinner. For breakfast/lunch I ate peanut butter toast, and I was going to eat around 5 p.m. when I noticed someone had thrown out my food... yes, my container and all. I was so angry... apparently the cleaning crew cleaned out our entire refridgerator at KLTV and just threw out my food. Well, let me tell you I was hungry and did not have time to run home for dinner, so I had to stop by Subway. Did that fit in my budget "no", so it made me think. If I truly was living on food stamps, I would have just gone hungry that night. It really makes me appreciate what I do have, and how hard it must be for those living on food stamps.

It's been a long week!

Barbara here again. This week on the Food Stamp Challenge has seemed two weeks long.
I found out that I really don't care to be constantly aware of what I can't have to eat and that my
taste buds aren't set up for my limited food budget. That head of lettuce and tomatoes for a
small salad were a God send. My husband, Charlie, was not at all content with the food choices
we had to make. I will tell you that neither of us want a sandwich for a long time nor do we
want to see oatmeal for a while. Enough of the grumbling! What really happened to us is we
became very aware of the lack of opportunity to afford fresh vegetables, fish, fruit, etc. We
are very empathetic concerning the limited food choices in families who use food stamps. We
couldn't use any food from the pantry or the freezer in our home and each time I saw all that we
had I felt like a kid in a candy store. I also felt a kind of guilt, like I wanted to share but couldn't
find good way. I will never forget this opportunity and hope somehow to help fix it. Thanks
for listening!!

Molly: Day Five - Lunch/Dinner

Well, I survived Ike today, but I have to admit I cheated. I was running in and out of the station all day as KLTV had wall to wall coverage from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. I was the reporter in a ball cap standing in the rain :). I ate my animal crackers around lunch time, but could not resist the free pizza the station provided around 1ish. I did have one piece, so that is cheating. I'm not supposed to except free food. I just didn't have time to heat up the noodles I brought. I did eat my noodles for dinner, however, but then I was craving something sweet, so I spent 50 cents and bought cookies from the vending machine. That takes my total amount left down to $1.50. It's another long day of reporting tomorrow, so again I will have to plan what I'll be eating. I still have three chicken breasts left, so I should probably eat those. I'll let you know. One more day down... two to go.

Molly: Day Five Begins

Today is going to be very busy with Ike moving into East Texas, so I'm really going to have to plan ahead. I just ate my two pieces of toast with peanut butter. I'm down to 6 pieces of bread, so I should be ok there. I'm currently drinking my cup of instant coffee and cooking some noodles for lunch later. I also packed some animal crackers because I have a feeling I'm going to be in the car all day, or out in the winds and rain :). Watch KLTV because we will have wall to wall coverage on the storm today. I have to admit I sort of cheated last night, but not really because it still fits in my budget. I bought some ice cream last night from Braums. I was really craving it while I watched a movie in my apartment. It only cost like $1.50, so currently I have like $2 left in my budget. So.. hopefully I can make it the next three days. I'm doing pretty well... I'm just worried about making it through these two long days of reporting. Thanks for all your comments so far. Please keep them coming.

Molly: Day Four - Lunch/Dinner

The next couple of days are going to be very hectic with Hurricane Ike coming in, and I know my strength will be tested. I'm definitely going to need to prepare my food ahead of time because I will be reporting in the storm tomorrow and Sunday, and I won't have time to make my meals. For lunch today I ate my two peanut butter sandwhiches and my animal crackers. I kind of snacked on those all day, so that worked out well. I did spend 60 cents on a diet coke. I got it out of the vending machine in our break room. I am sick of drinking water because that is all I've been drinking, which is good for me I guess :). I thought I could spend the 60 cents. For dinner I made macaroni & cheese... yeah! I love it though. Could I eat all the time... no. I was very tempted to cheat tonight between my live shots. I was live right next to Chick Fil A, so I went inside there between live shots to get out of the heat. I never eat fast food, but the food smelled really good. I was hungry too, but I toughed it out until I got home. It didn't fit in my budget, and I didn't want to spend my money. I still have three days left. So far, I have really learned how much you have to think about every meal you eat, and everytime you buy something. The smallest thing, like a diet coke is a big purchase.

Molly: Day 4 Begins

I already ate my two pieces of peanut butter toast :) and I actually made myself two cups of instant coffee. I put my coffee in a tumbler and brought it to work. The instant coffee is actually not all that bad. I'm getting used to it, however, a white chocolate mocha from Starbucks sounds pretty good too. I packed my lunch today... I actually brought some of my leftover food from last night. I guess I'm not used to eating a bigger meal because I only ate half of my chicken breast and rice and green beans. I didn't want to throw it away, so I brought it for lunch. I'm hopefully going to do an issues story today on the Food Stamp Program.

Molly: Day 3 - Dinner

So, I'm eating dinner kind of late tonight. I had a meeting at 7 p.m. and let me tell you it was hard watching other people eat cake knowing I couldn't have any :). I made myself a bigger meal tonight. I baked a chicken breast, made some rice and my green beans. I also prepared my lunch for tomorrow. I'm reporting, so I know I will most likely be on the road all day. I'm packing two peanut butter sandwhiches and animal crackers. I want to make sure I can eat it in the car. So far so good, but I do find myself staring at the food I bought wondering what I'm going to eat the next day. You really have to plan what you're going to eat... something I normally don't do. I don't think about it all that much. I am looking forward to cooking a big meal when the challenge is up.

Molly: Day 3 - Lunch

For lunch today I ate my small frozen pizza. I believe I bought it for like 75 cents. I only purchased one because I know they can't be good for you, but I also know I wanted to add some variety in my diet. Variety is what I seem to be struggling with right now. I just got back from Walmart and added an item of food for the week... animal crackers. I needed something to snack on, and the bag was only $1.17, so that brings my leftover money down to $4.33. I'm going to try to hold on to that for a couple more days. I plan to pack the animal crackers in my work bag, so I have something to snack on tomorrow while I report. The pizza was really not that good, so I don't plan on buying anymore of those. I'd rather eat peanut butter toast :). It was hard not to buy anything else today especially when I walked by the fruits and vegetables. I would love a big salad right now, or just even an apple. There are two apples sitting in my fridge right now from last week calling my name. I might have to use that leftover money on fruit.

Molly: Day 3 Begins

And Day 3 Begins just like all the rest... two pieces of toast with peanut butter and a cup of instant coffee. I have a feeling I'm going to run out of bread here real soon. I found myself counting the slices this morning to see if I have enough for the rest of the week. It's a good thing I like peanut butter toast because that seems to be what I'm eating the most of. I probably won't want to though when the week is over. I have to admit I cheated a little last night... I went out with some friends and had a glass of wine. I did not eat anything, but it just shows how hard it is to have a social life because so much of our society evolves around food and drinks. Fortunetly, my weekend is almost over. Tomorrow, (Friday) is actually my Monday, so I'll be back at work and with Hurricane Ike coming I'll stay very busy.

Molly: Day 2 - Dinner

So, I'm actually not all that hungry... at least not yet. I ate my lunch pretty late, so I'm thinking a peanut butter sandwhich and my leftover macaroni and cheese. Yes, I kept it. I don't want any of my food to go to waist. It feels like I'm eating the same things over and over again, but I pretty much do anyway. I'm sort of a boring eater :). I know it would get old after a few weeks though. Tomorrow I will make some chicken for dinner. I need to get more protein in my diet, but for tonight I'm doing pretty well.

Molly: Day 2 - Lunch

I guess it's been awhile since I've made macaroni & cheese because I completely forgot you need to add milk at the end. I didn't buy milk, and we all know how expensive milk is right now, so I ended up using water. It still tastes fine, but it made me realize even the cheapest meals cost more than you think. Yes, the box of macaroni and cheese cost 39 cents, but you also need butter and milk. Just some things to think about when I prepare my next meal.

Molly: Day 2 Begins

Well, I survived Day 1, and so far not so bad, but like I mentioned in my last blog you crave things you might not otherwise crave when you know you CAN'T have it. I stopped by Walmart last night on my way home from work to pick up a birthday card for my brother, and I decided I could spend some of my leftover money on coffee. The cheapest I could find was instant coffee, which I never drink for like $1.50, so I'm down to $5.50 for the rest of the week. I'm actually drinking the instant coffee right now, and it's really not all that bad. It's caffeine, so I'll be alright. I went to Buffalo Wild Wings last night and met my friend from out of town. I told him all about the Food Stamp Challenge, so he was kind enough not to order any food. I drank my water and we just talked. The neatest thing about the whole night was his reaction to what I was doing. It really made him think about those that have to live on food stamps and "who" those people might be. We probably talked about the challenge for an hour. It's interesting the e-mails I'm getting at work and comments being posted on kltv.com. There are a lot of people who don't support the Food Stamp Program, and then those who are very supportive. I really do enjoy reading the comments and e-mails, so keep them coming. I've decided to do more research myself on the program because I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there. Does the program get abused... I'm almost sure it does. It's those stories that are hard for others to accept when they struggle to buy food for their families. I know I have to constantly watch what I spend these days, so really this is a great experience for me. So... what's on the menu for DAY 2... so far, I had two pieces of toast with peanut butter on them and a cup of instant coffee. I'll let you know about the rest of the day later :).

After the challenge

So we made it through the week, with some food to spare...tuna, beans, rice, bread, tortillas, an onion and one lonely egg. I won't say it wasn't a relief to return to my normal routine yesterday, because it was; I was especially happy to get my morning coffee. (As were my colleagues, who had to endure my caffeine-less whining for a week.)

But I'm still trying to wrap my head around just what I learned. After all, this was an artificial experience. What we lived through was just a tiny taste of the reality for too many people. I knew this was ending in a week. I didn't have to simultaneously worry about how I was going to pay my rent or my childcare.

Still, my mother always used to tell me that you should never judge anyone without walking a mile in their shoes, and I think that applies here. It's so easy to live our lives without really thinking about what someone else is going through. The Food Stamp Challenge reminded me of that-- and gave me a little more incentive to work to change things, in what little way I can.

Molly: Day 1 Continued...

It's funny what you crave when you know you can't have it. It may be Tuesday night, but it's actually my Friday night. I just got home from work and had a spoon full of peanut butter. Yeah, I love peanut butter though. I'm still not sure what I'm going to eat for dinner. I'm off to the gym and then I will decide.

Molly: Day 1 - Breakfast/Lunch

Well, I just finished my very nutrious lunch of noodles and butter. I cooked a lot last night, so I only ate half of it. I may eat some more later before I leave work. The problem is I'm a snacker... especially when I'm sitting at my desk at work. I didn't buy any snack foods, so I may need to do that sometime this week. I'm thinking maybe some animal crackers because they come in bulk and are pretty cheap. I'm off Wednesday and Thursday, however, so that should be interesting. For breakfast, I ate two pieces of toast with peanut butter on it. I don't feel hungry at all, but I could use a cup of coffee.

Shopping! Nutrition?

Charlie and I are embarking upon the Food Stamp Challenge this week. Last night I went to the grocery store and shopped with our 42 dollars. It took an exceptionally long time as all the brands I usually use are not what I could buy for this week. I was really overwhelmed in the meat department! I did prepare for this week with a menu and a shopping list. I was unable to
buy all that I had planned on and I had to change the whole chicken to 2 suppers and 1 lunch.
Getting all the vegetables and fruit we should have was unattainable but I scored on some wheat bread in a sandwich loaf on sale. The menu is not really high on the basic nutrition needs of our
bodies and the fat is higher that we usually allow. Where we are going to help the fat problem
is with portion control, that will also extend our groceries. We could afford no snacks!

Molly: Getting Ready For Day 1

I'm really excited to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge, but at the same time, I'm a little nervous. At first I thought this would not be a good week because I have a friend coming in from out of town Tuesday night, but then I thought, hey it would actually be perfect because it will truly challenge me. Those that live on Food Stamps don't have the luxury of saying well this week I'm just going to spend more than I can afford because they can't, so why should I. As i mentioned above and in my KLTV story I went grocery shopping today. I bought: noodles, 2 boxes of macaroni & cheese, peanut butter, bread, rice, a package of 4 chix breasts, a small personal pizza, a can of corn and a can of green beans. I spent a total of $14.05, so I still have money left over. I've decided to see what I crave later in the week. I'm a pretty plan eater, so that should not be a problem, but not having my coffee every morning will be tough. We'll see how long I make it. Tonight, I'm preparing my food for lunch tomorrow... my first day! I'm thinking noodles and butter and maybe a peanut butter sandwhich for a snack if I get stuck late. I'll let you all know :).

Molly: Shopping

I'm officially starting the challenge tomorrow, but went shopping today for my KLTV story. You can watch the story on kltv.com. Shopping was difficult because what I really wanted was too expensive. My biggest fear is not that I will go hungry, but won't have the energy to workout this week. The only protein I bought besides peanut butter was four chicken breasts. To be honest, my budget has been tight, so I've been watching what I buy lately, but not this much. I decided against coffee... for now. We'll see how long that lasts. I usually drink a cup of coffee every morning. For my big lunch today I ate Mexican. I'm not sure what I'll for dinner. Tomorrow I'm thinking peanut butter toast for lunch and maybe macaroni and cheese for lunch. I'll have to make it tonight and pack it for lunch tomorrow. Not the healthiest, but 21 dollars does not get the best of foods.

Day 6: So much for this getting easier

I walked into the kitchen this morning to see my husband standing in front of the toaster. With a bagel. And salmon-flavored cream cheese.

"I'm hungry," he said, by way of apology.

He has officially fallen off the wagon. Yesterday, he also ate more M&Ms, drank part of a can of guava juice, and finished up the leftovers from Friday night's off-the-challenge dinner. There's still food from our $38 shopping trip, but I couldn't really blame him for not wanting a breakfast of white bread, tuna salad and pinto beans.

I'm still on board-- but I'm resentful. I'm tired of eating the same few things. When I give my son and his friends a snack of Cheetos and juice, I feel jealous that I can't have any. (This is pathetic. I'm upset about not getting Cheetos?) I drive by a Starbucks and have to talk myself out of turning through the drivethrough. Watching TV, it suddenly strikes me how many of the ads are for food, expensive food, food that suddenly looks good. I don't think I've been tempted by a Taco Bell ad for years.

This seems to be harder on the weekend, lounging around the house. My usual routine is impossible. Coffee and a morning paper? We couldn't afford coffee. A diet Coke after walking the dog? Sodas were out of the question. A quick trip to get ice cream after dinner with our son? I didn't budget for that. These are little things, sure, but they add up to a feeling of deprivation. It's demoralizing.

Day 5: Getting used to the new reality

We both cheated last night. We were having friends over for dinner, an event that we had arranged before we had signed up to take the Challenge, and decided we couldn't force them to eat rice, beans, tortillas and tap water, the only food we had enough of to stretch to feed six people.

So, my husband went to the store to buy ingredients for dinner--a Chinese feast of Szechuan chicken, spicy beef stir fry and egg drop soup. (He is a chef by training..... which, I realize, has been an unfair advantage all the way through, since he can make tasty meals out of practically anything, or almost nothing, as the case may be.) The bill for these groceries? $53. $11 more than what we're supposed to live on for a whole week. And that doesn't even include the wine we drank, the nuts we set out for an appetizer, or the dessert our friends brought.

Once I got over the shock of the price differential, it was a really good meal. And just having that little break made a big difference to me. For the first time, I'd been hungry much of the day Friday but knowing we were going to have a nice dinner had allowed me to get through the day. And this morning, it was a lot easier to accept going back to our limited menu (nothing for breakfast, rice and beans for lunch, chicken, potatoes and onions for dinner). I was very hungry by the time we sat down to dinner tonight, but I didn't spend the day in an irritable or depressed mood. If we hadn't already had a good weekend meal, I probably would have; social occasions, as Robyn mentioned, really do revolve around food, and it's hard to imagine having friends over without feeding them.

We'll see how long that halo effect lasts. We still have two days to go. And not all that much food left.

Mid-point! Horray!

So it's day four for me, which is about halfway through (I'm not good at dividing odd numbers, so I tend to round up or down. Also, on a related note, food deprivation has aggrandized my pre-existing dislike for math). In lieu of writing a meandering stream-of-consciousness post riddled with parenthetical statements (what can I say, I digress a lot), I've decided just to post a running tally of what I've learned so far. So, I give you:

Robyn's Running Tally of What She's Learned Halfway(ish) Through the Food Stamp Challenge

1. I'm more conscious about the fact that I NEED to eat food, as opposed to just wanting to eat. It's more about needing to keep my body fueled instead of satiating a craving. That's definitely a new perspective for me.

2. I tire a lot more easily now. My eating habits lean more towards "constant grazing" rather than eating actual meals. It just works out better for my metabolism. But, since I couldn't afford my usual grazing foods this week, I've had to settle for eating actual meals with maybe a snack or two during the day. I've had wayyyy less energy the last few days.

3. I've realized how much social interation directly involves food. Not like I didn't know this already, but there have been a few instances this week where I've been about to make an offhanded invitation to someone to go to lunch, go get coffee, etc., and had to stop myself. How do you encourage a healthy social life when you can't afford food?

It's been tough to realize exactly how much physical and mental health are inextricably tied and how that tie relies on something as simple as food. All in all, over the last few days I've come to realize how much I've taken food for granted. I've also learned that my willpower against food is nil, but that's a story for another post, I suppose.

Day 4: This is getting harder.

My husband caved first. Last night, a few hours after dinner -- a small pork cutlet each and some potato salad with, wait for it, lots of celery-- he wandered into the kitchen and started poking around.
"I want something sweet," he said.

"Brush your teeth again," I suggested. "It worked last time."

He ignored me. His eyes lit on the candy basket on top of the fridge. "M&Ms," he said, with almost a religious fervor. Without looking at me, he grabbed a handful.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "But this is getting hard."

Not that we're starving; clearly, we're not. But we're realizing how much discipline this requires-- and that we don't have much. We're used to eating what we want, when we want, without really thinking about it. That is a luxury that many people don't have, and one that I have selfishly taken for granted.

But this week, our budget didn't allow for sugar. We still have quite a bit of food--the picture shows all that's left, which should be enough to feed us till day 7--but it's not always what we want to eat. Having to budget so tightly takes so much of the joy out of eating. Mealtime feels more like a chore to be accomplished than something fun to enjoy. For a week, OK, I can do this. But imagine how draining this would be if it were your daily reality.

Dinner Day 4

Okay, I could really use a coke. This is day four and surprisingly we still have a lot of food left – possibly a little left after day seven and here’s why. The cheap ground beef that I bought has a lot of fat and I mean a lot! We typically buy the ground beef that only has 4% fat. Well apparently I bought something with 90% fat. Okay, I’m exaggerating just a little… well maybe a lot. Anyways, apparently after you cool the meat in the refrigerator the big white fat clumps stick to the meat. My husband was so disgusted by the sight that he refused to eat the meat and just had rice and beans. I didn’t want the meat to go to waste so I tried to pick the fat off the meat which didn’t work. Once I got to work our wonderful nutrition educator informed me how I should have drained the meat after cooking it and then run hot water over the meat to get rid of the fat before storing. This would have been helpful to know.

And on the third day, I absolved myself.

Okay, I have a minor confession: I kind of cheated. Yesterday I came back into the office to find a full-size Hershey bar sitting on my desk, compliments of Irma. I initially told myself that eating this bar of delicious goodness would be breaking my word, and since I didn't exactly read all the fine print of the Food Stamp Challenge pledge I'm not entirely sure what my punishment would be (do five hail FSNE's?). So for my cheating, I apologize. Moving on.

Trish and I were just talking about different things we've learned so far (yes, 3.5 days in and we're already learning!) and it's been interesting to compare what I THOUGHT I would learn with what I'm ACTUALLY learning. For instance, I really thought I would be hungry, and I haven't been. At all. What I have felt so far is powerless, a loss of personal freedom, and that's been the hardest part. It's remarkable to me how much I've used food as a sort of reward system without really consciously doing so. For example, "Hey, I just did my laundry! Time for a coke." Or "Hey, I just filed my tax return! Clearly I deserve a cookie for exhibiting such adult behavior." Now it's "Hey, I just cleaned the kitchen! Time for...um...a baked potato with some salt." Mmmm. 

 

Similarly, last night some friends wanted to go out to eat. And, even though it was dollar taco night at Don Juan's, I did not budget for dollar taco night so I couldn't go. And it's not that this is impossibly frustrating to me right now, but I've been thinking about this experience in larger terms. Because for me, that's all this is right now: an experience. But for a lot of people out there, this is reality. This is their day-to-day existence with no foreseeable sight in end. 

I can't imagine how that reality must weigh on them, but I'm trying. 

Day 3: I need coffee

I woke up hungry this morning. But instead of doing what I normally would -- toast a bagel or grab a $3.50 latte on the way to work -- I looked over the pile of food we bought for the challenge. It is rapidly diminishing.

The bananas are gone -- my husband took the last one for his lunch today. Eggs --we have 7 left, but I need to save the rest for egg salad and an omelette later in the week. There's quite a bit of celery, but that doesn't sound too good at 6 a.m. I end up counting the slices of bread and deciding I can eat a piece of toast now and still have enough for sandwiches the rest of the week. I wash it down with a big glass of ice water. The decision not to spring for coffee is beginning to feel like my biggest mistake.

Three days in, I have not really been outrageously hungry yet, but it's still early. We notice that we are feeling a little anxious as our little food stockpile shrinks. Mentally, we calculate how many meals we have left; three meals apiece from the remaining chicken, one or maybe two from some pork chops, the rest just rice and beans. We think we will still have enough to last the week, but it's stressful, trying to stretch it.

Still, this is temporary, and we've got a big luxury many families don't; we chose not to include our six-year-old in most of the challenge. I can only imagine how much more painful and stressful it is, trying to keep children full and happy. So as I packed my lunch this morning (rice and chicken soup, made from the chicken bones we normally would have thrown away), I couldn't help feeling that I've got it very easy.

Day 1

For my husband and me, the challenge started in the grocery store. He wanted celery, for the tuna salad we planned on eating most lunches. I thought it was a luxury we couldn't afford. I wanted more fruit instead, or maybe a small jar of peanut butter.

"Stop it," he hissed, as we debated the cost in the produce aisles. "You're embarrassing me."

Point taken. I let him buy the celery and we moved on. But it was an early telling moment -- of just how hard it is to survive on $21 worth of food a week per person, and of the compromises and choices families have to make.

We decided to take the Food Stamp Challenge together this week because we know how easy it is to take our good luck for granted. (Our son, who is 6, will eat his regular breakfast and lunch, but will share some of our challenge dinners.) Like many others, we spend money on food somewhat thoughtlessly. We wanted to take time to fully realize what we're eating, and how much it costs.

We realized, as we scanned the store, how much more work it will take to eat this way. Convenience foods like spaghetti sauce or frozen pizzas were out; they cost too much. We bought dry beans rather than canned, and a whole chicken rather than skinless boneless breasts, to save money. After carefully planning what we thought would get us through 7 lunches and dinners apiece, we ended up spending $38. (The picture above shows our week's worth of food.) It's not the healthiest menu. We didn't buy as many vegetables as we would have liked; organics, as Karolyn noted, were out of the question.

And there weren't many extras. We didn't buy anything to drink; tap water is going to be our beverage of choice. No desserts, except for six bananas (chosen because they were the cheapest fresh fruit.) No snacks, except for the much-debated celery. No cheese, no sugar, and, hardest for me, no coffee.

I think it's going to be an eye-opening week.

Karolyn's Food Stamp Challenge Experience

I decided to take the Food Stamp Challenge because I’ve been fortunate and never experienced hunger. I must admit, my husband and I will get tried of eating the same thing and often throw away our leftovers but not this week! Yes, I’ve even convinced my husband to take the challenge. Our first step was to check the local grocery store sale ads, cut coupons and make a list and stick to it.

Together we have $42.00 to spend for the week. On this budget, we were not able to purchase our normal organic food items. However, we were able to purchase: eggs, bread, fruit, tuna, peanut butter, carrots, spaghetti, veggies, rice, beans and chicken. Our total bill was $36.00.

I must admit, so far this challenge has not been difficult but it is the freedom of choice to go out to lunch or dinner that has been eye-opening.

Day 1: I miss Starbucks.

So, this is officially day 1 for me, which means that so far I don't have a lot of profound insights into hunger or living on an absurdly limited food budget, but I think I may have gleaned a few pearls of wisdom to share.

First, a little bit of background information on me. I'm the website administrator & volunteer coordinator here at the Food Bank. Owing to a combination of living alone and not knowing how to cook, I rarely make grocery lists and never plan my meals out for the week. So, unlike Karolyn who presumably planned and color-coordinated all her meals (my mockery is fueled purely by jeaousy, I assure you), having to think about what I'm going to eat for an entire week in advance was pretty difficult for me. I think I've got it pretty well planned out so far, but foresight isn't exactly my forte so we'll see how that goes.

I still hadn't made a list when I finally went grocery shopping last night because, frankly, I had no idea what $21 would buy me. And even once I got there I still wasn't sure what to buy because, like I said earlier, I can't exactly cook (okay, maybe not "can't", more like "won't", but still). I ended up buying kind of a random amalgamation of ingredients that I figured I could somehow parlay into a week-long stock of delectable meals. Eggs, pasta, tuna, canned corn, cheese...as I shopped, my standards quickly slipped from "delectable" to "edible." I've since settled on somewhere around "digestible."

So far the hardest thing for me hasn't been hunger; I have yet to really experience that (keep in mind I'm up to lunch on my first day though, so we'll see how that pans out). The hardest thing has been having to THINK so much about food. Picking out what I'm going to eat has gone from being at best a pleasure, at worse a minor inconvinience, to being a total chore. There's a very small margin of error in this game and if I had to live like this I would get really discouraged, really fast. The planning takes a lot of thought and energy, and I'm picky about where I expend such energy and my weekly meal plan is not where I want to use it all up. I can really see how it would be easier to just forget trying to eat healthy on a budget and instead just settle on whatever's cheapest at Taco Bell.