Thank you for taking the Colorado Food Stamp Challenge which begins on National Hunger Awareness Day, Tuesday, June 5, and lasts 7 days to Monday, June 11. The challenge is to purchase, prepare and eat only the food that can be purchased on the average Colorado food stamp budget of about $25 per person per week ($3.57 per person per day).
The Food Stamp Program is the first line of defense against hunger in the United States and helps to put food on the tables of 25 million Americans including over a quarter of a million Coloradans. The goals of the Challenge are to raise awareness of the difficulties that many Coloradans face in feeding their families and to encourage Congress to support and strengthen the Food Stamp Program as it deliberates this summer on the farm bill.
Please use this blog to post your observations and experiences as you take the challenge. Just click on the "comments" link below and add your comments.
Again, thank you for your participation!
Colorado Anti-Hunger Network
Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute
20 comments:
This is great! I hope people get involved with this, as hunger and poverty are such important issues that all too often are ignored.
This is a good way to increase awareness about the costs of food and particularly the cost of eating in a healthy manner. I shopped for the week and had to spend more time than usual at the store and purchase more processed goods in order to stay within the budget.
At first I said sure, we can manage on a grocery budget of $3.57 a day, then I went to the market. Boy was I wrong. It was a daunting task.
Hi,
I am a single mother of two who had been on foodstamps for over two years. I wanted to thank those who have no experiance of hunger and are willing to partake in this event. Please also keep in mind, that when on assistance, such as foodstamps, any money you earn from employment is deducted from your assistance. Even if you are only paid $5.15/ hr. Its give and TAKE. That is why it is sooo hard to get off assistance. Any amount you work for, even a small amount, is going to reduce your benefits. Meaning, it is extremely hard to ever get ahead enough to support yourself without help. So unless you obtain a job with a high salary, your stuck. Which is why so many just give up and stay hardly working and receiving help. They either do not feel they can get a job making $15/ hr or they have tried and failed. Trust me, I was surprised how $10.15/ hr times 40 hours a week has not changed my situation at all, except I no longer receive foodstamps and now I can't afford to pay my bills and buy food. And I agree with Roxane, the processed food is cheaper. This is why America is soo overweight. It costs more to be healthier. And also keep in mind, most families are so hungry by the time they get their stamps they spend almost all of it on their first visit. So by the middle to third week of the month they are back to struggling. Considering that, how long do you think fresh fruits and vegetables last?
Since I already have some groceries and don't want to waste what food I already have, I will look up the cost on the receipt I have filed away of what I eat and go from there. I had a hotdog for lunch today - $1.10 - (I started the exercise at lunch) and one boiled egg and two carrots for dinner. I will add that up and report back tomorrow.
I went to happy hour after work with some coworkers who are very supportive of my efforts. The restaurant had free chips and salsa. I collected on a debt and had a couple of drinks, $3 total, purchased by a colleague.
When I got home I was thankful that I have started a small vegetable garden, but then I remembered the money I spent on compost, seeds and plants and wondered if a person living on minimum wage could afford things for a garden - probably not.
The Dalai Lama was asked once what was his favorite food, and he replied 'anything that is put in front of me'. Although I love Mexican, Indian, Thai food, my mantra for the week will be 'anything that is put in front of me, and that is also very cheap'.
We'll see how it goes. Day One -
the exercise already has me thinking how impossible this must be for those on food stamps.
Well, I’m glad I just signed up for the two day challenge.
This is the second day. I think I will make it, but only by
1. Planning in advance and giving it a lot of thought—To make it work, I needed to plan all my menus. And because I couldn’t stop and buy a snack if I got hungry ( or eat the refreshments provided at meetings) , I had to plan to bring the food with me from home that I would need.
2. Taking the time to cook cheap food from scratch – Over the weekend, I cooked up a batch of lentil soup from dried lentils- which kept the cost per serving to 15 cents (not counting the electricity the crock pot used). The soup helped tide me over while I cooked dinner.(Mac and cheese last night, tuna salad sandwiches tonight)
Over the weekend I also cooked a chocolate cake ( one half box of mix bought on sale for $1. , plus two eggs, ¼ cup oil and homemade frosting- 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons butter—prorated my share to meet my sweet tooth is ¼ of the cake per day – about 25 cent per piece.
And cooking a bowl of oatmeal each morning added five minutes to my daily routine.
3. Eliminating usual flavor and texture add-ins – The oatmeal was without the usual apple slices and raisins; the macaroni and cheese was without the extra shredded cheese and mushrooms; the salad was only lettuce, cucumber and radishes- no tomatoes, not blue cheese sprinkles, no olives..just a sprinkle of vinegar instead of dressing.
4. Knowing I only needed to last two days and I could indulge myself before and after. I usually have a peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch twice a week, but usually have potato chips and an apple and a chocolate bar, not a carrot and corn on the cob. I usually have oatmeal about once every two weeks on the weekends when I have more time ( with the apples, raisins walnuts, etc.), but not plain. I have some cheap foods in my regular diet --- spaghetti, burritos with cooked dried beans, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, rice and beans and cornbread, etc. but these are interspersed with restaurant meals, chicken, fish, etc.
If I had to sustain this level of expense, I would probably end up drinking less coffee, or drinking worse coffee ( added 50 cents per day for home brewed beans) and cutting back on milk ( 60 cents per day) . Fortunately I don’t mind Denver tap water as a usual beverage.
My grocery list for the week:
Bag of lentils
Bag of white rice
1 pound box of pasta
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can pasta sauce
2 yams
1 onion
1 head of garlic
1 small head of broccoli
1 lb. bag of carrots
1 bag frozen peas
1 package tofu
6 eggs
loaf of wheat bread
small jar of peanut butter
Canister of oatmeal
Bag of popcorn kernels
Total:$23.42
Observations: There is no meat or cheese or dairy other than eggs. There also was not enough for sugar, spices or cooking oil. I was surprised that the onion cost a dollar but I wanted it to help flavor my meals. My bag of carrots was $2, but for that $2 I could have gotten 2 boxes of rice a roni which is arguably more food and more filling. I was not able to buy any "luxury" items or treats like coffee, tea, or soda. I did allow myself popcorn kernels to make popcorn for a snack. I intended to leave a cushion just in case I needed something later in the week, but my $1.50 "cushion" was not as large as I had thought it might be.
I did not take advantage of coupons because I did not have any for the items I purchased. I also did not shop around which could have resulted in more savings, I had limited time late last night.
Day One Observations
Yesterday I had a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, a peanut butter sandwich (no jelly) for lunch and lentils and rice for dinner. I ate popcorn for a snack. I cooked the entire bag of lentils and it made a lot, although I am not entirely sure it will last the whole week. I accidentally opened the wrong side of the pepper shaker and dumped way too much pepper into the rice, but that is what I have and that is what I will eat, regardless. As I was cooking I reflected on the lack of choice that I had. Whether I like my lentils or over-peppered rice, that is what I have to eat this week and I am not about to waste it. The same goes for the piece of toast I burned this morning. I had access to my spice cabinet and cooking oil and observed that this might not be realistic for a person truly on food stamps. This experience really makes me recognize how privileged I am. My cupboards are not bare, this is not something I have to live with ordinarily and most days I take that for granted.
This is a wonderful program. An opportunity for those who never wanted for food to have a glimps into other realities. As a single mother, I have been there and back. I received food stamps and TANF. Even though I have a full time job, it is still hard to make ends meet with a family and rent and debt. The Farm Bill is inappropriately named. I have been a vegetarian for 20 years. I am disgusted at the continued cruelty for cheaper meat products and unhealthy food choices.
We need to bring back and promote community gardens with produce and herbs. Good luck to all
Day Two
One small yogurt for breakfast. Two carrots for midday snack. Lunch at Bayou Bobs with friends - 2.25 for cup of rice and beans - waitress gave me free bread just because I asked 'Does it come with bread'? My friends offered a bite or two of theirs and I accepted their offers. I had a few chocolates at work - is accepting free food cheating? I figure that a low wage worker would have people sharing chocolates and such at work. Small bowl of cereal with soy milk and 1/2 apple for dinner - so far I've spent 7.53. I have the receipts for the groceries and am dividing things out by cost of each and serving size. I am thinking about food more than I ever have, and I agree with Chaer in that it calls for more planning. I have a piece of salmon in my freezer and am wondering if I can cook that and make it last a few days - it was $8.0 for one piece of salmon.
This is an exercise that I will probably never forget. It definitely has my friends and family talking about the issue. The goal to raise awareness is working.
If anyone has time to go to the Food Bank of the Rockies warehouse I would recommend it. Stacks and pallets of food filling an entire warehouse. It is striking and discouraging to see the need in a country of abundance.
Today is my third day and the biggest challenge is remembering what not to eat from the food already in the house and to subtract it when you do. I like to snack and yesterday after dinner I had pretzels and chips. Unfortunately, they were Terra Chips, $2.50 a bag and whole wheat pretzels, $2.00 a bag. Therefore, today's meal allowance was seriously impacted.
I've eaten oatmeal for breakfast every day and today I had toast and instead of using the honey that was factored into my plan, I used butter and now have to make another adjustment. I also didn’t factor in the price of the cinnamon I sprinkled on the oatmeal. I purchased a package of Turkey Bacon and sliced it in half, so two pieces become four. I also used a saucer instead of a full size plate in order to create a fuller vision/illusion.
Fortunately, I like rice and have had brown rice every day as part of lunch and dinner (no fiber). I’ve eaten chicken every day and twice on Wednesday. I diluted my apple juice with tap water to stretch the one bottle for seven days. I’m thankful I like skim milk as it has been my only other beverage.
I don’t know if I’ll make the full seven days as I have a bridal dinner and shower to attend this weekend, and I don’t think “free food” counts.
One of the more difficult aspects has been the stress of having to think about everything you eat and therefore becoming more aware of what you’re not eating. Taking the time to plan what to buy and setting up a menu that is reasonably healthy and not absolutely boring is another challenging aspect. Another issue for me has been remembering not to stop at McDonald’s on my way home and pick up a reasonably healthy salad for $5.00.
I’m glad the Challenge was publicized as it gave me a different option for sharing information with people I know who are generally far removed from the daily struggles of others.
Here is what Denver's Mayor Hickenlooper ate for the first three days of the challenge, and what Denver Dept of Human Services' Roxanne White was able to purchase on her $25:
Mayor Hickenlooper’s Meals this Week – Food Stamp Challenge
Monday:
Breakfast: at home
Oatmeal with raisins - $.26
Lunch: at Brown Palace
Roll – free on the table
Shot glass of peanut butter – $.26
Dinner: at home
Cup o’ soup - $.15
Baked potato with a slice of Velveeta - $.30
Tuesday:
Breakfast: at home
Oatmeal with raisins - $.26
Lunch: In Des Moines
Two bites of chicken with lettuce - $.70
Dinner: at home
Cup o’ soup - $.15
Baked potato with a slice of Velveeta - $.30
Wednesday:
Breakfast: at home
Smoothie with yogurt, banana, & 2 strawberries - $.60
Lunch: at Elway’s
Shared a baked potato - $3.00
Food Stamp Challenge Shopping List for Roxane White, manager, Denver Human Services
7 soups, $5.46
7 bananas $2.28
Peanut butter $3.97
Bag of potatoes $1.99
Lettuce seeds $ .79 ( I had planted seed two weeks ago a pot, seeds are allowed)
7 Prepackaged dinners $10.43
TOTAL $24.92
Days 3-5
I've been eating mostly soup, Amy's Organic, which I made last four meals. I already had it in my cupboard so I used it. I couldn't buy organic anything if I was really on food stamps because it is much more expensive than non-organic. Yogurt, carrots, a small can of Busch beans (which I used for one dinner then part of another), eggs - that has been it for the last three days. I did make some lemonade so I could have something more than water. I had a treat today - ice cream sandwich - .89 cents, a splurge, and have had a small bags of chips each of the past few days - .55 each. It seems like junk foods are much less expensive than healthy foods such as fruit and veggies - I think others have mentioned that - if you are on a food stamp budget, plus junk food is more accessible. It has to affect a person's health at some point unless they are vigilant in their food choices. I've used in groceries and spent a total of 17.80 and two days to go.
My partner, Beth, and I both took the Food Stamp Challenge last week -- and made it through. We committed to eat healthy food for the week, which meant that we had to plan for two or three weeks to spread our produce purchases (eating 1/2 or 1/3 of certain items per week)-- something I'm not sure a family living on food stamps could do easily. Because we had produce on hand when started, we checked past receipts and used that cost and then we went to the store and filled in the rest of our items , for a total within the weekly $25/person amount.
We kept to our Food Stamp planned diet eating the "allocated portions" of food items per meal. But found that by the end of the week, our allocated amount of salad items ran out (the lettuce didn't go as far as planned), so those items were no longer part of our diet and we either ate less or filled in a bit with oatmeal (also on the plan).
We each kept up our basic exercise routine during the week, but by the end of the week, we were very week and somewhat grumpy.
Also, our allocated amount of coffee didn't last -- so by Saturday, I was glad that the community neighborhood meeting I went to, which was open to everyone in the city, had free coffee.
The bottom line is that living on just under $25/week is very tough. We each lost a few pounds that we probably had to loose, but for a family living on food stamps it must be a challenge to find food that is both healthy and filling, especially for their growing children.
Days 6 & 7
I made it for the most part - I had a hotdog, banana and 2 yogurts yesterday and then today yogurt, a carrot, hotdog, small bag of chips, and for dinner a very small portion of pasta. I added some pesto which may have put me over the overall budget. A friend was feeling sorry for me and bought an order of fries for me Sat. evening - 2.25 - and I used a gift card I had to get a coffee yesterday morning. I did have a couple of drinks at a few social occasions that I did not include in the budget tally.
Even with my slip ups it was challenging, I lost weight and today I was feeling light headed and weak after my exercise class, which I don't normally feel. I don't know if it was because I wasn't eating much, or that I was eating some junk foods and not getting proper nutrients. It would have been more difficult and expensive I think to eat healthy foods during the entire challenge.
I think about the phrase "you don't know unless you are in their shoes" and I believe that. Intellectually we may think we know, but we don't. I chose to do this, and for only one week which of course is a lot different from not having the choice.
The goal of awareness was accomplished. Friends, family and coworkers were interested and are very aware of the issues.
Oops that last one was Molly, not ccamhcconferencemoderator - sorry about that.
I truly thought this would be easier than it was. While I am still eating lentil soup and rice for lunch today and have a few other leftovers, I felt a little trapped by this experience because I had committed to sticking to only those groceries I purchased with my $25 and I didnt always want to eat those foods. I also deviated a bit and "traded" some of my purchases for items in my cupboard in order to support my caffeinated beverage habit and to take advantage of spices and condiments. In other words I swapped tofu and broccoli for coffee and ketchup.
I recognize, however, that having a full kitchen cupboard from which to swap certain things is not realistic for most or all food stamp participants and as frustrated as I was, my frustration does not compare to theirs.
This has been the best kind of learning experience - learning by doing. It has encouraged friends and family to talk about hunger and food insecurity when these issues would not ordinarily surface on their radars. I agree with other commenters that this has taken me beyond simply an intellectual understanding of hunger and poverty in America. I am grateful for the experience. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this a success. I hope that we can use this experience to influence better public policy in the future.
Thought I would share what I purchased for my week's worth of groceries of $24.84 at King Soopers last week.
I bought a quart of skim milk (1.49), 6 small lowfat fruit yogurts (1.99), a pint of lowfat buttermilk (.49), a carton of medium-sized eggs (1.22), 4 bananas (.52), 2 apples (1.43), a head of iceberg lettuce (.99), 2 tomatoes (.57), 1 small bunch of broccoli crowns (.72), two loaves of wheat bread (buy one at 1.79, get one free, so I froze one loaf), 2 cans of tuna (1.24), small bottle of mayo ((1.89), 4 hamburger patties that were on special (2.31), a pound of ground turkey (1.79), one package of spaghetti (1.00), one onion (.38), package of sliced cheese (2.37), an ear of corn (.50), a can of mushrooms (.79), can of tomato sauce (.99) and can of crushed tomatoes (.61). The majority of items were on some sort of markdown or where the generic Kroger brand.
So, the menu for the week form these items included spaghetti made with ground turkey, onion and mushrooms (made enough for several meals); salad; cheeseburgers on whole wheat bread with lettuce and a side of half of a corn on the cob; a plain hamburger patty, with a salad and steamed broccoli; tuna salad sandwiches or egg salad sandwiches or grilled cheese for lunch with one piece of fruit; broccoli omelet; hard boiled eggs and toast for breakfast; banana pancakes(I used flour and other dry ingredients I had on hand); yogurt for snacks. Not being able to buy more fresh fruit and vegetables, plus citrus in any fresh or juice form, were my most frustrating parts of this experience.
It was a great reminder and made me much more conscious of others' needs again this week when I went shopping. Thanks for challenging us.
For the couple of people who've posted that they ate at a restaurant for one of their meals (however small), please keep in mind that the food stamp program does *not* cover this. Hot prepared foods are not covered by food stamps. The people I know on food stamps are unable to have the luxury of eating at a restaurant because of the cost. I think this should have been factored in: even if you only spend $3.57 at that restaurant, it doesn't matter, because if you were really on food stamps you couldn't be there in the first place. It's "cook at home or don't eat"... not even a cup of coffee from Starbucks.
I am a single parent of one teenage boy and I work in the Human Services field. Due to foodstamps being based on gross income, I am not eligible as I make about $500 to much per year!!! This is outragous. After taxes and insurance that $500 is more than used and I am still struggling to feed us. If you ask the average American if $25 per week is enough they say yeah sure, we are giving them a hand out and they should be thankful for that. I encourage all of those average American's to attempt to do this. Last year the "average" American household in Denver made over $50,000 and spent more almost triple the alloted $25. I am glad this challenge is happening because if more people become aware of the reality of hunger and poverty, maybe they will be just a little more understanding. You may see it as a handout but the families just see it as the difference between eating and going hungry! As for me, well I am now working two jobs so that Uncle Sam can get all of his "dues" and my son and I can still eat healthy meals! Good luck to those people who are trying to eat on this amount for the 1st time, and to those of us who do it every week well now at least we can tell them the most inexpensive places to shop...
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