Posted on 05/18/2007 5:20:57 AM PDT by radar101
Washington Post had an article yesterday on the Food Stamp Challenge, in which four members of Congress are attempting to eat on $21/week - the average per person allotment for food stamps in this country. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA.) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO.), who co-chair the House Hunger Caucus, called on all law makers to take the challenge though only two Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) stepped up to the plate.
Not surprisingly, the lawmakers found it nearly impossible to build any protein of fresh produce into their diets on the budget. (Note that they will not be eating or drinking anything at fundraisers or other events). Tim Ryan’s diet this week is limited to the following:
Yellow cornmeal $1.43
2 jars strawberry preserves 4.80
1 jar chunky peanut butter 2.48
2 packages angel-hair pasta 1.54
Chock Full o’ Nuts coffee 2.50
3 cans tomato sauce 4.50
2 containers cottage cheese 3.00
1 loaf wheat bread 0.89
1 head of garlic 0.32
Total: $20.66
That’s not much for anyone, much less for Ryan who is pushing 6′4″ (I know this because I have a mini-crush on him and met him at a DCCC fundraiser last year. I like tall Midwesterners like myself - sue me!)
What I found interesting about this great effort is the way that the members of Congress are utilizing social media tools to promote the initiative. McGovern, his wife and Ryan are all blogging on their daily experiences. Many of the posts are thoughtful and lengthy - generating dozens of comments a piece as individuals offer encouragement, or advice on recipes, rationing and purchases. Tim Ryan has also posted a video of his CNN interview on the challenge to his YouTube channel (though it’s not tagged well and doesn’t come up with a search of Food Stamp Challenge). The effort has also generated some buzz in the blogosphere where dozens of bloggers have mentioned the Challenge in the past few days.
Good to see a reminder that politicians can use new media not just to get elected, but also to advocate for change issue by issue.
(Via We’ll Know When We Get There)
I spent 3 1/2 year as as social worker. Many of those who struggled towards the end of the month spent their allotment on potato chips, soda, etc. Not all of them, but quite a few.
First, Food Stamps are to supplement an income, not replace it.
But second, you make a very good point. It’s less to do with not having enough money than it is with not knowing how (or not being willing to) make the right choices.
No, it’s not easy. But it’s also not supposed to be permanent.
Some are already doing the landscaping/dishwashing/cashier jobs, but that barely covers the smokes, spinners, playstation, and recreational consumables.
I’m going to be overrun with strawberries this year. This may be the first year I get to freeze some.
Catch you later!
I read over the recipe more carefully. 12 cups of vinegar must have been a typo. We never used vinegar.
When we were poor Cuban refugees, we ate beans and rice every day. Now that we are rich, we still eat a lot of them.
Yeah, it is hard to shed too many tears for these people when so many of them are fatter than a blimp.. and on top of it, they smoke cigarettes and drink beer, drink soda instead of water...
I believe personally we should withdraw from the War on Poverty. We’ve been in this war for about 50 years now and have not been successfrl. It is a quagmire and a major mistake. We are creating enemies in this war. We have thrown trillions of dollars into this black hole and have nothing to show for it except more and more casualities. Enough is enough. Withdraw NOW!
Cheap car - $50.
Run over deer - $500 of meat.
Pick bunches of watercress and dandelion leaves for salad - free.
Wild iris blooms - free.
Duck potatoes - free.
Cattail root - free.
Paper grocery bag filled with cereal, sugar, tuna, flour, cans of beans from Salvation Army - free.
Wild strawberry wine - free.
Kinnickinnic leaves for smoking - free.
You know and I know it is not supposed to be permanent, but others diagree with us.
As to it not being easy, I disagree, all it takes it a bit of time and effort.
I do it not because I have to, but I enjoy it, it has actually become habit, I’m basically cheap, and what I save can be spent on useful things, like beer (just kidding)
Yellow cornmeal $1.43
2 jars strawberry preserves 4.80
1 jar chunky peanut butter 2.48
2 packages angel-hair pasta 1.54
Chock Full o’ Nuts coffee 2.50
3 cans tomato sauce 4.50
2 containers cottage cheese 3.00
1 loaf wheat bread 0.89
1 head of garlic 0.32
Total: $20.66
That list could be better and have more available. I think this is BS. I know that back in the day I would bring home as much food on a shoestring budget and do much better than this list.
I meant the managing on a limited budget/food stamps. You're right that the preparation and planning ahead actually makes life easier.
First of all, chuck the coffee. not needed. Then Buy real food, not strawberry preserves, or other sweets........
Fer real. Day-old bread stores and discount food markets are standard fare. These morons in Congress are not in the real world...........
I agree it must be a typo, I could see calling for 1/2 cup, but not 12.
I don’t know how or when or even why I got into the habit of beans and rice, but I sure do love them.
If you're broke, but really need a cup of coffee (but you don't), just stop by a bank, car dealership, or something similar, which offers free coffee.
I don’t think my mom and I together use up one jar of preserves in a month.
I don’t get food stamps and I spend about $20/week on food anyway. I don’t know where he’s shopping but this week spaghetti sauce is 88 cents at Kroger. You can get chicken leg quarters for 29 cents a pound in 10 pound bags when they go on sale. Spaghetti 50 cents a pound, tuna 50 cents a can. I get my milk the day before the expiration date for $1.35 a halp gallon, I get day old bread for 50 cents a loaf. Pork is less than $1.50/pound on sale, sometimes it goes down to less than a dollar a pound for Boston Butt. It’s definitely doable, I do it all the time.
He obviously never heard of ramen noodles.
I've never been on food stamps so I can't say whether they are lying or not but I'm pretty sure you get more than 21 dollars and that it is based on your income.
Our grocery stores, Albertson's, Winn-Dixie, Publix, etc all offer free coffee while you shop. So while you are spending the 21 bucks, just load up a Big Gulp cup!.........
Shop at the dollar store for unfrozen items and canned goods and cut this daily grocery bill in half. Cut coupons and save even more. I do, and I’m not on foodstamps. I live on significantly less than they say is possible in a day and I’m very healthy and do just fine. My biggest expense is in meats, I find.
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