Noddles or Cardboard - Overview of Day 3

I always make menus in advance but what I usually find myself doing is switching up days and making meals out of order but at the end of the week, I have prepared all the meals.  Yesterday was no exception. 

Breakfast was sausage balls for all of us.  My husband and I both had leftovers for lunch.  For supper, I prepared spaghetti with whole wheat pasta noodles and ground turkey breast.  We were supposed to have salad but instead of buying all the produce separately, I bought the cheapest bag of salad I could find.  Well, I purchased groceries on Monday morning and by last night, the salad was slimy in appearance even though it still had several "Eat By" days left according to the package.  More money wasted. 

I thought supper was terrible last night.  I didn't add the extra Parmesan to the sauce because I didn't purchase any for use this week, so maybe that affected the taste of the sauce.  What I couldn't stomach was the Great Value whole wheat noodles.  I almost always use whole wheat pasta but I generally purchase a more expensive brand.  I felt like I was eating cardboard.  The noodles just did not have a good taste to them.  No one else complained but Ashton was sick with a fever and not feeling well, so I'm not sure how that affected his taste buds; Maura will eat anything and only complain when she runs out of food (malnourished child, remember, we are still working through food issues); and Jason ate much later than us do to his work schedule and I was at Walgreen's buying fever medicine so I wasn't around to hear any grumbling from him.  I don't generally notice a lot of difference between generics and name brands but I will tell you this, Great Value whole wheat noodles definitely are sub par according to my taste!

Guess what, I'm hungry today and did NOT eat any spaghetti leftovers for lunch!  Instead, I ate the last of the grilled chicken breasts....getting old since that made my 3rd sandwich but it was better than cardboard!

My Son Wants to Loan Me Money

Well, Ashton hasn't forgotten about the taboo pudding that he can't eat this week because it wasn't purchased with funds allotted to the challenge.  As soon as he came home today, he said that he had a plan - he would give me money to pay for the pudding and I should just pretend it came from the government....hmm, I wonder if this is the same rationale that people on welfare who don't report income to the government make to excuse the lie - and it is a lie regardless of the rationalization.  I again tried to explain that it wasn't allowed but he just became frustrated.  I think I'll wake him up at 12:01 a.m. on Monday morning and offer him the pudding!

Overview of Day 2

Yesterday went pretty well for us.  I was crazy busy with work, so lunch didn't get eaten.  Needless to say, by the time supper came, I was more than ready for the grilled chicken sandwich!  Ashton couldn't understand why I wouldn't allow him to eat a chocolate pudding and he looked completely puzzled when I launched into an explanation of the food stamp challenge and how I bought the pudding last week and not this week so we couldn't consume it.  By the time I was done, he just turned and walked away without another word - I truly tried to explain things on his level (he's 5), but I think he got so bored with the discussion that all thoughts of pudding went out of his head.  Now, don't get me wrong because Ashton truly knows what starvation is - his baby sister almost died from it - and it is a topic we have discussed over and over again but the concept of our government giving people free money to eat on had him confused.  He couldn't understand why they just didn't go to work and make extra money on their own since America is having a hard time paying its bills too (my job primarily consists of court-appointed work, so that means I get paid by the State of Tennessee and we frequently go weeks and months before they pay my claims so he has heard us talking about the State being broke).  Actually, Ashton's questions and comments are some that I am mulling over right now too.

To fill you in on how I did at the luncheon yesterday, I survived without anything but a free glass of water!  The bread was free but I stayed clear of that too.  The aromas were absolutely tantalizing, though!  I did leave the luncheon with conflicting thoughts and feeling slightly deflated.  When asked why I wasn't eating, one of my colleagues pointed out that the challenge wasn't a true reflection of the welfare system.  He said that based upon my having children, I wouldn't have to be buying items that WIC pays for and which I did pay for out of the budget.  He also stressed that there are numerous food banks and churches that frequently provide assistance to welfare recipients, so I was totally surviving with far less than what welfare recipients actually survive on.  He is right in that there are other programs and benefits out there, and although I did admit to that, I couldn't seem to convey that the purpose of this challenge was for us to realize how short the allotted $21 per person per week falls in terms of providing for adequate nutrition and that the welfare recipient does have to rely on other programs and non-profits.

Jason came home yesterday and said that he was really trying to stick with the program and then asked if I was proud of him for not cheating - as he pointed out that he could clearly eat at work and I wouldn't be any wiser unless he confessed.  Apparently, there has been food brought-in to work and he knows that based upon the rules of the challenge that we can't eat food unless we purchase it.  I asked if he explained why he didn't eat anything and he said no because he didn't want anyone to be offended if they didn't understand the purpose of the challenge.  He also said that he was asked if he wanted to put some money towards a southern meal of homemade fried chicken on Friday and he also turned that down - I'm sure his coworkers think he is sick or something because I am always sending baked items with him to work to share with his co-workers and he always participates in dinners. 

Oh, my husband did ask me if the school was going to provide us with any of that great government cheese that comes in a box.  He said that a friend of his grandmother used to give her their family's cheese and that it was the best cheese ever.  To top the day off, my sister-in-law asked me about the cheese last night too!  I've never had the government cheese but apparently it is really, really good.  Their comments about cheese brought back a memory from my high school days when a group of boys came through the cafeteria one morning chanting:  Welfare (Repeated by another group), Government Cheese (Repeated), Give me a leg of turkey, I ain't hard to please (Together).  I didn't have a clue what those guys were chanting about but here it is 15 years later and I finally understand!  I don't know that this last part has anything much to do with the challenge but it finally brought together the meaning of that chant I heard so long ago (and why I am remembering that now, I have NO idea). 

Food Emergency in the form of a Lunchable

Well, I was waiting to see who was going to need an additional food item this week and it turned out to be Ashton.  He had to bring a Lunchable to school due to a post field trip snack.  Oh, and the Lunchable couldn't be the $2.00 selection but had to include a juice drink and be packaged in the neat, factory sealed box.  That cost us $3.29, so now my remaining budget is $10.72.  I am so thankful for the refund that we received from the taxes that I initially calculated (remember, SNAP receipients don't pay taxes on food), and I am even more thankful that I didn't eat at the restaurant yesterday or we would have been all but flat broke today! 

Getting Ready for Day 2

This morning, my husband chose to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (I know, so nutritious - especially for breakfast) and my son chose to eat oatmeal.  I've had a busy early morning, so I didn't eat breakfast with them but just got finished cooking sausage balls for my family to consume over the next two days.  I counted the sausage balls and then estimated how many my son and husband would likely eat and then I had 3 of the extra ones with some orange juice.  Maura has breakfast at daycare, so she's still sleeping when we are eating at 5:45 a.m. each day.

Today lunch will be a little more difficult for me.  I have a lunch meeting at an Italian restaurant with some colleagues.  It's going to be weird not eating when they do, but I will sip on some ice water and engage in conversation.  One thing that I have reminded myself over and over again is that I shouldn't be too disappointed that I don't get to eat because I did get poisoned after eating a salad there about 2 years ago but then the other part of my brain is screaming, "but the manicotti is sooooooooo good!"  I'll make it through the luncheon and my observation of the meal will likely lead to some questions about the challenge, so this may prove to be a good opportunity to talk to some of my colleagues about the importance of this challenge.  We all work together in representing indigent clients and are frequently involved in their financial struggles, so maybe this experience can help open their eyes to the hurdles so many of our clients face in feeding their families - nutritiously feeding them not just the run through the drive-thru type. 

Jason is eating leftovers from last night for lunch.  My family proved quite hungry last night, so there were less leftovers than we generally have, so I made sure to put all the leftovers together for Jason to take to lunch today.  His job is very physical and he's working a lot of overtime, so he definitely needs the energy more than I do!  He doesn't know that I didn't keep any out or he wouldn't have taken it but he needs it more than I do.  I'm not sure what I'll eat for lunch today as my stomach isn't jumping at the idea of another PB&J.  I would like a nice piece of grilled chicken on a toasted bun, but that's what we're having for supper and then again for lunch tomorrow, so I don't think I want to go grill a piece for lunch and have it 3 times as opposed to twice.  What I would really like is a gourmet chicken salad sandwich on a croissant with a side of strawberry pretzel salad from Good Gracious Cafe but no room in the budget as it is $7.99!

I wish I was eating lunch there today!

Oh, and I just found out that welfare recipients do not pay tax on food, so our funds have increased by $5.61!  We now have an extra $14.01 for emergencies!  I guess I could technically eat lunch today but then what if my kids need something later this week and we don't have any more allotted money?  My kids win.  I'll survive without manicotti for another day.

Overview of 1st Day of Challenge

Well, we survived and without too much grumbling....except for my husband who didn't like the fact that his wallet was empty and his pockets had no change for the vending machines.  For lunch, Jason and I had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  For supper, I had to switch the day's menu to a quicker Asian fried rice and vegetables because I had to make an unexpected clothing run for Ashton - got to love the notes from school requiring a certain outfit the next day and he didn't have all the required pieces.  I didn't eat very much at all for supper and the sandwich at lunch was less than appealing and of course my breakfast had added protein that I didn't order so it went uneaten, so last night I was hungry when I got home from shopping.  I didn't go through the cabinets and refrigerator like I wanted to, but instead I did more reading for school and then went to bed.

Cheaper to Feed 1 person or 4

If it were only me doing the challenge, I would be allowed to spend $21.00 for an entire week of food, so $3.00 per day.  When I look over the menus that I posted, there is no way I could fix those meals for just 1 person and not go bankrupt.  That leads me to thoughts of the elderly, disabled, and single individuals - how do they do it?  They can't possibly be eating the proper balance of meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables...have you checked the price of apples or chicken alone?  Personally, I can't eat beef due to food intolerance, so my family only consumes chicken, fish, and turkey breast and those choices are typically much more costly than ground beef.  I would assume that the budget of $21.00 per week would allow for canned soup (probably the cheaper brand that is higher in sodium and lower in veggies), sandwiches, oats, grits, multiple meals of hot dogs or corn dogs, etc....none of which are too healthy when consumed alone much less in larger quantities that would be required for a week's worth of meals. 

Ever hear someone comment about person on welfare being overweight and that they have plenty to eat - look at their size?  I've heard it but guarantee you that it's never come out of my mouth!  It's cheaper to eat unhealthy than it is to eat healthy.  Notice the McDonald's sale of 20 chicken nuggets for $4.99 or something like that?  When was the last time you went to WalMart and bought a meal of 3 chicken strips and a side of broccoli salad and ate on it for 3 meals?  Someone I love dearly does this often - it's not healthy or even filling - and I do everything I can to help this person but our funds are limited too right now.  The old story about the elderly lady who eats cat food because it is cheaper than human food - that could be you, your mother, your sister, your grandmother - it happens to people you would never guess were in that kind of predicament.  The cost to live rises each year and unfortunately benefits aren't generally increased to help offset those costs.  Elderly people who work all their lives find that what they've scrimped and saved through the years is not enough to provide them with the comfort of life they desire (meaning enough money to pay medical bills, buy prescriptions, and put nutritious food in their bellies) and they have to turn to government assistance programs or some are too proud to do so and their health deteriorates due to improper nutrition. 

I've seen firsthand poverty, true poverty.  Every day I change the diaper of a little toddler girl whose abdomen is still distended after 9 months in a home where she is fed plentifully.  There are lasting effects of poverty and it is rampant in our society.  No, everyone on the welfare roles shouldn't be there but so many Americans are haughty and pious enough to group all recipients together as being druggies, prostitutes, baby making machines, and lazy....that couldn't be further from the truth for many of them.  Our system is broken and the purpose of this challenge is first of all to open our eyes to the reality that many Americans face with not having enough nutritious food to eat and then to start our minds thinking about what needs to be done to provide assistance and fix the system.  Utopian idea that it can be fixed and that only needy recipients will remain on the role?  Perhaps, but at least it's an idea and frankly, welfare and hunger are topics that I haven't liked to think about before now...at least a Utopian idea can be scaled down to reality if enough people recognize the need and push lawmakers to change the system.

First Morning - Grocery Shopping and Luxury (Includes a cooked fly)

In order to make this challenge more realistic, I wanted to keep the menus as close to what we typically eat as possible.  Notice some things missing or are not as plentiful as a nutritionist would advise - fish, fresh fruit and veggies?  These items are more costly and are harder to fit into the budget on some days.  Right or wrong, I know that my children are getting well balanced meals at school and whereas I'm doing my best to provide the same at home, I know that if they miss a green vegetable at supper that at least they got it at lunch and I'm doing the best I can to feed them as healthy as my budget allows at home.     

Menus for the Week

Monday:
Baked Chicken and Rice
Green Beans
Applesauce

Tuesday:
Meat loaf
Corn
Mashed Potatoes
Applesauce (my kids love this)

Wednesday:
Grilled chicken breast
Bun
Baked Tater Tots
Yogurt

Thursday:
Spaghetti with whole wheat noodles
Salad

Friday:
Manwich
Bun
Baked Tater Tots

Saturday:
Lunch - Leftovers
Supper - Pizza from Little Caesars

Sunday:
Lunch - Asian fried rice and chicken with vegetables
             Applesauce or Yogurt
Supper - Leftovers or Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Breakfast Choices:
Fruit Loops
Oatmeal
Sausage Balls

Dessert and Fruit Choices:
Chocolate fudge peanut butter cookies
Bananas
Assorted Fruit Yogurts

Beverage Choices:
2% Milk
Orange Juice
Water

My grocery bill came to $73.64.  This includes all the ingredients (except for spices which I am allowed to use from my pantry) to make the above-referenced meals.  I was quite happy to come-out with $10.36 left in my budget.  I was so happy in fact that I decided that I could treat myself to a gravy and biscuit from Hardees that cost $1.96.  Now, we have $8.40. 

Well, the extra $1.96 makes me feel guilty now that I have actually done the math and know that I have $8.40 left in my food stamp bank and what if my kiddos need that extra $1.96.  Also, two bites into the biscuit and gravy, I found a cooked fly....so NOT worth the extra money spent.  That is when I began to think, wow, I could drive back into town and burn the expensive gas to get another biscuit and gravy which was likely cooked in the same batch as the fly.  I wasted almost $2.00.  Seems kinda silly to most people but when $8.40 is all you have left for food for a month, it matters and I wish I would have considered that earlier today. 

More Details About the Challenge - Love all the Interest from Friends

In my previous post, I forgot to mention all the specifics of the challenge and from Face Book postings and private messages, this is an activity that many of my friends and colleagues are intrigued by.  Thank you so much for supporting this challenge!  Here's the perimeters of the challenge:

Students will be expected to live on $21 for one week. For students who would like other household members to participate in the challenge with them, such as spouses/partners or children, they will add $21 for each additional household member to their food budget for the week. In order to receive full credit for the challenge, students must stay within $10 of their household food budget for the week.

Students are asked to only consume food purchased that week for the challenge, though they may use spices in their pantry. This means that students are not to consume food leftover in their refrigerators or pantries from previous weeks during the challenge. Additionally, students are discouraged from eating free food at social events, work, the homes of relatives and friends, etc.

During this time they will blog about their daily experiences, including food consumed and amount of money spent. Additionally they will submit a 8-10 page double-spaced paper discussing what they have learned about living on Food Stamp benefits and ways to improve the program, incorporating current statistics from the USDA and TN Department of Human Services as well as current research on food security.

In order to receive credit for the challenge, students must stay within the food stamp budget for the week. Additionally, students must have a minimum of seven entries in their blogs over the span of the week. Students who post seven entries on the last day of the challenge will not receive full credit.

About the Challenge

My name is Erica, and I am a graduate student at the University of Tennessee.  I am pursuing a Master of Social Work and this blog is part of my grade.  Beginning tomorrow, Sept. 27, 2010, my family will be undergoing a Food Stamp Challenge.  Basically, we will only be able to spend $21.00 per person for food for a week.  There are 4 people in my family, so the grocery bill must not surpass $84.00. 

I've made out my menu and checked the local sales papers - much like I do every Sunday - so be sure to come back and follow our progress during this challenge.  I will say that my husband is quite leery as he says that he doesn't see much difference in what I have planned for this week than what I generally cook.  Oh, and I do cook - almost every night - during the week, so we aren't going to have to sacrifice much in terms of eating out.  We all know that to eat out as a family of 4 daily would drain the budget fast!  We live on a pretty tight budget anyway, so I really am wondering if my family will whine or fuss about the week's challenge.  I'll keep you posted!

Oh, and just so you'll know how it works with meals for the children.  Our daughter is in daycare everyday, so her breakfast, lunch, and snack do not count towards the allotment because the children who are actually receiving government assistance do not pay for these meals.  Our son is in kindergarten and his lunch doesn't count either for the same reason that his sister's doesn't.  So, we will have breakfast for 3, lunch for 2 adults, and supper for the entire family.  Let's eat!