Food Stamp Challenge

The "Food Stamp Challenge" is a congressional effort where various non-typical food stamp users are encouraged to challenge themselves to eat on a budget similar to that of someone who only can use food stamps to buy food.  Basically, people who accept this challenge eat on less than $21/week/person (or something around this) - which is similar to the allotment given by food stamps.  Encouraging politicians and others to connect with reality of poverty is always something I would encourage, my problem is that this challenge probably doesn't do that.

For one, poverty when part of your daily life bears far more challenges than finding adequate food.  Proper shelter, adequate healthcare, basic transportation, and a way out are all things that come to mind.  You simply can not get an understanding for this in one week - no matter what you were doing. 

Additionally, the Food Stamp Challenge is more of a commentary on how ill equipped people are to eat on a budget in the first place than how difficult it might be.  Currently, Morty and I budget for $40/week (just shy of $42/week - which would be approximately our allotment).   We eat meat, we drink coffee, we have indulgences, and fresh produce is not out of sight.  We are laughably far away from running out of food and furthermore, my shopping trips do not resemble an episode of Extreme Couponing.  Granted, we are not always perfect, but for the most part we stay on track.  While we do budget for our eating out separately (as I see that as entertainment too), I'm not convinced that altering for this would throw my calculations off too wildly.

In the articles I have been reading related to this challenge; I've been trying to figure out what makes this so difficult for people.  They are often purchasing things like generic mac and cheese and tuna fish.  First off, yuck and yuck.  Second, kind of unimpressive health wise.  I've also seen hotdogs on some lists, which seems questionable too.  I would love to seem some good examples of people following this challenge, but from the articles I've read it appears people are favoring bland and unhealthy options that require little to no cooking.   

Rarely do they take advantage of filling, yet healthy resources such as lentils, rice, barley and beans.  All of these can be purchased economically and provide nutrition as well.  Also, limited effort seems to be made to stretch meals.  Often times things are being made per serving.  A large vat of chili or soup would be easy to create, affordable and stretch to several meals. 

As far as vegetables are concerned, a common complaint is the lack of budget for them.  However, a head of cabbage is usually less than a $1, same with a bag of carrots.  Frozen vegetables are often on sale for $1 per bag as well.  In contrast a bargain brand bag of chips is $2.50, a dollar more for the name brand.

On one persons list, an included item was chicken breasts, which were said to be on sale, but it is still a much more expensive way to purchase chicken than buying a whole chicken, which would make for several meals.   Also included was a frozen meal, I guess I would need to know more, but that sounds like an expensive item to me as well.

My point here (in this rambling post) is not to malign the actual SNAP program or anyone attempting to work within it's limits.  I, for one, am glad that assistance programs like this exist.  I just raise an eyebrow when people tell me that it's impossible to eat healthy on a lower budget.