The SNAP Challenge - Day Five

This is my meal plan for today:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with strawberries and two hard boiled eggs.
• Snack: Applesauce
• Lunch: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, salad.
• Snack: Baby carrots. 
• Dinner: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, egg, Hershey's bar.

Welcome to the last day of my SNAP challenge.  My day started early, I had to be at Oak Park Mall at 7:30 am to break down our CANstruction structures (check out Harvesters' Facebook page to see what I am talking about).  It was nice chatting with two of our volunteers who were also participating in the SNAP challenge and hearing their stories.  one works from home and was tempted by the food in his pantry (much like I have been tempted by the food at work!).  

As I got to the end of the week I was craving any food besides what I had purchased at the grocery store.  Lack of choices really got to me this week.  Being on this challenge made me eat everything in my lunch bag as well, so I did get my dollar's worth. Very little waste.

Since I had an extra dollar to spend for the week I stopped on the way home from work and got a Hershey's milk chocolate bar ($ .85).  I loved to have something indulgent to end the week.  This week took a lot of planning and control on my part and I can see why parents would feed their families hotdogs and chips, things that are quick, easy, and cheap after you have worked a long and tiring day.  I only had to take care of myself and it seemed impossible to stand and cook with how much my feet hurt and how tired I was.

A little something sweet.

I will post a wrap up of the whole week sometime this weekend, probably after I run so I have time to reflect on the whole experience.

Thank so much to everyone who has followed along on this journey with me.  

Daily Totals -

Cost: $3.34

Calories: 1,407

The SNAP Challenge - Day Four

This is my meal plan for today:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with strawberries and two hard boiled eggs.
• Snack: Applesauce
• Lunch: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, salad.
• Snack: Baby carrots. Oatmeal.
• Dinner: Bread, egg and tomato concoction. Rice. Canned carrots.

Day four was a tough one.  I was a little hungry and a lot grumpy.  The lack of choices of food to eat, the seemingly constant struggle to turn down offered food, and having to repeat the argument (quite a few times) on why I can't accept food from others began to get to me.  If you have ever dieted or tried to eat more healthily have you noticed how there are always people trying to get you to cheat?  "One donut won't hurt you" or "you don't need to lose weight" are refrains I have heard fairly frequently on my endeavors.  This is similar to my experience on the SNAP Challenge, people I work with are, for the most part, supportive (major shout out to Teresa!) even if they are not participating, but I have people who have argued with me almost everyday, about accepting the food they are offering, after all they have been on food stamps they know what it's like.  I have to constantly come back to the point that this challenge is for five days and if I accepted food it wouldn't be a challenge at all, I can go without it for five days.  I want to point out these people never seem to actually offer me food, just want to argue with me about it. I can tell I am getting pretty negative here, but that's how Thursday felt. Negative and fuzzy headed.

It did get me thinking about people on SNAP and the challenge of accepting food, I am sure there would be plenty of times that they would and could, but they may not have the abundant amount of opportunities I seemed to have this week (on Thursday a volunteer group offered us leftover pasta, bread and dessert that smelled delicious).  But there are still many people outside of their situation who have opinions on what they should eat and criticize those needing support that end up stigmatizing SNAP recipients.  This challenge is definitely making me ready to double my efforts and speak out more when I hear people make uninformed and insensitive comments about people (our neighbors, friends, families, and coworkers) who are hungry and live in a circumstance that qualifies them for a program that helps them get food to eat.

To finish my day:

I worked out after work and it was a tough one and it felt good.  I ate an extra oatmeal packet before I left work so I wouldn't get too lightheaded.

For dinner I decided to get a little creative and I flattened out two pieces of bread and put them in a ramekin and filled it with an egg and leftover diced tomato from Tuesday's salad.

Two slices of bread with egg and diced tomatoes.

I baked it at 350 degrees and it took over 45 minutes, which was longer than I expected it to cook.  I was hungry after my workout so I also made some more rice and mixed it with the remainder of the tomatoes and ate half a can of sliced carrots.  I ate each item as it was ready instead of plating them all at once.

Daily Totals - 

Cost: $3.29

Calories: 1,685

The SNAP Challenge - Day Three

I can't believe it's day three already!

This is my meal plan for today:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with strawberries and two hard boiled eggs.
• Snack: Banana
• Lunch: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, applesauce, and cucumber slices.
• Snack: Baby carrots.
• Dinner: Brown rice with diced tomatoes and black beans.

This plan might look familiar because it is the same exact plan as Monday (Day 1).  I already know what I have in store for myself. The only wildcard today is that I will be running 5 miles after work for my half marathon training program, so I hope I will have enough food to keep me from feeling hungry tomorrow.

Daily Totals -
Cost: $2.77
Calories: 1,255

I wanted to talk today about my experience with SNAP.  I qualified for the SNAP program in 2008 when I served in AmeriCorps VISTA at Harvesters.  As part of volunteering for a year with only a small stipend, participants live at the poverty level and to better understand those they serve (I received a little over $800 per month and served 40 hours a week).  Living at the poverty line qualifies one for SNAP benefits.  The process is hard to do, I had a hard time trying to figure out where to go to get benefits and I had to take time off from my service because the office is only open during typical business hours, making it hard for those that have a job.  I know others in my program who have had their paperwork lost or been assigned caseworkers they can never get a hold of, even when they have assigned call-in times.  I feel it personally when people talk about abusing the system because it would be a lot of work to do, to get benefits and to keep up with the process for not a huge payout.  Harvesters now has a department that helps with navigating the application process as it can be difficult and daunting.

Once I received my card I went to the grocery store and used it.  I felt like everyone was looking at me, even though that was probably not the case.  You can swipe the card and it deducts the food that qualifies and the amount you have available and then you pay the remainder with another form of payment.  It is about as subtle as can be, but I still had to swipe twice and that is a different kind of thing.

When I was on SNAP seven years ago and as I am on the challenge now I feel like my experience is pretty unique, most people knew I was on food stamps.  I was encouraged to talk about the services that are available to those that are hungry and provide a first-hand perspective to those in the middle class who do not know how this program works and what a benefit it can be to those who are hungry.  I didn't see it growing up and I probably still have not seen the everyday reality of someone who is using food stamps and feels the need to hide that fact.  I have never had to carry around the weight of that kind of secret.

That is the thought I would like to leave with today, my coworkers and myself have been offered food by our friends and family who are not participating in the SNAP challenge and we turn them down.  Those offering say they would share with someone who was hungry, if we were really food insecure.  We say no.  We have to say no because people may not be so lucky to have friends and family who will happily share their portions.  I am only doing this for five days and if I can't make it through this without "cheating" and eating other food then I am not fully dedicating to the purpose of this challenge. Relying solely on my benefit of $4.50 each day for food and empathizing with those who live with this as their reality.  I can make it a week.

**I was hungry when I got home from work, so I had an additional packet of oatmeal before I ran.
Updated totals -
Cost: $2.92
Calories: 1,415

The SNAP Challenge - Day Two

This is my meal plan for today:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with strawberries and two hard boiled eggs.
• Snack: Banana
• Lunch: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, applesauce, and cucumber slices.
• Snack: Baby carrots.
• Dinner: Macaroni and cheese with broccoli and chicken. Salad with carrots and balsamic vinaigrette.

My meal plan is similar to yesterday's (it is exactly the same until dinner time).  This is one of my biggest challenges this week.  I am hosting book club at my place and will be serving a meal for 4 people (including me).  This will have the honor of meal with the most ingredients this week as well as the most expensive purchase I made at the grocery store (baby lettuces $1.99).  I am hoping everyone will enjoy the meal, and it will be similar to something I would usually serve, just with a smaller budget.  Everyone who is in my book club is familiar with SNAP and will completely understand what's happening. Even if I cannot provide wine.

Here's dinner:

Macaroni and cheese with broccoli and chicken.  Salad with carrots, diced tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette.

It was good.  Everyone cleaned their plates (that may also mean there wasn't quite enough food).  I noticed that canned chicken was vary similar to canned tuna, I don't think any of us could tell much of a difference in flavor.  This is a group who all have worked at hunger relief organizations or with vulnerable populations, so everyone is familiar with the SNAP program.  I had a great compliment that if ever they were going to eat a meal on the food stamp budget they would want me to make it because I am a meticulous planner and can put together a decent meal at a low cost.  Thanks Cindy!  I would say that a lot of time and thought went into planning for the week and now that the challenge is going on I am able to go with the flow.  I used a half of a container of Greek yogurt and some water to mix the cheese sauce into the noodles since I was not able to afford milk and butter on my budget.  Cost: $6.36 ($1.59 per serving).  Calories: 459 per serving.

Daily Totals -
Cost: $8.40 ($3.63 for what I ate)
Calories: 1,292 (just my portion)

Look for other stories by perusing #HarvestersSNAPChallenge on Facebook and Twitter.

The SNAP Challenge - Day One

I was excited to start this morning, because I had done so much preparation.  My lunch box was easy to pack because I already had a plan!

This is my meal plan for today:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with strawberries and two hard boiled eggs.
• Snack: Banana
• Lunch: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, applesauce, and cucumber slices.
• Snack: Baby carrots.
• Dinner: Brown rice with diced tomatoes and black beans.

Breakfast:

Maple and brown sugar oatmeal with diced strawberries and hard boiled eggs.

I eat 2 hard boiled eggs as part of my breakfast almost everyday, today they are white instead of brown.  I really like the oatmeal and strawberry combination.  The oatmeal did include added sugar though.  Cost: $.79.  Calories: 304.

Snack: 

Banana. Cost: $.22. Calories: 100.

Lunch:

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with applesauce and sliced cucumber.

 I like that I was able to incorporate a vegetable and a fruit serving.  I would usually use a jam or jelly with no added sugar (I am really trying to cut back on sugar).  The main downside to this was the bread was not very tasty and a little dry, now I am locked in for the week.  You can see some of prep work in this picture, I used a lot of those little containers.  Cost: $.90. Calories: 388.

Snack:

Baby carrots (and me).

Baby carrots. Cost: $.13. Calories: 35.

Dinner:

Brown rice with black beans and diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano.

The main difficulty about dinner was plans to go out and I still did, but I ate beforehand and went and hung out with everyone afterwards, sans chips and salsa and other delicious Mexican delicacies.  What I ended up making for dinner was a large portion, so that was quite nice because I was definitely hungry when dinnertime rolled around.  Brown rice takes 45 minutes to simmer if you make it on the stove, so I had to be quite patient.  It did give me time to open and rinse the beans (and watch some Downton Abbey on my DVR).  I am glad I purchased the diced tomatoes with basil, oregano, and garlic because the spices gave the dish some flavor, since I didn't purchase spices with my weekly allowance, only allowing myself the use of salt and pepper. It filled me up and I was not all that tempted by other people's food at the restaurant.  Cost: $.73. Calories: 422.

I feel like I had a successful day one, I stuck to the plan, which for me is the hardest part.  I am locked in to the groceries I bought for the week and I can't change, even if I want to.  I have enough to eat to keep my body going and not a lot more.  I would say that I am not always eating what I want to eat, but these are the options I have and like those actually benefited by the SNAP program they are limited.

Daily Totals -
Cost: $2.77
Calories: 1,255

Look for other stories by perusing #HarvestersSNAPChallenge on Facebook and Twitter.

The SNAP Challenge - Prep Day

I went shopping yesterday at Aldi and Price Chopper.  I spent a lot of time preparing by looking at both stores' ads online and I did some reconnaissance work and scoped out some prices at Price Chopper last week when I did some of my regular shopping.

I don't think I have ever been as prepared with a list as when I went to the store.  I knew prices and was able to compare at the store.  I am really excited that I was able to buy salad dressing, I didn't know for sure if I would have room in my budget.

It was a very snowy day, but pretty enjoyable.

My first stop was to Aldi.  I remember now that you need a quarter to get a cart (you get your quarter back when you return it).  I didn't have one, so I carried a reusable bag and put all my items in there to take to the checkout.  Since it was a store I haven't been to in probably 10 years it was a little difficult to know where items were.  They make the prices lower by only stoking one or two brands of an item, so there aren't big sections of say mac & cheese to look for, just one spot on one row.  You don't pay for customer service, and that is the point of the store, but it was different from what grocery experiences are typically like for me.  You also bag your own groceries after you check out.  I spent $13.84 at Aldi (you don't include tax) of my $22.50 budget.

I stopped at Price Chopper after that.  I usually shop there so it was similar to my usual shopping experiences.  I didn't look around though, I stayed focused on my list.  They do a really good job of making you want to buy things.  I did weigh my bananas on the scale, I don't usually weigh things when I go to the store, but I had to be on budget.  I spent $7.66 at Price Chopper, putting me at $21.50, exactly $1 left to spend this week (probably on chocolate).

Through my shopping experience I thought about all of the things I take for granted.

Observations:

• Aldi has some great deals, though I shop at the grocery store near my house, because it is exactly one mile from my front door.  
• I used to budget more and look at ads, but I hadn't been doing much of that lately.  
• Coupons weren't very helpful in my experience because they are for processed foods typically and I tried not to go that route, and I was finding them for quantities more than what I needed.
• I didn't purchase a single item over $2.00.

Here is a photo of everything I bought:

I would like to note that I am doing the challenge where I purchased all of the food I will be eating this week, I didn't price out per serving (for instance, the oatmeal box has 10 packets in it, but I didn't subtract the value from the packets I will not eat this week).  I wanted this to be difficult.  

Here is my complete list:

1. Two cans of diced tomatoes.
2. A jar of balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing.
3. Strawberries.
4. Peanut butter and jelly (combined in one jar!).
5. Can of black beans.
6. Maple and brown sugar oatmeal packets.
7. Box of macaroni and cheese.
8. Baby carrots.
9. Baby lettuces.
10. One dozen eggs.
11. Loaf of bread. 
12. A container of yogurt.
13. Bag of frozen broccoli florets.
14. A can of chicken.
15. A jar of applesauce.
16. A can of sliced carrots.
17. A bag of brown rice.
18. One cucumber.
19. Three bananas (1.10 pounds) 

I spent a lot more time on prep work this week, slicing and dicing the strawberries and cucumber and doling out the applesauce.  I used a lot of plastic storage containers.  I am excited to start tomorrow and see what the first day brings.

Remember to look for other stories by perusing #HarvestersSNAPChallenge on Facebook and Twitter.