Eat like you get food stamps challenge.

Interesting challenge.
What was so nightmarish about it for her?

I Googled the food stamp challenge and this article about Gwyneth popped up.

I have to agree with the article when it says that these challenges are useless. I, quite frankly, hate them and think they work to the detriment of those on food assistance rather than make things better for them. Real movement towards food security is what is needed (living wages, eliminating food deserts, etc) not this slacktivism bullshit.

And we all know that Paltrow is a clueless git.

I agree. and she's coming at it from "how do I maintain my healthy lifestyle on $29 a week? you can't. you have to put those limes back and get ramen noodles and such because that will feed your kids longer than limes. of course she's not willing to adopt the menu a lot of foodstamp people are limited to: the most "food" for the cheapest price are never the better, nutritious items you'd like to be eating.

I looked up the maximum food stamp benefit for my family size (5 people) and it's pretty in line with my food budget to be honest - probably a little more than I spend since my food budget includes non-food items and food stamps doesn't.

But I have a fully stocked kitchen, a working fridge, a chest freezer, and don't have to worry about my electricity being shut off. That enables me to shop sales and store for later. It enables me to cook from scratch and to buy fresh foods with out worrying about them going bad. Oh and I'm a homemaker which gives me the time to prepare and cook meals, can etc...

There are people on food stamps living out of their car - they have to buy shelf-stable foods that don't require cooking.

There are people on food stamps living in motal rooms with just a microwave and a micro-fridge - they have to buy microwavable foods and can only buy a very small quantity of perishable items at a time.

There are people on food stamps who don't have electricity and/or water because it's been shut off....that limits cooking options also

There are people on food stamps who are working two jobs and taking care of children and need quick easy meals

There are people on food stamps who never learnt to cook at home or in school and microwave dinners and convenience foods are the best they can do.

There are people on food stamps who have to say no to almost everything their child wants and much of what they need...I don't begrudge them a bag of chips or a candy bar because for that moment, they got to say yes

There are people on food stamps who are perpetually sleep-deprived between working long hours and raising children and wondering where the rent money will come from - I don't begrudge them coffee or soda as a pickmeup.

rainbow - you don't know their stories or why they make the food choices they make - perhaps it's their child's birthday? perhaps they were asked to contribute to the class party? perhaps they are tired of always saying no and a couple of dollars/month on candy or chips is the only treat they or their child gets? Or perhaps they live on chips and candy and pop and never buy anything nutritious...but I'm guessing that's the least likely answer

I have seen people buying large amounts of the really cheap frozen pizzas and other pre-prepared stuff. I know these aren't the healthiest - and I know I full on judged them by their physical appearance and the type of food they were buying. I also know they were using the food stamp card.

But, I have come to realize they probably don't know how to prepare a nutritious meal and stretch out meats and proteins. I grew up with a mother who was dirt poor growing up. I mean really poor. I remember one of the best things she made was braised beef bones ("so meaty" she would say) with gravy and mashed potatoes. It was like a taste of heaven. I asked her how to make them later, and she laughed. She was buying "dog bones" from the butcher.

I also learned a chicken or turkey wasn't a one time meal. You used the carcass and made wonderful flavorful broths for soups. She would put the left over veggies into the freezer and put them all in a beef vegetable soup.

It wasn't a matter of economy in how she cooked at this point. But it was how she learned. It is how I learned. It is how my kids are learning. My kids are young adults, but can make a wonderful home made meal that blows their friends away. Time is the enemy when trying to make some of these old fashioned dishes (old fashion - now trendy!) - but they plan ahead and make the stock on the weekend and use it during the week or have other parts of the meal pre-prepped.

I really think SO many people have no idea how to cook. Some also have absolutely no time to do it. I really think about it now before I judge their food choices.

This sums it up precisely.  

Speaking of the food desert problem, Christopher Kennedy and his wife have started a great program in Chicago to address this issue that hopefully can get rolled out across the country:

articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-08-15/news/ct-met-kennedy-food-nonprofit-20120815-109_1_chris-kennedy-low-cost-food-boxes/2

www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120512/ISSUE01/305129972/kennedy-starts-national-hunger-relief-effort

I'm not getting the outrage. She bought what she eats normally. Is everyone upset because she took the challenge in the first place? Orate people upset that she didn't buy junk food? I just don't get it, and I am NOT a fan of hers in the least. I think this whole thing is pointless, but not outrage worthy.

Well, then I am sorry that appears to be your only experience with SNAP benefits. I stand by my assertion that is not the rule but rather the exception. 

But, we all see life through the prism of our own experiences, and my prism is vastly different than yours-like night and day different.

That is definitely the exception not the rule. But I am not surprised at the source of this misinformation.

I agree with others that it is probably a lot easier to do this when it is self imposed and you know that you can go back to your normal eating/buying patterns.  But I think it would show you how difficult it is to eat healthy when you relying mainly on assistance.  It is very expensive to buy fresh fruit and vegetable, even at places like farmers markets.

As someone else said food stamps is supposed to be just a supplemental, however I am sure it is the majority of many people's food budget.  While I am sure there are many who make questionable choices, there are also many who try to feed their families the best they can.  I try not judge.



I try to not be judgemental about people's situations.  Just as I try not to judge you by many of your questionable (at least in my eyes) posts. You have said that you are very low income and that you don't typically have to file taxes.  Yet you use various services provided by the government, while obviously not contributing as much as others do, and all while judging others who need a little bit help.  Maybe you should give tips to others on how to eat and live so scrupulously and correctly. We all need help at sometime and I certainly try not to judge how others live...I have a hard enough time keeping my own life in order. I try not to think the worst about others no matter what their situation is.

I have mixed feelings about these. I appreciate that they attempt to bring awareness but I think they fall short of reality. Anyone can do something for a week or month especially without the other constraints that people that qualify for this type of assistance typically have. Eating well when you have time, access and a lifestyle that someone who is working poor doesn't negates an awful lot of the "experience".