Thursday June 5, 2008
Entry by Genesprite
The return of Plunderer's Wife...
I arrived home from the conference I attended at 2 am on Wednesday night/Thursday morning. Thursday morning I joined my husband in the food pantry challenge, ill prepared for the concept of going to work on six hours of sleep without making myself a cup of coffee or buying one at Dunkin Donuts. Why, just yesterday I bought lunch at the airport and paid ten dollars for a bottle of water and a ceasar salad. Sure, they jack up the prices at the airplane terminal, but that one meal cost as much as I should be alloted for the whole week. So, bleary with lack of sleep and jetlag, I contemplated the coffee issue. Sure, I'm the only coffee consumer in the house, and one can lasts along time. On the other hand, if I were to buy a new can for the challenge, it would cost about $3.60-$4.00. That is more than one days worth of food, and therefore, a luxury I could not afford. It felt as a special luxury, especially thinking of how meager my husband had been eating for two days, and how hungry he was in the morning and last night when he stayed up for me to arrive. How could I be so selfish and spend so much on coffee?...So, I didn't make coffee, thinking that if it was really bad, I would cheat or suck up the cost of a small coffee at Dunkins. Before leaving I asked my husband "Is it breaking the rules to drink the crudy office coffee?..." He informed me of the rule against taking free things that are offered to you by your co-workers, on the premise that I could not reciprocate. No coffee.... NO COFFEE!!!!
I ate a frozen bagel with cream cheese for breakfast. The frozen bagel was 30 cents. The cream cheese was .99 on sale, and I used a little more than aserving. So, I'm guessing around 17 cents. I ate this meal around ten am, since I had slept in to catch up on sleep. In the afternoon, I had two snacks, the first a plum we purchased last weekend that cost about sixty cents, and the second, a granola bar from the box of granola bars I chose as my snack for the week. Plunderer thinks I'm cheating by including the box of granola bars as a snack. I think he might be right on this one. A two-fifty for the box, the granola bar was .40 cents. By the time I came home from work, I was extremely hungry, I ate some cereal straight from the box. It was sort of like a snack. Before preparing dinner, I put together my pantry stores for the rest of the week. I realized that doubling the pantry was not the way to go for two reasons, the first being that I am starting on day three, and the second being that a family going together to the pantry might get a little more from the pantry, but not double. So, I added one box of pasta, one can of beans, one can of tuna, one can of soup, one pastaside, one canned vegetable, a ramen noodle packet, and one more meat. Tonight we ate from the pantry stores. That kilbasa and noodles tasted delicious. My total for the day was 1.07, or 1.50 if you count the granola bar, but that was only possible because of what we had from our pantry stores.
Friday June 6, 2008
Genesprite:
I had to plan my meals carefully today. I knew I had a long day
ahead at work, and needed my fine motor skills, without a shaky hand. I am a
scientist, and had to do dissections under a microscope with ultra fine
instruments, followed by tissue culture which requires a clear head and careful
hands; No room for a sugar low mid-way. For breakfast, I had a frozen bagel and
cream cheese again (47 cents). It was very filling. I also made two hard
boiled eggs in the morning, so that I could take them to work. They seemed to take
forever to cook, even though it was only ten minutes to boil. For lunch, I
usually bring a sandwich with deli meat, left over dinner, or a frozen meal
from the freezer section of the supermarket. All these items are either to
costly for my food stamps budget, or presume that I would have plentiful left overs
from the meal the night before. Today for lunch, I had a can of soup from our
pantry items, and two hardboiled eggs. I was pretty much OK for most of the
day, but the experiment I was doing took much longer than I had planned and by
the time the last dish of cultured cells was in the the tissue culture incubator
around 7:46 pm, my head was swimmy. I briefly pondered the energy requirements
of the neurons in our brain. They need glucose, without glucose in our blood,
we can't think straight. Coffee would have helped me today, but I couldn't work
without a good breakfast and lunch.
For dinner we splurged and had chicken breast, the package had three
pieces, for six dollars. I picked bbq sauce as my additional condiment for the
pantry. I wished I had a packet of McCormic's Chipotle grilling seasoning, but
that costs a dollar, and you need vegetable oil to mix it with. I made all
three pieces of chicken and we each had one piece (2 dollars for each person,
and a left over piece for tomorrow). On the side I made a pasta side dish
from our pantry. The directions called for milk and butter, but I made it with
just the butter to save money. I also made two ears of corn (40 cents per
person, although Plunderer didn't eat his piece). I also had a glass of juice
from the panty. So, my total for today was $2.87. Again, I stayed within budget
because of the food pantry items. Eating a nice dinner felt good, but I wonder,
would I have purchased boneless-skinless, chicken breast on a food stamp
budget, or would I have bought a cheaper cut of meat?...How would we fare on a
foodstamp budget without the food pantry?... not very well I fear.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Shirley & son
Monday June 2, 2008
My son and I are doing the challenge together…..
I went to the store last night to make my choices. It took longer to spend my $40.00 than it normally takes to spend $125.00…I had to check the price of every item to get the very cheapest, usually the store brand…(I’m saving the other $6.00 for an emergency or for something I forgot)……I usually check packages to get the fewest additives. I buy organic if possible, whole grains, good natural peanut butter to avoid the hydrogenated fats and afla-toxins, and dairy products with no BGH. What a switch!
When I got home from the store I put my meager food stamp choices on the counter next to the food I would have gotten from the pantry…my choices were almost doubled….God bless the SSKP….I can’t imagine making due with just the food stamp food for more than 1 week…I found out you can’t buy just 2 onions at Stop & Shop…you must buy a 3 lb bag! I had to go to another market to buy my 2 onions…and I stopped at the gas station mart to pick up my milk…it’s almost $2 a gallon cheaper than the grocery store….
Then I ate a ginormous green salad for dinner…. my last supper….there may not be any more salads for me this week…I miss them already…..fresh fruits and vegetables are very expensive…I am a vegetarian and most of my weekly shopping is done in the produce section….maybe I’ll buy lettuce and a lemon for dressing with my $6….
Tuesday June 3, 2008
Breakfast: 1 cup of coffee and an egg sandwich on ww toast, Lunch: peanut butter on ww bread with a slice of watermelon, and for dinner we’ll have penne with red sauce and frozen broccoli cuts…I have a cup of dry frosted mini-wheats and a ½ banana for a snack.
The egg, penne, sauce, peanut butter, and mini-wheats came from the pantry larder…
Wednesday June 4, 2008
Day 2:
I’d love to have egg salad instead of an egg sandwich but I can’t afford the mayonnaise. And that peanut butter sandwich would have been so much nicer if I’d had just a little jam or marmalade on it. A sprinkle of grated parmesan on my pasta would have been nice also….little things I normally take for granted are just not possible now….and still no salad
The good news is I haven’t thought about food quite as much today as I did yesterday.
I had to cut my watermelon slices thinner today so I can make it last longer. I’m not sure the bread is going to last either...I may find myself at the section with the out-of-date, marked down bread before the week is out…I don’t think Stop & Shop even has a section for the over ripe produce anymore, since they renovated.
Breakfast: 1 cup coffee, plain yogurt w/ crushed pineapple; Lunch: egg sandwich on ww w/ watermelon;
Dinner: boca burger w/ baked beans and frozen cauliflower; snack: 1 slice ww bread w/ peanut butter and ½ banana
The crushed pineapple, egg, baked beans, and peanut butter came from the pantry larder
Day 4
I had an hour or two of panic last night...4 days left and I was sure we wouldn't make it...it seemed like over ½ the food for a week was gone.......it was terrible, but nothing like it must be for someone who can't just go to the store if the food runs out....I'm pretty sure that without the pantry food we would be out of food today. And there wouldn't have been any watermelon or bananas, no pasta, no cereal, maybe no frozen vegetables...the peanut butter and eggs would have been purchased first.
Today is Friday...the day everyone at work orders lunch to be delivered....grinders, salads, or burgers, etc.....I ate my left over pasta, feeling just a bit sorry for myself, especially because it was leftovers, again....Breakfast: plain yogurt w/ crushed pineapple, Lunch: leftover pasta and a little watermelon, Dinner: Boca burger with rice, mixed frozen vegetables, Snack: banana and frosted mini-wheats......
I've been there and done that....all week....And still no salad..................
Saturday June 7, 2008
Day 5
Saturday…..I made an egg sandwich for breakfast with 1 cup of coffee, a peanut butter and banana sandwich on ww bread for lunch; and boxed macaroni and cheese with canned tomatoes for dinner…..there were a few tomatoes left so I stirred them into the chili to stretch it a little farther…no salad today either
My son has been really good all week, having a cup of coffee made at home and eating an egg sandwich for breakfast, peanut butter sandwich with either watermelon or banana for lunch, and the same thing for dinner, with a granola bar as his snack…he either drank the bottle of apple juice from the pantry food or water when the juice ran out…………but…...
He walked in at lunch time Saturday with a 12” very meaty grinder for lunch….( all I could see was 2 days worth of food stamps in that 1 sandwich….6 meals for 1 person for 2 days)…….I guess he couldn’t take the peanut butter again
He got to pick the “snack” in the pantry food…he picked a box of granola bars….6 per box so he knew right away it wouldn’t last the week… Thursday evening he ate a second one for the day, meaning the box would only stretch 5 days now….I also wanted something to eat so I took one of the granola bars for a snack…..Friday a.m. I put the 6th and last one in his lunch box…and I went to work...about a ½ hour later I got a phone call at work….he wanted to know why the box was empty…..where had the last one gone…….seriously…..I think it was the first time in his life that he kept track and rationed his food
Sunday June 8, 2008
Day 6
We’re going to make it…plain yogurt with pineapple for breakfast w/ 1 cup of coffee, peanut butter sandwich and ½ banana for lunch; and left over chili for dinner…my 2 year old grandson came over and he had a peanut butter sandwich and ½ banana with me…the peanut butter is about gone but it’s day 6….tomorrow would be pantry day, and thank God for the pantry…I was visiting friends around dinner time…had to pass up a glass of wine there, and dinner out with a friend…
Monday June 9, 2008
Day 7
Started the day with a cup of coffee and plain yogurt with pineapple for breakfast, leftover chili for lunch with the last of the watermelon, and for dinner…Boca burgers with boxed rice pilaf and mixed vegetables…my snack is the end of the peanut butter jar on the last crust of ww bread….but still no salad
Getting balanced meals is impossible on $1 per meal…..and even with the pantry food, fresh fruits and vegetables are just not possible except in very limited type and small amounts. All your choices are limited….Because I had the pantry food, I could pay the extra $.65 to get whole wheat bread instead of white, buy ½ lb of coffee, etc. We started with eggs, peanut butter, pasta with sauce and juice….
I think that if I had to continue with this regimen I would probably become one of those people that takes the sugars, jam, or whatever is on the table of the local café or diner….go to the local restaurant at happy hour, order a cup of coffee and eat my fill of fresh carrots, celery, broccoli and dip, cheese and crackers, grapes or other fresh fruits……
Tomorrow: SALAD!!!
My son and I are doing the challenge together…..
I went to the store last night to make my choices. It took longer to spend my $40.00 than it normally takes to spend $125.00…I had to check the price of every item to get the very cheapest, usually the store brand…(I’m saving the other $6.00 for an emergency or for something I forgot)……I usually check packages to get the fewest additives. I buy organic if possible, whole grains, good natural peanut butter to avoid the hydrogenated fats and afla-toxins, and dairy products with no BGH. What a switch!
When I got home from the store I put my meager food stamp choices on the counter next to the food I would have gotten from the pantry…my choices were almost doubled….God bless the SSKP….I can’t imagine making due with just the food stamp food for more than 1 week…I found out you can’t buy just 2 onions at Stop & Shop…you must buy a 3 lb bag! I had to go to another market to buy my 2 onions…and I stopped at the gas station mart to pick up my milk…it’s almost $2 a gallon cheaper than the grocery store….
Then I ate a ginormous green salad for dinner…. my last supper….there may not be any more salads for me this week…I miss them already…..fresh fruits and vegetables are very expensive…I am a vegetarian and most of my weekly shopping is done in the produce section….maybe I’ll buy lettuce and a lemon for dressing with my $6….
Tuesday June 3, 2008
Breakfast: 1 cup of coffee and an egg sandwich on ww toast, Lunch: peanut butter on ww bread with a slice of watermelon, and for dinner we’ll have penne with red sauce and frozen broccoli cuts…I have a cup of dry frosted mini-wheats and a ½ banana for a snack.
The egg, penne, sauce, peanut butter, and mini-wheats came from the pantry larder…
Wednesday June 4, 2008
Day 2:
I’d love to have egg salad instead of an egg sandwich but I can’t afford the mayonnaise. And that peanut butter sandwich would have been so much nicer if I’d had just a little jam or marmalade on it. A sprinkle of grated parmesan on my pasta would have been nice also….little things I normally take for granted are just not possible now….and still no salad
The good news is I haven’t thought about food quite as much today as I did yesterday.
I had to cut my watermelon slices thinner today so I can make it last longer. I’m not sure the bread is going to last either...I may find myself at the section with the out-of-date, marked down bread before the week is out…I don’t think Stop & Shop even has a section for the over ripe produce anymore, since they renovated.
Breakfast: 1 cup coffee, plain yogurt w/ crushed pineapple; Lunch: egg sandwich on ww w/ watermelon;
Dinner: boca burger w/ baked beans and frozen cauliflower; snack: 1 slice ww bread w/ peanut butter and ½ banana
The crushed pineapple, egg, baked beans, and peanut butter came from the pantry larder
Thursday June 5, 2008
My dog ate my loaf of bread yesterday…..I was afraid it wouldn’t last the week…now it’s certain…this could, would be tragic….if I didn’t have $6 left…..I was very unhappy about it…..it’s only day 3…..I don’t think the peanut butter is going to make it the week either….and I may run out of eggs…..4 more days…and still no salad
My son is having more trouble than I am with the no cheating rule……. He’s doing a good job so far though….He usually eats out more than I do….cooking is a burden when you’re used to walking into Subway or Dunkin Donuts. And it’s even more of a burden when there are so few choices to make…I did cheat today….some one brought me a warm pastry from the patisserie in Deep River ….I just couldn’t resist…
Breakfast: 1 cup of coffee, plain yogurt w/ crushed pineapple, Lunch: leftover pasta with leftover broccoli, small serving of watermelon, Dinner: Vegetarian chili with corn muffins
Pineapple, pasta, sauce, chili powder, corn, and tomatoes in chili from pantry
Day 4
I had an hour or two of panic last night...4 days left and I was sure we wouldn't make it...it seemed like over ½ the food for a week was gone.......it was terrible, but nothing like it must be for someone who can't just go to the store if the food runs out....I'm pretty sure that without the pantry food we would be out of food today. And there wouldn't have been any watermelon or bananas, no pasta, no cereal, maybe no frozen vegetables...the peanut butter and eggs would have been purchased first.
Today is Friday...the day everyone at work orders lunch to be delivered....grinders, salads, or burgers, etc.....I ate my left over pasta, feeling just a bit sorry for myself, especially because it was leftovers, again....Breakfast: plain yogurt w/ crushed pineapple, Lunch: leftover pasta and a little watermelon, Dinner: Boca burger with rice, mixed frozen vegetables, Snack: banana and frosted mini-wheats......
I've been there and done that....all week....And still no salad..................
Saturday June 7, 2008
Day 5
Saturday…..I made an egg sandwich for breakfast with 1 cup of coffee, a peanut butter and banana sandwich on ww bread for lunch; and boxed macaroni and cheese with canned tomatoes for dinner…..there were a few tomatoes left so I stirred them into the chili to stretch it a little farther…no salad today either
My son has been really good all week, having a cup of coffee made at home and eating an egg sandwich for breakfast, peanut butter sandwich with either watermelon or banana for lunch, and the same thing for dinner, with a granola bar as his snack…he either drank the bottle of apple juice from the pantry food or water when the juice ran out…………but…...
He walked in at lunch time Saturday with a 12” very meaty grinder for lunch….( all I could see was 2 days worth of food stamps in that 1 sandwich….6 meals for 1 person for 2 days)…….I guess he couldn’t take the peanut butter again
He got to pick the “snack” in the pantry food…he picked a box of granola bars….6 per box so he knew right away it wouldn’t last the week… Thursday evening he ate a second one for the day, meaning the box would only stretch 5 days now….I also wanted something to eat so I took one of the granola bars for a snack…..Friday a.m. I put the 6th and last one in his lunch box…and I went to work...about a ½ hour later I got a phone call at work….he wanted to know why the box was empty…..where had the last one gone…….seriously…..I think it was the first time in his life that he kept track and rationed his food
Sunday June 8, 2008
Day 6
We’re going to make it…plain yogurt with pineapple for breakfast w/ 1 cup of coffee, peanut butter sandwich and ½ banana for lunch; and left over chili for dinner…my 2 year old grandson came over and he had a peanut butter sandwich and ½ banana with me…the peanut butter is about gone but it’s day 6….tomorrow would be pantry day, and thank God for the pantry…I was visiting friends around dinner time…had to pass up a glass of wine there, and dinner out with a friend…
Monday June 9, 2008
Day 7
Started the day with a cup of coffee and plain yogurt with pineapple for breakfast, leftover chili for lunch with the last of the watermelon, and for dinner…Boca burgers with boxed rice pilaf and mixed vegetables…my snack is the end of the peanut butter jar on the last crust of ww bread….but still no salad
Getting balanced meals is impossible on $1 per meal…..and even with the pantry food, fresh fruits and vegetables are just not possible except in very limited type and small amounts. All your choices are limited….Because I had the pantry food, I could pay the extra $.65 to get whole wheat bread instead of white, buy ½ lb of coffee, etc. We started with eggs, peanut butter, pasta with sauce and juice….
I think that if I had to continue with this regimen I would probably become one of those people that takes the sugars, jam, or whatever is on the table of the local café or diner….go to the local restaurant at happy hour, order a cup of coffee and eat my fill of fresh carrots, celery, broccoli and dip, cheese and crackers, grapes or other fresh fruits……
Tomorrow: SALAD!!!
Plunderer
Monday June 2, 2008
First the preparation.
Seeing as my wife is out of town this week, I decided to set aside my starter pantry to avoid cheating. In the picture you can see my choices: Red Sauce, Pasta, Bottle of Juice (would have preferred Orange, but as that is perishable, I didn't think it should count), Sauerkraut and Canned Tomatoes for my Veggies, Baked Beans, Tuna, Cereal, Peanut Butter, Two Pasta Sides, Chocolate Bar for my snack, Kielbasa for Meat, Salt and Mayonnaise for my Condiments (I'd really have trouble giving those up, but I wish I could include pepper too), Eggs, and Butter.
When I agreed to do this challenge, I initially thought it would be a cakewalk. After all, I did go to college, where frugal living is a necessity! I even remembered back to when my wife and I first moved in together and I was absolutely shocked when she wanted to spend more than $20/week on groceries. So, this should be easy for me. Right???
Wrong. From just the first day, my smugness has already worn thin. It's amazing how little we forget, how routines set into our lives, and how much we condition ourselves to take for granted.
Sure, I can eat on three bucks a day. That's not too hard. But I will be either hungry, malnutritioned, miserable, or some awkward combination of all three. As of this writing, I am seriously jonesing for a glass of Diet Sunkist (I drink it like it is God’s own sweet nectar). I considered trying a cheaper brand, but I don’t even think that would fit in the budget…and I’m spoiled when it comes to brands.
That brings up another point. Take a close look at what I started with for my emergency pantry, and you’ll see that all the brands are premium…and they were all chosen by me. This is a luxury that people do not get when visiting a food pantry and, as unfair as it may be, I now recognize this as a significant means for me to complete this challenge.
I know I’m rambling now, but the concept of brand choices brought another thought into my minds eye: what about the rest of the stuff? You know, life’s necessities. Things like toilet paper, paper towels, detergent, bath soap, toothpaste, etc. This stuff isn’t cheap, and I know I have my own particular brands. I do consider myself to be on a semi-limited budget, but if I were really struggling the cost of these personal brand choices would severely limit me.
Okay, I’ve blathered enough, so I might as well get down to it. How did my first day go?
Tuesday June 3, 2008
Short answer: it has been quite easy, despite my desire for orange soda, and a desire for a small caffeine kick from my favorite chai tea.
Slightly longer answer: I was up all of last night working on a project for a client and didn’t go to bed until 8 AM, so I slept most of the day away. As it stands, the only thing I’ve consumed today is water (filtered, which probably shouldn’t count either), even though it is almost 6 PM my time.
Don’t get me wrong, because my stomach is growling like a bunch of angry bears…and I’ll need to address it soon.
I haven’t fully decided on what to have for dinner, but I want it to be good since it is likely to be my only meal today. I’ll definitely give specifics on my next entry, but I am currently thinking about the pre-made potato salad I bought over the weekend (it cost $2.69 for 16 ounces). It is within budget, but is it healthy to only eat potato salad for a day?
I’m sure my wife has an answer to that, but as I said, she’s out of town. So her vote doesn’t count.
Until next time…
Wednesday June 4, 2008
First the preparation.
Seeing as my wife is out of town this week, I decided to set aside my starter pantry to avoid cheating. In the picture you can see my choices: Red Sauce, Pasta, Bottle of Juice (would have preferred Orange, but as that is perishable, I didn't think it should count), Sauerkraut and Canned Tomatoes for my Veggies, Baked Beans, Tuna, Cereal, Peanut Butter, Two Pasta Sides, Chocolate Bar for my snack, Kielbasa for Meat, Salt and Mayonnaise for my Condiments (I'd really have trouble giving those up, but I wish I could include pepper too), Eggs, and Butter.
When I agreed to do this challenge, I initially thought it would be a cakewalk. After all, I did go to college, where frugal living is a necessity! I even remembered back to when my wife and I first moved in together and I was absolutely shocked when she wanted to spend more than $20/week on groceries. So, this should be easy for me. Right???
Wrong. From just the first day, my smugness has already worn thin. It's amazing how little we forget, how routines set into our lives, and how much we condition ourselves to take for granted.
Sure, I can eat on three bucks a day. That's not too hard. But I will be either hungry, malnutritioned, miserable, or some awkward combination of all three. As of this writing, I am seriously jonesing for a glass of Diet Sunkist (I drink it like it is God’s own sweet nectar). I considered trying a cheaper brand, but I don’t even think that would fit in the budget…and I’m spoiled when it comes to brands.
That brings up another point. Take a close look at what I started with for my emergency pantry, and you’ll see that all the brands are premium…and they were all chosen by me. This is a luxury that people do not get when visiting a food pantry and, as unfair as it may be, I now recognize this as a significant means for me to complete this challenge.
I know I’m rambling now, but the concept of brand choices brought another thought into my minds eye: what about the rest of the stuff? You know, life’s necessities. Things like toilet paper, paper towels, detergent, bath soap, toothpaste, etc. This stuff isn’t cheap, and I know I have my own particular brands. I do consider myself to be on a semi-limited budget, but if I were really struggling the cost of these personal brand choices would severely limit me.
Okay, I’ve blathered enough, so I might as well get down to it. How did my first day go?
Tuesday June 3, 2008
Short answer: it has been quite easy, despite my desire for orange soda, and a desire for a small caffeine kick from my favorite chai tea.
Slightly longer answer: I was up all of last night working on a project for a client and didn’t go to bed until 8 AM, so I slept most of the day away. As it stands, the only thing I’ve consumed today is water (filtered, which probably shouldn’t count either), even though it is almost 6 PM my time.
Don’t get me wrong, because my stomach is growling like a bunch of angry bears…and I’ll need to address it soon.
I haven’t fully decided on what to have for dinner, but I want it to be good since it is likely to be my only meal today. I’ll definitely give specifics on my next entry, but I am currently thinking about the pre-made potato salad I bought over the weekend (it cost $2.69 for 16 ounces). It is within budget, but is it healthy to only eat potato salad for a day?
I’m sure my wife has an answer to that, but as I said, she’s out of town. So her vote doesn’t count.
Until next time…
Wednesday June 4, 2008
Last night, I forwent the potato salad idea. Instead, for dinner I heated up a package of BBQ shredded chicken and made a sandwich out of about half of it. I got the chicken on sale this week for $3.99, but I only used half of the package (the other half will be dinner for tonight). So with the cheap roll I used, I spent $2.33 yesterday...well within budget, but I was very hungry this morning.
For today, I had an english muffin (21.5 cents) and butter and peanut butter for breakfast. I had a burrito for lunch (45 cents) and will be having the same dinner as last night. Grand total = $2.995...just barely making it, and I am currently quite hungry. In fact, my head is a bit swimmy, because I am hungry, and I'm actually having trouble writing this. I'm going to have to dip into my pantry supply and make some buttered egg noodles, otherwise I won't make it through the night. What is really killing me is that I'd love to go for some blue cheese or brie on crackers right now (that is one of my normal evening snacks that I have with my wife in the evenings). Unfortunately, even a small bloc of those cheeses on sale would be the budget for two days. Good thing I didn't buy any this week, or it would probably be to much temptation.
Best...
Thursday June 5, 2008
Yesterday was really rough. By the late afternoon, I had a pretty
serious low, had trouble concentrating, and was getting shaky. It was
so bad that, even after eating dinner, it took quite a while for it to
pass. I was no longer hungry, but still felt the effects of the sugar
low. I think part of the problem was that I wasn't really using the food
from my initial pantry. Somehow, a hoarding concept kicked in and I
was afraid to use it. This makes me realize how important these food
pantries are to people in need. I don't know how they survive without
them.
Yesterday was really rough. By the late afternoon, I had a pretty
serious low, had trouble concentrating, and was getting shaky. It was
so bad that, even after eating dinner, it took quite a while for it to
pass. I was no longer hungry, but still felt the effects of the sugar
low. I think part of the problem was that I wasn't really using the food
from my initial pantry. Somehow, a hoarding concept kicked in and I
was afraid to use it. This makes me realize how important these food
pantries are to people in need. I don't know how they survive without
them.
Today was/is much better. I'm actually barely spending any money on
food because I'm tapping into my initial supply.
For breakfast I had scrambled eggs on a buttered english muffin (21.5
cents). It was good, but I would have loved a piece of cheese with it
(God, I miss cheese! My normal motto is, "Praise Cheezus!") For
lunch, I had a burrito (45 cents) and a bit from my pantry snack (a
few pieces from a chocolate bar). Tonight, I plan on hitting the pantry again, since turkey kielbasa was my meat choice. I plan on having that for dinner with more buttered noodles and (probably) an ear of buttered corn, or some other fresh
vegetable. I should be well under budget, and fed, though I realize
I'm not eating all that healthy. I should have enough in my budget left over to splurge on a late-night
snack, if the mood strikes.
Glad this'll be over soon!
Best,
Friday June 6, 2008
food because I'm tapping into my initial supply.
For breakfast I had scrambled eggs on a buttered english muffin (21.5
cents). It was good, but I would have loved a piece of cheese with it
(God, I miss cheese! My normal motto is, "Praise Cheezus!") For
lunch, I had a burrito (45 cents) and a bit from my pantry snack (a
few pieces from a chocolate bar). Tonight, I plan on hitting the pantry again, since turkey kielbasa was my meat choice. I plan on having that for dinner with more buttered noodles and (probably) an ear of buttered corn, or some other fresh
vegetable. I should be well under budget, and fed, though I realize
I'm not eating all that healthy. I should have enough in my budget left over to splurge on a late-night
snack, if the mood strikes.
Glad this'll be over soon!
Best,
Friday June 6, 2008
Really quickly, because it is late.
I survived another day, but I'm getting really tired of this. I'm glad I have to stop this on Sunday (a client is flying in from California and I have to take him out to dinner).Anyways, today I had a can of clam chowder from my pantry for lunch, along with a leftover piece of kielbasa from last night's dinner. I also nibbled a bit on my snack from the pantry (the chocolate bar). For dinner, I had a piece of grilled chicken (~$2.00) on an english muffin (21.5 cents) and I split a pasta side dish from the pantry with my wife (mac&cheese). I'm probably cheating, since I grilled the chicken. I'm assuming many people in need wouldn't have access to an outdoor grill, or even the mesquite smoker (wood) chips we use for extra flavor.I'm full, but tired. I wonder if the lethargy I am feeling today is due to my poor eating this week?I'll try to give a fuller update in tomorrow's update.
Until then...
-P
Marge & Marshall
Monday June 2, 2008
I must admit that accepting this challenge is a bit daunting to me. My reason for participating in this experience is to better understand the daily frustrations of our clients who visit the Old Saybrook Pantry. In sharing Patty's blog as she travels through Michigan with Emmet, it takes me back to my Michigan heritage.
In the 1940's when I was growing up on a 40 acre southern Michigan farm, we also would have lived below the median income (although we didn't have these terms for our style of living then.) We did have access to a large garden, berry bushes, cows that gave us fresh milk and that we slaughtered once a year for meat, chickens that gave us fresh eggs and we cooked on Sunday, many fish from the streams, and squirrel and rabbit in the woods which my father hunted to subsidize the food budget. Much of our summer work was "putting by for the winter". We would "can" vast amounts of fruits and vegetables, which was our way of preserving them for the off-growing season.
As the next to the oldest in a family of eight children, I had a part in gathering food for the table. I grew up liking the challenge of deciding what we would have for dinner, what needed to be added to the weekly grocery list (that wasn't on the basement shelves). I remember the wide-eyed pleasure of visiting my best friend from the city and seeing all kinds of treats on her table that never were a choice in our house.
Part of this challenge, now, 60 years later, if that my husband Marshall and I, have included many of these "treats" in our weekly diet. Because he is diabetic and I struggle with rhumatoid arthritis, our favorite foods are fresh fruits and vegetables. Somehow over the next week, I will need to figure this into our daily $3.30 x 2 and try to carve out a little piece of our $6.60.a day for fresh produce. Since our Pantry gives out fruits and veggies, besides the allotted canned goods that we can include in our week's planning, we will begin the week with 2 bananas, a package of green spinich, a tomato, an onion and three potatoes. Our cupboard is stocked for the week with the other allotted canned goods and we are ready to begin on Tuesday.
Realizations that have hit me already are:
This challenge is for one week...how different to know there is an ending to this week.
I come to the challenge with thought put into planning for it...most poverty is unplanned for.
I have the experience of growing up with parents who have taught me about healthy "food stretchers" and how to make almost everything from "scratch".
I have the time and energy to bake my own bread. How many families today need to work two or three jobs and are sapped of time and energy to cope with hunger.
My question is...where does money for medications fit into this budget? Where does toilet paper, toothpaste, deodorant fit in? Reflecting on these necessities, it makes me realize how important it is that we as managers include these personal items wherever possible in families weekly choices.
Typically we spend an average of $130./week on food, so it will be a week of reawakening with our $44.10. which is set aside to cover our weekly groceries. I will write some daily notes of this experience.
Tuesday June 3, 2008
My first purchase of the morning was a gallon of milk for the week. Traveling an extra mile to Cumberland Farms saved $1.00. I paid $2.99. which was almost half of our daily allotment. Five bananas was another $1.48. Marshall and I shared one on our morning cereal.
Tuesdays are my Deep River Rotary luncheon days. Rotary lunch is $11.00. Since I am in charge of our annual fundraiser Antique Car Show on Sunday, I had to go to make final plans for the show. I was indecisive about what to do? Do I pack my lunch? I opted for going, but paying out of pocket seperate from the challange. It made me reflect how folks on food stamps do not have the option of being philanthropic by joining civic clubs.
In planning ahead for a Friday night Pantry Potluck Party, I had agreed three weeks ago to make baked stuffed clams. I stopped by Stop & Shop to pick up the clams, ritz crackers and parsley this afternoon (while I was in Old Saybrook). I ended up spending another $10. out of my weekly $44. budget...so after just one day, I have spent 1/4 of my weekly money!! Will I be able to make it through the week?
At the Pantry today, I felt more on the same footing as our clients, than I ever had before in my four years as Pantry manager.
Coming home very tired at 5:30, I would typically have a cold glass of Pinot. Not so tonight...a glass of ice water had to suffice. For dinner we had chicken thighs which is one of the foods that we gave out today in the pantry. I sprinkled with olive oil (one of my two condiments) salt & pepper and grilled it. We also had rice a roni (one of my start up choices) and 1/3 bag of fresh spinich (I found for $1.50 last week), but it needs to last another two meals.
Wednesday June 4, 2008
The past two days has provided the gift of appreciating the simplest pleasures...today it was parsley! Parsley seemed an extravagance yesterday, and I debated spending the 99 cents for such a frivolous item. I justified buying it because of it's vitamin c in addition to the need for something green in the frig. Today, I was so happy to find that it dressed up my egg salad at lunchtime and added character to the whole wheat pasta with sauce at dinner...a bit of Parmesan would have really tasted good too, but oh well...
By this second day, my husband Marshall is picking and choosing how much he wants to participate in this challenge, but being the spouse, I have allowed him that leeway. It's tricky when he sits down at 5:00 with his glass of red wine and my food stamp money cannot be stretched that far. Tonight after our pasta, he announced that he would love a chocolate peanut butter blizzard from Dairy Queen. Poor guy has recently suffered a stroke and has had to give up many things he enjoys in life, so a blizzard that he bought out of his "own money", didn't seem too harsh. That surely looked just as good as the wine did earlier.
I can only imagine how hard it must be for a child whose family subsists on food stamps, to pass by the Dairy Queen and sees his best friends enjoying blizzards. Sometimes life is just not fair!
Thursday June 5, 2008
Bulk buying has got to be a struggle for those on food stamps, I concluded today. To save money, you must first have money for the BJ's or Sam's Club membership, gas to get there and then the danger of impulse buying. I do a quarterly trek to BJ's in Waterford to buy our paper, personal and laundry supplies. Today was the day. Never have I come out of BJ's with such a small order. Unfortunately the only food stamp money that I could spend today was for 10 bananas for $1.39.
For lunch we had leftover chicken with some mayo and of course parsley added. I bought wraps for 2.99 for the chicken salad and for bean burritos for tonight. I had previously found cheddar on sale for $2.00 a bar for the burritos, so today's total expenditures are $6.38.
I agree with Shirley...this calculating is much harder than my typical, overindulgent food buying habits.
One observation this week is that my compost pile is smaller than my can recycling bin.
I must admit that accepting this challenge is a bit daunting to me. My reason for participating in this experience is to better understand the daily frustrations of our clients who visit the Old Saybrook Pantry. In sharing Patty's blog as she travels through Michigan with Emmet, it takes me back to my Michigan heritage.
In the 1940's when I was growing up on a 40 acre southern Michigan farm, we also would have lived below the median income (although we didn't have these terms for our style of living then.) We did have access to a large garden, berry bushes, cows that gave us fresh milk and that we slaughtered once a year for meat, chickens that gave us fresh eggs and we cooked on Sunday, many fish from the streams, and squirrel and rabbit in the woods which my father hunted to subsidize the food budget. Much of our summer work was "putting by for the winter". We would "can" vast amounts of fruits and vegetables, which was our way of preserving them for the off-growing season.
As the next to the oldest in a family of eight children, I had a part in gathering food for the table. I grew up liking the challenge of deciding what we would have for dinner, what needed to be added to the weekly grocery list (that wasn't on the basement shelves). I remember the wide-eyed pleasure of visiting my best friend from the city and seeing all kinds of treats on her table that never were a choice in our house.
Part of this challenge, now, 60 years later, if that my husband Marshall and I, have included many of these "treats" in our weekly diet. Because he is diabetic and I struggle with rhumatoid arthritis, our favorite foods are fresh fruits and vegetables. Somehow over the next week, I will need to figure this into our daily $3.30 x 2 and try to carve out a little piece of our $6.60.a day for fresh produce. Since our Pantry gives out fruits and veggies, besides the allotted canned goods that we can include in our week's planning, we will begin the week with 2 bananas, a package of green spinich, a tomato, an onion and three potatoes. Our cupboard is stocked for the week with the other allotted canned goods and we are ready to begin on Tuesday.
Realizations that have hit me already are:
This challenge is for one week...how different to know there is an ending to this week.
I come to the challenge with thought put into planning for it...most poverty is unplanned for.
I have the experience of growing up with parents who have taught me about healthy "food stretchers" and how to make almost everything from "scratch".
I have the time and energy to bake my own bread. How many families today need to work two or three jobs and are sapped of time and energy to cope with hunger.
My question is...where does money for medications fit into this budget? Where does toilet paper, toothpaste, deodorant fit in? Reflecting on these necessities, it makes me realize how important it is that we as managers include these personal items wherever possible in families weekly choices.
Typically we spend an average of $130./week on food, so it will be a week of reawakening with our $44.10. which is set aside to cover our weekly groceries. I will write some daily notes of this experience.
Tuesday June 3, 2008
My first purchase of the morning was a gallon of milk for the week. Traveling an extra mile to Cumberland Farms saved $1.00. I paid $2.99. which was almost half of our daily allotment. Five bananas was another $1.48. Marshall and I shared one on our morning cereal.
Tuesdays are my Deep River Rotary luncheon days. Rotary lunch is $11.00. Since I am in charge of our annual fundraiser Antique Car Show on Sunday, I had to go to make final plans for the show. I was indecisive about what to do? Do I pack my lunch? I opted for going, but paying out of pocket seperate from the challange. It made me reflect how folks on food stamps do not have the option of being philanthropic by joining civic clubs.
In planning ahead for a Friday night Pantry Potluck Party, I had agreed three weeks ago to make baked stuffed clams. I stopped by Stop & Shop to pick up the clams, ritz crackers and parsley this afternoon (while I was in Old Saybrook). I ended up spending another $10. out of my weekly $44. budget...so after just one day, I have spent 1/4 of my weekly money!! Will I be able to make it through the week?
At the Pantry today, I felt more on the same footing as our clients, than I ever had before in my four years as Pantry manager.
Coming home very tired at 5:30, I would typically have a cold glass of Pinot. Not so tonight...a glass of ice water had to suffice. For dinner we had chicken thighs which is one of the foods that we gave out today in the pantry. I sprinkled with olive oil (one of my two condiments) salt & pepper and grilled it. We also had rice a roni (one of my start up choices) and 1/3 bag of fresh spinich (I found for $1.50 last week), but it needs to last another two meals.
Wednesday June 4, 2008
The past two days has provided the gift of appreciating the simplest pleasures...today it was parsley! Parsley seemed an extravagance yesterday, and I debated spending the 99 cents for such a frivolous item. I justified buying it because of it's vitamin c in addition to the need for something green in the frig. Today, I was so happy to find that it dressed up my egg salad at lunchtime and added character to the whole wheat pasta with sauce at dinner...a bit of Parmesan would have really tasted good too, but oh well...
By this second day, my husband Marshall is picking and choosing how much he wants to participate in this challenge, but being the spouse, I have allowed him that leeway. It's tricky when he sits down at 5:00 with his glass of red wine and my food stamp money cannot be stretched that far. Tonight after our pasta, he announced that he would love a chocolate peanut butter blizzard from Dairy Queen. Poor guy has recently suffered a stroke and has had to give up many things he enjoys in life, so a blizzard that he bought out of his "own money", didn't seem too harsh. That surely looked just as good as the wine did earlier.
I can only imagine how hard it must be for a child whose family subsists on food stamps, to pass by the Dairy Queen and sees his best friends enjoying blizzards. Sometimes life is just not fair!
Thursday June 5, 2008
Bulk buying has got to be a struggle for those on food stamps, I concluded today. To save money, you must first have money for the BJ's or Sam's Club membership, gas to get there and then the danger of impulse buying. I do a quarterly trek to BJ's in Waterford to buy our paper, personal and laundry supplies. Today was the day. Never have I come out of BJ's with such a small order. Unfortunately the only food stamp money that I could spend today was for 10 bananas for $1.39.
For lunch we had leftover chicken with some mayo and of course parsley added. I bought wraps for 2.99 for the chicken salad and for bean burritos for tonight. I had previously found cheddar on sale for $2.00 a bar for the burritos, so today's total expenditures are $6.38.
I agree with Shirley...this calculating is much harder than my typical, overindulgent food buying habits.
One observation this week is that my compost pile is smaller than my can recycling bin.
Friday June 6, 2008
Here we are at "hump day"...half way there with the week long challenge. Our little cache of food stamp money is showing $22. left for three more days, so it looks like we can make it through to Tuesday. Again, how lucky we are to know there is a point where we know we can once again eat fresh fruits, vegetables and fish...so unlike many of our neighbors.
Certainly this week will leave an impression that will last far beyond seven days!
Choices has been on my mind today as I set the breakfast table with only one box of cereal that we started out the week with. How different from our usual three or four choices of cereal that are set out on the counter for a typical breakfast. This thought took me back to four years ago in the Pantry when there were few choices to make, and bags were packed for clients to pick up, with no idea as to whether the recipient liked chick peas or kidney beans. Choice is empowering once you've become used to making choices, and how much happier our shoppers in the Food Pantry are these days to have a choice of breakfast cereals. Even when you choose your own cereal it gets a bit tiresome after three days in a row.
Saturday June 7, 2008
I never guessed that I would check out at Colonial Market for less than $12.00, but it happened today, as I gathered the final two days worth of groceries for the Challenge. Believe it or not, I found a pound of organic carrots, 5 pounds of potatoes, a cantalope, a head of lettuce, a can of saur kraut, a bag of brown rice for $11.19! With a senior discount it came to $10.64. Along with pork chops that I found on sale last week for $1.00 each, we had a Saturday night feast with leftovers for tomorrow night. We will just slide in under the wire on Tuesday as we have just one more milk stop to make.
Tomorrow is the Rotary Car Show, so I have just packed my egg salad sandwich to take the place of a hot dog ($3.00)..which would be a total day's allotment on food stamps.
Last Saturday Night, Marshall and I went to Liv's Oyster Bar for dinner and spent $94. for the two of us.
This week has been an eye opener!
Sunday June 8, 2008
I felt so "holy" and hot today by just eating leftovers all day, that I splurged and used my whole $3.00 allotment to have an ice cold beer... Ummm! devine!
Monday June 9, 2008
Well, here we are on the last day of the challenge.
Tonight we celebrated by taking our chicken thighs, rice and salad to the Boat Club to cool off by the River.
Looking back over the week, I'm glad that we accepted this challenge. It opened our eyes and rekindled our hearts to the plight of so many of our neighbors...
Who knows by this time next year it could be us living day to day; everyday wondering if the peanut butter would last until our next Pantry visit.
It gave validation to what we do as Pantry managers and how important it is that we be able to continue to access the Food Banks and that Second Harvest continues to exist and prosper, as so many people depend on us for their food.
When we shopped at the Food Bank today and brought home 2,500 pounds of food for tomorrow's distribution, I could taste exactly what the mac & cheese, spaghetti sauce and pasta sides tastes like and how much it helped us to get through the week.
My thanks to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries for making this possible this experience of walking in our neighbor's moccasins for a week.
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries' is an interfaith ministry that provides food and fellowship to people in need and educates our communities about hunger and poverty.
Food Stamp Hunger Awareness Challenge
What is the Challenge?
We are asking members of our community to eat for one day or one week on $3.30 per person per day, which is the average amount that an eligible person receives from food stamps. We then ask that the entrants record their experiences to share with all.
Why the Challenge?
We are honoring National Hunger Awareness Day this year by presenting this challenge. The participants and the readers of their blogs will hopefully both become more aware of the issues involving hunger and food insecurity.
When is the Challenge?
The challenge begins on Tuesday June 3, 2008 and goes to Tuesday June 10, 2008.
Do You Want to Take the Challange? It's easy-read the rules below, and keep a journal-daily or weekly of your experience. Then e-mail your diary to lsmith@shorelinesoupkitchens.org and she will upload it to this web site. If you would prefer to remain annonymous, please let us know. Otherwise we will use your name.
RULES:
- No food maybe accepted as a gift during this time. For example: No brownies from your co-worker. The thinking behind this is that you might not be able to reciprocate and would feel awkward in taking a gift you could not repay.
- If you need a condiment, you need to purchase it with your monetary allotment or it must be part of your starting pantry (see below). This includes salt, ketchup, sugar, etc.
- All that is eaten must be purchased with the $3.30 per day allotment. For example, do not eat food (including mints, gums, etc.) that was not paid for with the allotment but is in your refrigerator or pantry. Imagine you are starting with nothing; as many people go through their pantry completely before reaching out for help.
- Participants are also asked to keep a journal of their experience and e-mail it to lsmith@shorelinesoupkitchens.org so it may be posted on this site.
- You may start with a beginning pantry supply of what our food pantries supply to a person who needs an emergency stocking. These are the only food items that you may purchase with money other than the $3.30 per day. This would allow you the same beginning pantry as a person attending our pantries while you wouldn't be stressing our pantries supply. This is the list for one person...
- 1 jar of red sauce
- 1 pound of pasta
- 1 bottle of juice
- 2 cans vegetables
- 2 cans soups
- 1 can of fruit
- 1 can of beans or lentils
- 1 can of tuna
- 1 can meals (pasta & meatball type)
- 1 box of cereal
- 1 jar of peanut butter
- 1 starch sides (rice a roni type)
- 1 snack
- 1 meat for 1 meal
- 2 odds & ends (ketchup, sugar etc.)
- 1 half dozen eggs
- 1 pound butter blend
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