Day 5
I woke up on day 5 dreading the fact that I’d have to eat oatmeal again for breakfast. I couldn’t even bring myself to make it at home, so I ended up packing the oats in a Tupperware container and bringing them to work. I made oatmeal in the microwave around 9:30 when I really started getting hungry. Here are my meals for day 5: Breakfast: oatmeal Lunch: 2 eggs, a piece of toast, 1/2 a banana Dinner: Black and red beans, rice I know I’ve said this before in a previous blog post, but doing this challenge made me feel differently toward food. Eating becomes a more of a necessity, almost like a chore. It really takes the enjoyment out of it when you’re eating the same foods over and over not because they taste good, but because they’ll keep you full. And being full is something I take for granted. I have snacks at my desk in case I get hungry at work. I have a pantry full of food. Even when I don’t have much in my fridge, I live within walking distance of a grocery store and am able to get groceries when I need them. I’ve been reading other people’s blog posts and thinking about this challenge in a general way. Is it possible to live on $4.15 a day? Yes, it seems as though it is. Is it possible to live on $4.15 and eat a variety of nutritious foods? No, absolutely not. That’s the part that’s really getting to me. And it seems our food system is designed to market the cheapest, least nutritionally dense food to consumers. I’m thinking about my “imitation pasteurized process cheese food” from Bi-Lo. “Real” cheese cost something like $3.79, and these imitation cheese slices were only $1.49. I’m lucky, and I’m realizing that more and more. I can stop the challenge today and resume eating at restaurants, picking up Starbucks on the way to work if I want to, and not adding up every purchase on a calculator at the grocery store. However, I think I’ll do so with a much greater appreciation for the things I have, as well as an awareness of SNAP and changes that need to be made to our food system. Thanks to everyone for the opportunity to participate in the SNAP Challenge! Breakfast: RAE & JEA- Instant brown sugar
and maple Oatmeal (no coffee) Lunch: Left over spaghetti and Chili from day-one’s dinner Dinner: PB&J I am going to be honest. I am reallllll over it. I do not feel bad but I do not feel great. I am tired of eating the same thing over and over. Obviously, I am very familiar with variety, but I really have no money left, and so I am stuck eating the same things. Today I was invited to eat lunch at the Transition to Profession Conference. Oh how nice it would have been to eat a sandwich, chips, and a cookie. I passed on my invitation to a co-worker. I am hoping my final blog post will have more resolved feelings about this challenge and the dissatisfaction I have experienced this week. Day 4
Waking up to the thought of eating the same, bland food as yesterday was almost sickening. I ate two boiled eggs for breakfast and a piece of peanut butter toast for lunch. The lack of variety or healthy food in my diet has made me feel pretty tired throughout the day, and I find myself craving a snack when I should be focused on class or homework. The only thing that has been keeping me strong is knowing that after tomorrow, I can my Dominos pizza! I can’t imagine how people make it when this is their lifestyle, with no relief in sight. I was talking to my roommate about the struggles I’ve been having with the Challenge, and she brought up the notion of how privileged we are to only have to live on SNAP as an experiment. We have enough money and free time to use other people’s reality as a personal learning experience. This really made me grateful for my place in life, and has truly made me aware of how strongly your economic status affects your life. I am so thankful for this experience, as I feel I am far more conscientious than I was before. For dinner, I ate a plain slice of bread just to change it up. It was almost a better prospect for me to eat nothing for dinner then eat the same peanut butter and eggs as the past few days. But, I was way too hungry and just ended up eating spoonfulls of peanut butter for dinner. I wanted to buy food for myself, but I knew with only $5.79, I would want to splurge on my last day. Looking forward to a day of relatively lavish eating tomorrow! blog 4InboxxKatie 8:59 AM (6 hours ago)
to me Today was better because I made a bunch of rice pasta, much more filling than fruits & veggies, and ate some for lunch and dinner. I had a bowl of oatmeal (no PB… gotta conserve that) with a banana and coffee for breakfast and packed a few thinly sliced carrots and my leftover potatoes for snacking throughout the day. I took a library break in the late afternoon and ate a banana with peanut butter and returned for an evening shift with an apple and some pasta. Of course I was hungry again by the time I got home kinda late and had another apple. I miss lemon and garlic and green vegetables. Also, I usually eat eggs for breakfast a few times a week and miss getting creative with them. I think this challenge has been good for me because it's made me realize how much I usually indulge. I think it's hard for us to adapt since we usually have such different diets than we do this week. If we were living on a SNAP budget more long term, our tastes would probably shift and we wouldn't crave fancy foods like goat cheese. That's what happened when I became a vegetarian, I just stopped wanting meat. Food is one of the most important things to me as it has such a huge effect on how I feel. I've become pretty attuned to my body and know when it is happy and not. My stomach has been making some weird noises honestly. And I have felt less than 100% all week (partially due to school stress). But sacrifice is good for us sometimes, especially for putting things into perspective. With every aspect of my life lately, I am continually reminded that other people always have it worse, with everything from final papers & exams to lacking basic necessities. So we should stop complaining and be grateful for all we have. Tis the season I suppose. On Nov 20, 2014, at 8:43 AM, Katie <[email protected]> wrote: New challenges:-Bananas rapidly turning brown and mushy (increasingly so, if they live in my backpack)-Running dangerously low on PB!!! (main source of protein/sustenance)-concerns about skin turning orange due to increased consumption of carrots-being a distraction in the library by loud carrot chewing-never being full Dietary changes: Eating a lot of the same thing… kinda boring I started the day off with an unsurprising bowl of oatmeal + peanut butter and a cup of bad coffee. Snacked on a banana between classes, carrots and potatoes in the library, an apple and peanut butter during the greenbag talk, followed by a second banana in the afternoon plus coffee (filling). Around 5 pm I made a banana/PB snack (3rd naner of the day) to hold me through till 8:30 when my class ended. Although I wanted (not really though) to go back to the library to work on my research paper, I couldn't imagine working indefinitely on a hungry stomach. So I was forced to return home to make another bowl of oatmeal and cook more potatoes. Without any kind of liquid/grease/oil added to the potatoes, they turned out almost like french fry consistency because I baked them at a really high temperature. Maybe I just want french fries and was reimagining them in my mind. Either way, they were good and fun to eat in really small bites! :) I have had several brief conversations about SNAP. Most people just ask "is it really hard?" and don't ask about the actual assistance program. In general, although I am limiting my spending and consumption of food, I don't feel like I really have a deep understanding of what it's like to be dependent on SNAP. I know that at the end of this week, I can go back to my normal diet. I also feel endless webs of support around me in the charleston area. If I actually was relying solely on SNAP to feed myself, I would have lots of friends, teachers, and community members that I know would be there for me. A lot of people don't have that support system and that's what pushes them over the edge when they lose their job or something and are forced to move out of their home. I know we have a food bank and a few homeless ministries run by church groups, but how else can the whole community act as a support system? I would love to host some community meals with all donated food where people can build relationships and get to know our neighbors. I am shocked that able-bodied adults without dependents can only receive SNAP benefits for up to three months in a three year period! This seems very short-sighted, like a quick fix solution. Say hypothetically that a homeless and unemployed individual is on SNAP (is that possible?) and within the first month finds a job. Is it reasonable to think that he/she can fully support him/herself in two months? Doubtful! Without SNAP benefits, the individual will lack the means necessary to continue working because they'll be spending all of their time finding their next meal. I became a supporter of welfare after recently spending six months in Europe and seeing how well it works. The most generous welfare states (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands) have some of the highest levels of total employment. Long-term support is clearly needed, and we should all feel more responsible for taking care of our fellow citizens because it ultimately benefits everyone when the whole population is contributing to and engaged in society. Where might the U.S. get this extra funding from? Maybe we should consider taking it out of our defense budget. Nov 19, 2014, at 9:09 PM, Colleen Sullivan <[email protected]> wrote: Hey bloggers! I am really sorry I am sending this reminder about our third blog so late… its been a crazy day! But.. Congrats on being half way through the challenge! Please try to send me your third blog tonight or tomorrow morning. I also wanted to say your blogs have been great. Its been really amazing reading through them! As always, if you have any questions please just send me an email! Thanks,Colleen Google Apps ProfileClick here to Reply or ForwardUsing 2.74 GBManage©2014 Google - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy - Program Policies Powered by Last account activity: 0 minutes agoOpen in 1 other location Details I had a really great day today. The temptation to consume was honestly not that prominent throughout my day. I woke up early to finish a paper and study for an exam and contemplated a bowl of oatmeal (my breakfast of choice for the week). Instead of a bowl of oatmeal, I suddenly remembered that I left half made black bean soup in my slow cooker over night! I never thought I would ever really crave black bean soup at 8:30 in the morning as much as I did, but I was definitely excited about it. I knew it would keep my full for a long time too. After breakfast ($.89), I went through my classes and I honestly didn’t really think that much about being hungry or what I was lacking. I wonder if it’s because I know that the SNAP challenge actually ends tomorrow and I can go back to my regular eating habits. I’m curious to know if my hunger has subsided because I’ve realized and accepted that for me this lifestyle is temporary. After Friday I will have the “freedom” and the “privilege” to grab a cup of coffee and prepare meals for two for just myself.
I’ve grown to understand one of the reasons why individuals in the SNAP program might favor pre-packaged, processed foods than nutritional foods. Not only are these items cheap, but also easy to prepare. In my opinion, the last thing someone would want to do after working 8-10 hours is to prepare a meal that will take an hour knowing it wouldn’t really fill that person up anyway. It’s just easier to pop up two ramen noodles in the microwave and call it a day. With that being said, most of us are aware of the physically detrimental health effects of not having a balanced nutritional diet. Over consuming processed foods on this budget can lead to many physical deficiencies and ailments, but I’m beginning to wonder about the psychological ailments this program/budget also carries. As we live in a society that associates personal value to amount of “stuff” we own and the amount of wealth we possess, where do these individuals fall on the continuum of perceived worthiness? And how do we show that? For the individual who experiences both homelessness and food insecurity, how much do we perceive his/her worth? If we are honest with ourselves, some of us can admit that we don’t really think twice about walking past a man or a woman on the street begging for change. Some of us roll are eyes when a “homeless” individual walks up to us and asks for money while we are waiting for the crosswalk light to change. We stereotype people who experience homelessness and/or enrolled in these programs including SNAP and they notice. It’s okay to ignore the homeless man on the street or scoff at the women asking about EBT at the supermarket, but it’s not okay to ignore the couple waiting in line for the symphony. You have to ask yourself the question, how does it feel to be seen and treated as less/limited? With that being said, greater awareness about food insecurity should be fostered in our community and an even greater discussion of ways we can serve these individuals should be on the table. We are all equally worthy. As for the rest of the meals I prepared, for lunch I made another bowl of rice with veggies (kale and sprouts) totaling to $.96) and for dinner I had a bowl of pasta (whole wheat noodles, kale, carrots, garlic, oil, salt, pepper) totaling to $2.23. Kindddddd of ready for something other than kale in my diet haha. In the beginning I felt super proud of myself for buying all healthy and nutritional foods for the week under $20, but I can’t say that I’m not ready for a little more variety after tomorrow. I’m learning so much from this challenge and overall this has been a humbling experience. Day 4
Yesterday was tough. I felt sluggish all afternoon. Not necessarily physically tired, more mentally exhausted. It was tough to get motivated and actually get any work done. I found myself craving healthy foods – salads, fruit, and basically anything that wasn’t a carb. I had a massive plate of spaghetti and canned sauce last night for dinner. I was so hungry when I got home that it almost seemed like too much of an effort to cook. When you’re hungry, it’s hard to make good decisions about food. I can understand the temptation to go straight for convenience instead of something nutritious. My meal wasn’t very exciting, but I felt pretty full after I ate. The strange thing was that I couldn’t fall asleep. I felt this big pile of mush in my stomach and kept tossing and turning for about two hours. I’m exhausted this morning, and it’s been tough not having caffeine to wake me up. Here are my meals for day 4: Breakfast: oatmeal (again!) Lunch: red beans and rice Dinner: spaghetti, ½ a banana Mattie: Today was a pretty busy day. I woke up feeling sick because my back hurt so bad. I went to class and got a stellar grade test. Then I made half a peanut butter sandwich to tide me over. Peanut butter just never gets old, ya know? When I went to my 1:40 class, I was very hungry. I’m pretty sure the professor heard my stomach growl. There were many times today where I was offered candy or a snack from one of my friends. It was very difficult to say no but I knew that the perspective I was gaining from this experience was more important than a delicious Reese’s cup. After this terrible candy incident, I ate my lunch which consisted of chili beans and rice again today. I was a tad irritable because we have been eating so much rice. I realized that it isn't so much about being hungry but more about not being satisfied with what I am eating. SNAP surely doesn’t provide enough nutritious healthy foods for people which is saddening. Finally, Sierra and I had hectic schedules today which meant we could not make our rice pilaf until about 9:45 but it was by far the best meal of the week. We had Spanish rice, seasoned black beans and canned corn. It was actually amazing and I wish we could have it again tomorrow. At least I can go to bed full and happy
Signing off- Mattie Sierra: Today was interesting to say the least. When I woke up I had gotten no sleep and the coffee I had to eat was so helpful!! Not. This cheap gross coffee is certainly getting really old. When I headed out the door on the way to look at a house I had thought that I would be able to eat lunch right after; wrong. The frazzled nature of my day was not made any better by the hunger factor. I was late to the sustainability office by 10 min because I had to gather 3 meals- breakfast lunch and late pre dinner meal. My eating schedule is not going too well. The only reason I had to gather so many things for meals was because I was super on the go this afternoon. When I volunteered at the poverty simulation I was surrounded by free food. Its really the worst having sooooooooooo many delicious things around you to eat while you’re stuck just eating so that your stomach doesn’t sound like a monster. Being surrounded by a ton of free food at every single event I’m at this week has not been easy. However, its made me think what its like to be surrounded by restaurants and food that other people can afford but you can’t. I feel like that’s what this aspect of the SNAP challenge is the most similar too. At first I was like, well if I can get free food why can’t I eat it? I understand it’s because not everyone has the opportunities to eat free food like this but I think not being able to eat when others can is really eye opening. However though, dinner tonight: a gem. I can’t even begin to describe it, you’ll have to just see the pictures. This morning featured oatmeal (again), but lunch was great because I had 4(yikes) pieces of avocado toast with salt and pepper. If I had to eat one thing forever, that might be it – seriously, try it if you never have. That was not only incredibly filling, but a great mood booster as well. For dinner I polished off my spaghetti and kale.
of avocado toast with salt and pepper. If I had to eat one thing forever, that might be it – seriously, try it if you never have. That was not only incredibly filling, but a great mood booster as well. For dinner I polished off my spaghetti and kale. I feel like I am lagging in energy this week because of my diet. I hope I haven’t been too grumpy with my friends and family but wouldn’t be surprised if I have! I also don’t think my diet has been very realistic for somebody that would actually be on SNAP, but I think it’s been good to illustrate how difficult it is to eat a nutritional and clean diet on this budget. I feel like all I’ll want to eat for the next week are green vegetables and some decent smoothies. A lot of people have asked me about the challenge because of the blog, so it’s been a great way to lend visibility to HHAW week and the SNAP challenge in general. Many of my friends and family have expressed interest in trying it sometime in the future, and I’m excited that the publicity has had the desired effect. It’s also been really important to recognize in tough moments that I’m a) almost done, and b) that I’m grateful to have a great personal support system and the ability to even do something like this. I can’t lie though, I’m incredibly happy that I only have one day left! Day 3
So today hasn’t been bad, the spaghetti that I made last night has been really hitting the spot. Also, I was hungry for a snack this evening and put one of my tortillas in the oven to make one giant tortilla chip, which I then flavored with Sriracha. Although that might not sound great it was pretty good, and served as a good snack. I think if I did this again I would ditch the rice and opt for a pasta-based diet as that has been much more filling. I have to think a lot more about when and what I am going to eat this week. It would get tiring to have to be so diligent for a long period of time. One thing I have been craving which I didn’t realize was a large part of my diet, but drinks that aren’t water are great. I have been craving orange juice in the mornings as well as milk with dinner. These are costs I have never really considered. Normally I end up drinking around $6 worth of orange juice, milk, and other drinks in a week. That would be over a quarter of my current budget. |