It was great to hear about the experiences of other SNAP Challenge participants at the debriefing meeting. From the lack of variety, to the lack of seasoning, to the fatigue and mental games experienced due to hunger, it seemed like everyone was affected by the Challenge. Although each of us has the capacity to return to our normal eating patterns, this is the norm for so many. As an educator, this makes me wonder how this affects students and classrooms. What impact does this have on children’s development, academic performance, motivation to learn, or classroom behavior? Most athletes pay particular attention to food and nutrition while training, and wouldn’t dare suit up for the important game without an adequate pre-game meal. With our national defense and world-wide reputation at stake, do we really expect our hungry children to compete globally and bring home the victory?
So what does all of this mean for me? I am encouraged that folks in my circle who knew I was participating in the SNAP Challenge have expressed an interest in my experiences, want to have their own SNAP Challenge, or are considering ways to bring awareness to others they know. I would like to become involved in efforts to ensure that families—all families—have adequate access to nutritious foods on a daily basis. Wouldn’t it be great if all farmer’s markets accepted EBT? If all neighborhoods had full-service grocery stores with affordable prices? I will take a little bit of time to figure out how I can fit into this effort. I definitely have a new outlook.
On the last day of the Challenge, I ate cinnamon pita toast (pita bread lightly coated with cooking spray and cinnamon sugar, then baked), scrambled eggs, cheese, and an apple for breakfast. Lunch for my hubby and me consisted of the final servings of chicken soup and cornbread. Although encouraged to eat a SNAP budget dinner after the debriefing meeting, we didn’t. When I arrived home after that meeting, my husband had made his famous (at least in our family it is) spaghetti with meat sauce. The ingredients he used were not purchased on our SNAP budget, so technically that meal was off limits. Oops…but at least it was delicious! J