Thank You For Participating in the Challenge

The Ohio Community Action Food Stamp Challenge is now over and we'd like to thank everyone who participated in the Challenge. I'm sure everyone is happy to be back to their normal routine, able to eat the foods they love, but we hope that you learned something and can better appreciate those more satisfying meals. I know I learned a lot about how much things cost and am more aware of the struggles low-income people face. I can definitely better appreciate what I have and so can several of our bloggers. Below are a few comments from participants about what they learned:

•  I hope the challenge will increase my awareness that people are hungry all the time, before and after the holidays when many give food baskets. Often we describe ours as the world’s richest nation. But something’s wrong when we wallow in our wealth and arrogantly bypass others who want what we take for granted: a good meal every day. 

•  But even though I've had an attitude adjustment, I know there is food in the house I'm chosing not to eat for these five days. On Saturday I go back to my life, with all the food I can eat. That doesn't seem fair, doesn't feel right.

• As I engaged in turmoil about using salt, I thought that perhaps high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are so rampant in poorer communities because those residents consume a lot of foods with high amounts of sodium, sugar, and fat. After all, the money is simply not there for them to buy lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, which are more expensive.

• Though not this week, I spend more than $23 a week for fresh foods. So now, if the grocery budget lets you get more food but that is less healthful, what are you going to do? Could it be that poor people’s grocery carts are filled with foods that are high in fat, salt, cholesterol, and sugar because those foods are more affordable and help ward off feelings of emptiness and hunger? I hope the answer to those questions helps the more fortunate empathize with what  poor cope with regularly.

• But what do people living on SNAP hope for? They hope to make it through the day making sure their families don’t go hungry. They hope to someday say yes to their children when they ask for that treat at the grocery store that’s just a bit too pricey. They hope to make it through the grocery line without the fear that their SNAP card will be denied. They hope to someday leave food stamps behind. And as this challenge comes to a close, I’m unsure of what I’ve learned from it. I’ve learned the obvious: that this is no way to live, that things need to change. But what can be done about it? Do we aim to change food stamps or the people who use them? Is it a bit of both? Is minimum wage the problem? Every time I think I have an answer, more questions pop up. If anything can be taken from following this week's Food Stamp Challenge, I hope it's an understanding that hunger is a very real problem for hardworking people across the country. And I hope that understanding comes with a sense of urgency to fix it.

• I think it would be challenging to do this week after week but, assuming you have the ability to stop at a few different stores, you can plan your meals around what’s on sale, what might stretch the farthest.
  I’m thrifty as a rule, but I’m thankful I don’t have to be every day.

• I've been thinking a lot these past five days not just about the food I couldn't eat, but about how grateful I should be about the plenty that's always been in my life. And why I've been so blessed. If I were born to a family in a public housing project in Toledo, I probably would have grown up hungry most of the time. If I were born to a family in Africa or Asia, I may not have grown up at all. But, by luck or fate, I was born into a family of plenty in a community of plenty in a country of plenty.
  Living for five days on $23 is possible, but for me just a little inconvenient. Tomorrow I go back to my life of plenty. Life is not fair when so many have so little in a land of such plenty.

• People who are poor cannot cheat. If it’s not in the budget to buy, there’s none ... After that experience, I thought about the working poor whose jobs often require labor. With no money for healthy snacks, no wonder people are attracted to cheaper snacks heavily laden with sodium, sugar, and carbs.... I hope policy makers paid attention to reports on the challenge. Food budgets must be increased for those who need assistance. I don’t know the answers as to how that should happen, but as my colleagues and I have shown, it has been tough to stay on the budget and think of much else besides food.

• I stayed within forty cents of the budget and I was able to feed myself for five days. I also learned a lot and gained just a little insight into the lives of people who use food stamps. ... This is yet another example of how difficult it is to manage inside the confines of a budget for people relying on food stamps for most of their food budget.

• In these five short days I have gotten a good sense of how exhausting and difficult it is to manage food on a very tight budget. While I think I have managed my budget and meal planning successfully, it hasn’t been easy or all that much fun. My choices are limited, there is no wiggle room, and if I make a choice I don’t like, tough. And I have minimal obstacles. I have my own transportation so I have shopping options. I have a regular work schedule. I don’t have kids. And, I have a kitchen full of cooking tools, like a Crock-Pot and reliable refrigeration to store leftovers. So, yes it is just an exercise and it is always easy to judge other people’s decisions, but going through this has been more than an exercise for me. While I supported programs like SNAP before the challenge, I have a much different understanding now of why they matter.

• Overall, the challenge has opened my eyes about all the time that it takes planning meals when you are on a limited budget. I could no longer grab and go. I had to be thinking about the bigger picture – how is this meal choice going to affect the rest of my options for the week?

• I feel deeply for those who are forced to rely on food stamps and have nothing to reach for when they are hungry and have little choice in foods. I can only think of the games their mind’s play with them.

• I think about the day a low-income family finally overcomes their major hurdles, are stable, and each day is getting better for them. The day they can go to the store and buy the food that is needed, as well as some that is wanted. ... There is a difference between providing food for someone for a short timeframe until they are on their feet and punishing them because they need taxpayer help with food for a short time. The current system for food stamps is out of date. It doesn’t feed people, it only allows them minimal food enough to stay alive. After this week I truly know the difference. 

Lisa with Northwoods Final Thoughts

Here is the question I’ve been asked the most.

Were you able to eat on the food stamp budget?

The short answer is, yes. I stayed within forty cents of the budget and I was able to feed myself for five days. I also learned a lot and gained just a little insight into the lives of people who use food stamps.
But, I also made a lot of mistakes. I spent my whole budget at the very beginning so I had no room to make adjustments. I selected food based on assumptions about what was economical without considering any other variables. I bought rice and beans, pasta, and frozen vegetables – all good choices. But, I skimped on fresh produce because it seemed expensive. I made a pot of rice and beans, which was good for more meals than the two or three I planned. Instead of the pasta and the English muffins, I could have bought a head of lettuce and a few carrots and gotten several salads. Oatmeal for breakfast each day was great, and very affordable, so that was my best choice. But, I didn’t use all of the pasta, the rice, or the bread, so these could be available into the next weeks. If I were managing a month-long budget, I could buy rice during week one and pasta during week two.

Bottom line, I may have outsmarted myself by choosing a number for shelf-stable staple items and not giving myself any fresh fruit. I was out of balance in that regard. This is yet another example of how difficult it is to manage inside the confines of a budget for people relying on food stamps for most of their food budget.

Dan with Northwood's Final Thoughts

Today’s lunch: Instant mashed potatoes…blech! I tried my best to spice them up with salt, pepper, and some household seasonings but still…blech! I’d trade the whole dry, flakey box for my jelly sandwich lunch from day three.

At least it’s the last day of the challenge for me (I am running the half marathon on Saturday, so I started the challenge Sunday in order to carb-load tomorrow), allowing me to use my remaining $1.63. I went with a coworker to Potbelly’s for lunch and purchased a cookie for $1.25. It was amazing. I was asked this morning my best meal of the week, and that cookie was it by far.

Overall, the challenge has opened my eyes about all the time that it takes planning meals when you are on a limited budget. I could no longer grab and go. I had to be thinking about the bigger picture – how is this meal choice going to affect the rest of my options for the week?
I have also been overwhelmed by all of my friends and coworkers who wanted to give or buy me food. They all wanted to help me get through this and I have appreciated everyone’s support, questions, comments, and suggestions!

Helping People Changing Lives by Lorie with OACAA

As this is the last day of the Challenge, I think about the fact that I get to eat “real food” now, which makes me reflect on the week . What came to my mind is the motto of Community Action:   “Helping People Changing Lives.” 

The local agencies work so hard to provide programs, services, and partnerships with other organizations to clear a road to help low-income individuals and families travel to self-sufficiency.  It’s not a fast road or an easy road. I think about the day a low-income family finally overcomes their major hurdles, are stable, and each day is getting better for them. The day they can go to the store and buy the food that is needed, as well as some that is wanted. The day they can pay their living expenses without the help of social services and know that they are not on the edge of their pay check, and the day they can take their family to an extra activity that doesn’t leave them having to cut something somewhere else in their budgets. 

There is a difference between providing food for someone for a short timeframe until they are on their feet and punishing them because they need taxpayer help with food for a short time. The current system for food stamps is out of date. It doesn’t feed people, it only allows them minimal food enough to stay alive. After this week I truly know the difference. The food I could afford on the $23 has left me feeling sick. I rarely have headaches and I have had two this week. In general I feel irritable and I want some different food so badly I think about it constantly. I can’t imagine feeling like this and trying to get an education, find work, or deal with major issues in my life. It’s time to fund programs so that people can truly get to self-sufficiency and live comfortable while they strive for that goal.

Test: Food Stamp Budget Not Filling

Check out the Columbus Dispatch article on Food Stamp Challenge participants Dan and Lisa's experience http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/05/04/test-food-stamp-budget-not-filling.html

An Artificial Challenge? By Lisa with Northwoods

A lot of people have commented that the Food Stamp Challenge is an artificial one. I have heard more than one person (in a blog or in person) express concern that somehow participating in the Challenge makes light of the actual experience of people who use food stamp benefits. I can see both of these positions. I agree that it is artificial; I can go back to my eating habits when it is over. Someone taking the challenge who is able to manage their five-day budget might come to the conclusion that it really isn’t that hard. But my experience does not support that position.

In these five short days I have gotten a good sense of how exhausting and difficult it is to manage food on a very tight budget. While I think I have managed my budget and meal planning successfully, it hasn’t been easy or all that much fun. My choices are limited, there is no wiggle room, and if I make a choice I don’t like, tough. And I have minimal obstacles. I have my own transportation so I have shopping options. I have a regular work schedule. I don’t have kids. And, I have a kitchen full of cooking tools, like a Crock-Pot and reliable refrigeration to store leftovers.

So, yes it is just an exercise and it is always easy to judge other people’s decisions, but going through this has been more than an exercise for me. While I supported programs like SNAP before the Challenge, I have a much different understanding now of why they matter.

Confession of an Absent Mind by Lorie with OACAA

It always amazes me how the mind works. Yesterday was confession day at the office. We
sat together and the four of us confessed if we had cheated on the Food Stamp Challenge.  Three of us had, but not willfully. All three had cheated and didn’t know we had until our brains sent us a scream message. 

I will start with mine.  My father and I sit in recliners and there is an end table between us. The table normally has five things on it. A stack of magazines on antique tractors (my fathers), tv remote(mostly mine),  a bottle of water (mine), and two containers - one with candy (my fathers) and one with cashews (my fathers). The first two days of the Challenge the candy jar was there with mini Reese Cups in it (since my brother had bought a bag of Reese Cups the size of Ohio we have been eating them forever, so they didn’t bother me). The other can of cashews was not there, so again no temptation. But on the evening of the third day, the can was back. My brother, father, and I had a busy evening and had finally sat down to watch a sitcom. Without thought or intent of planning I picked up the can, opened the lid, and ate six cashews before my mind told me, “STOP! You can’t.” I was so mad at myself. 

My other coworkers' stories are similar. One had gotten home from work and was starving and just reached out and grabbed a handful of Fruit Loops from the box that was sitting on the counter not even thinking that she could not do that. The third coworker said that they had Reese’s peanut butter eggs that they had bought after Easter laying in a bowl and he walked past grabbed it, opened it, and took a bit without even realizing what he had done. The only one that had not cheated, well we are looking to set her up. 

With kidding aside, I feel deeply for those who are forced to rely on food stamps and have nothing to reach for when they are hungry and have little choice in foods. I can only think of the games their mind’s play with them.

Energy Crash by Dan with Northwoods

Thunk – the metaphorical sound of my head hitting the keyboard. That’s what I felt like yesterday. The combination of a not-too-exciting work project, no coffee, and running out of Cocoa Puffs snacks had my eyes glazing over and created a struggle for me to focus. This whole challenge had not been too hard until yesterday, but it finally hit.

Normally, I’ll get up and get a snack or refill my coffee cup, but I couldn’t afford (and wasn’t allowed) to do that yesterday. I tried to push through but it was difficult. I’ve found it to be true that a small snack can provide a big mental boost. I took a few walks around the office and tried to get my blood flowing a little better, but the relief didn’t last too long.

I ended up having a coworker “accidentally” drop a few pretzels on the table and offered to save them from the trash (thanks, Colleen!). So yeah, I technically cheated a little bit. But I didn’t want those pretzels to go to waste!

A Few Days In By Lisa with Northwoods

I started the challenge over the weekend, so I am a few days in so far. The biggest change for me is the need to plan meals and cook the food. Usually, if there is nothing handy in the fridge (Read: leftovers from dinner out the night before), I just go out. Now, I have to make dinner and then figure out lunch too. My plan involves making filling dinners of more than one serving and using the leftovers as lunch.

 

Monday I had to drive to a meeting a couple of hours away. When I was thinking about what to plan for the week, I did not think about a “travel lunch.” I also hadn’t left myself any wiggle room for changing my mind or dealing with contingencies. So, what was I to do? I couldn’t really take leftovers since I don’t have a microwave in my car, and it might be messy. I did have hard-boiled eggs and some English muffins. So, I made an egg sandwich (not egg salad, just egg) and cut up a few stalks of celery. It worked out just great. It was filling and easy to pack and eat while travelling. The bonus was I had extra time to find a small park near my meeting and enjoyed sitting at a picnic table while I ate. I would not have taken the time for that if I had run through a drive-through as I normally do.

After a few days it still feels like I have plenty of food, not a great selection (more on the choices I wish I’d made in a later post), but plenty of food. One thing I noticed is I have a lot more anxiety about wasting food, or “losing” it. Usually I would grumble when food was wasted, but now I actively worry about it before it might happen. Dan almost having jars break would have been terrible!

When I made a rice and beans dish, I used a recipe I had never used before. I blithely started the process in the Crock-Pot, and then about an hour later I walked by and noticed that the spices were still lying on top. Should I have stirred them in? I started to worry that I wouldn’t like the meal and began to fret that I should not have used an untried recipe because if it did not turn out, I would have wasted the food I had planned for about three meals… It turned out very well, if I must say so myself, but not before I worried myself into a minor frenzy.

Popcorn: It's a Big POP, By Lorie at OACAA

As my friends would tell you: “Lorie like’s snacks!!!” My favorite is sweet snacks, but as you might have found out when you went shopping, sugar costs. I managed to get some sugar in my diet this week because me without sugar is not a pretty sight. I knew the biggest bang for my buck would be in the salty snack aisle. So I headed my cart down the aisle with the wall of salty delights on both sides looking for my salty snack that would last me five days, maximize the portion,  and cost me under $3. 

I looked at the chips and although they had chips in the price range the portion size was small. The bag was as long as my arm from the tips of my fingers to the bend in my elbow, but the chips inside the bag only filled a 1/3 of it. So chips where crossed off my list. I looked at pretzels. Depending on the style of pretzel you buy you can get a large portion within the cost limits and it would cover the whole five days, but the problem with pretzels are it’s the same flavor over and over. They are dry and leave you thirsty. Yes, I could dip them in mustard ( I do like that), I just have to be in the mood for pretzels in order to eat them and I don’t think I could make that mood last five days. Nuts were next in the aisle, most of the time healthy, but they are pricey. You get a very small portion, and they would not last all five days. At the end of the aisle was a beacon of light in my hunt for the salty snack…POPCORN!!!!! I got the store brand. It had six 3.5oz bags for under $3. I got butterific,  but if you're not into butter it came in different flavors from plain to cheese to kettle corn. It was already portioned out, the cost was great, lots of flavor, and best of all this week in the evenings when I would start to feel that hunger feeling I would pop it up. I could share it with my dad, which I could not with any other item. I could eat up and feel full.  A nice way to go to bed at night, especially since so many do not get that option.

The Challenge Experience for Lorie with OACAA

I am starting my the third day of the Ohio Community Action Food Stamp Challenge.  When I started, I went to a local super market and laid out a game plan. Although I look through the ads each week to make a grocery list, I am not the one who does the shopping normally at my home. 

I guess I had a little sticker shock at first as I tried to use some of the ideas that I had planned out from the memories of my childhood that I had written about before. Hamburger is expensive per pound, in fact most meats were. 

So I found myself in the frozen food aisle looking at the frozen dinners that were $1.09 each. I went with a brand that if you bought it, it had a code on it to key into a website where the company would donate a free frozen dinner to a food pantry for children. I said to myself, "Yay, win/win! I pay $10.90 out of my $23.00 and I get 10 meals to cover lunch and dinner for the 5 days of the Challenge and a child gets a free meal at a pantry." So I chose a variety of frozen dinners. I am three days in and although the food is edible and has a flavor, it’s not really overly filling.

So, I am in a one day timeframe (with the other foods I bought) consuming:

• 1,950 Calories (that is under the 2,000 calories that the USDA recommends daily)
• 67 grams of Fat (very high)
• 1 gram of Transfat
• 55 mgs of Cholesterol
• 3,055 mgs of Sodium (I am thirsty)
• 860 mgs of Potassium
• 209 grams of Carbohydrates
• 10 grams of Fiber
• 85 grams of Sugar
• 41 grams of Protein

Yes I made my choices on the food I picked, but it was the choices that afforded me three meals each day and had enough bulk in them to fill me up and make me feel full, but not necessarily satisfied. The fruit punch mix that I chose made me a little sick to my stomach after drinking it the first day, normally I drink water. Most of the foods leave me thirsty. 

My brother, who helps me care for my father, was sitting in front of me with a big salad with all the fixings as I ate my frozen meal and all I wanted to do is switch foods with him. All night long there were commercials for “real” food on TV and most shows had people eating “real” food. It was like when you diet and all you think about is food you can’t have. 

Hunger on the Rise in Ohio

In Ohio, 2,083,240 people-or 18.1 percent of the population-are food insecure, meaning that they don't always know where they will find their next meal, according to new research released April 27 by Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization.

The findings result from Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" study, which provides estimates on the rate of food insecurity at the county and congressional district level for the entire nation.

"Food insecurity is one of the leading public health challenges in the United States due to the physical and mental damage and behavioral problems it may cause," said Dr. Craig Gundersen, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois, a member of Feeding America's Technical Advisory Group, and the lead researcher of the "Map the Meal Gap" study. "By ascertaining the extent and distribution of food insecurity at the county and congressional district level, we can better direct our resources to alleviating this serious problem."

"We believe that no one in our state should go hungry or try to survive without access to adequate amounts of healthy, nutritious food," said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director at the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks. "The findings from the 'Map the Meal Gap' study demonstrate that more than two million people in our state are still faced with the real threat of hunger, despite claims that the economic recession has passed."

The total number of food insecure people in Ohio has increased since last year, and the local trend in Ohio is higher than what is being seen at the national level. Overall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that the national food insecurity rate remained relatively unchanged from last year at 16.1 percent in 2010-or nearly 49 million people nationwide.

The findings also show:

* The cost of an average meal in Ohio is $2.33. That's almost $0.80 more than the average food stamp recipient receives in benefits and that Ohio Community Action Food Stamp Challenge participants are attempting to make do with.

* In Ohio, food insecure individuals said they would need an additional $13.22 per week to put enough food on the table for an adequate diet, representing an annual food budget shortfall of more than $835.5 million.