Eye opening and heart breaking is a few ways to best describe my experience participating in the snap benefit challenge. This week I was challenged by Tyson foods to participate in the snap benefit challenge for at least two days. The goal of the challenge is to give participants the sense of what life is like living like millions of today’s low income Americans. I committed to eating on a limited food budget comparable to that of a SNAP (formally known as food stamps) participant. How much is that? Only $1.50 per meal not exceeding 4.50 a day. I might also mention I gladly accepted this challenge during one of the busiest weeks of the year for a dairy farmer- world dairy expo.
Before I started, I was aware it was going to be a challenge considering my schedule. Yet, that gave me the realism of what it would be like living like these low income families. They cannot change their schedule around to pick and choose when they want to limit what they can and can’t eat. The guilty but real feeling I felt made me excited for this project.
First, I went to the grocery store and another reality set in. The game plan was to buy fruits and veggies, and sandwich stuff. I easy thought this would cover the food costs leaving a little extra behind. If I was buying in bulk for the entire week I could have probably got buy but eating the same think every single day gets old. Instead I bought ramen noodles, oatmeal, and canned soup. Two of the three are items I generally never buy. Before I go any further you should know I have been told I am a picky eater. I even took a buzzfeed quiz confirming what my parents have told me for years. Neither being a fan of oatmeal or canned soup I bought them because it was in my budget. I am now more aware many low income families probably settle for something they may not necessarily like because like during my challenge it was in their budget. Once again that same guilty feeling came back but this time it made me realize a few other things how much food I not only waste but how ungrateful I have acted being “picky”.
I spent the two days having a small amount of oatmeal for breakfast and a glass of water, canned soup for lunch, and ramen noodles for dinner. With no snacks in between and cutting out that daily dose of caffeine my stomach rumbled more than a time or two. I could of very easy picked up something else and cheated however, I wanted to make this experience as real as possible. If I was actually dependant on the SNAP program I may not have that option.
Realizing the criticism food stamps receive I understand how easy it is for the average income family or anyone else to say “they are getting free money for food they should be fine” “I would love to have the privilege of the grocery bill being paid for”. However, until participating in this challenge I did not see how difficult it was to make it and could not imagine if I had a family to support as well. I challenge every single one of you to complete this challenge just once even if it is for two days. I promise you will think about our system differently and realize just how heartbreaking and real hunger in America is.
To end I would like to bring up one last point you may have not thought of many children in YOUR community only receive a wholesome meal during the school week and are hungry over the weekend. Let me remind you it is not the child’s fault they are hungry. No child should ever be hungry and there is a way to help. Go to: http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/child-hunger.aspx to find out about the backpack program. The back program provides children with backpacks full of food every weekend making sure they are not hungry. You can also look up a food bank locater to ensure you can help the kid’s right in your back door. Together we can make a difference and you can help give a child a good night’s rest and the nutrition they deserve.
