Eating on $4 a day

[Methodical]

Cory Booker spending week on food stamps – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs

(CNN) – Hoping to break any stigmas of government assistance, Newark Mayor Cory Booker of New Jersey will live on food stamps this week–a challenge that first began as a Twitter conversation.

The Democratic mayor will operate on a food stamp budget of about $30 a week ($4.32 per day), roughly the same amount provided to people in New Jersey who take part in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

Booker, who's considered a potential gubernatorial candidate in New Jersey's 2013 race, vowed to go on the budget after getting into a debate last month with a Twitter user, who argued "nutrition is not the responsibility of the government."

"In my own quest to better understand the outcomes of SNAP assistance, I suggested to this specific Twitter user that we both live on a SNAP equivalent food budget for a week and document our experience," Booker wrote in a blog post Monday.

To promote the experiment, Booker, who's known for his frequent Twitter posts, will use the hashtag "#SNAPChallenge."

More than 47 million Americans used SNAP benefits in August, according to the latest monthly data available. In New Jersey, 787,460 participated that month.

Those using the benefits are allowed to purchase breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, and dairy products. They are not permitted to buy alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, hot food and any food sold for on-premises consumption.

The Department of Agriculture, which administers the program, also states that soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice cream count as food it

Pretending to be on food stamps, you have a $4 budget to spend on food everyday. Keep in mind that means no fast food. Chicken pot pies and waffles all day, everyday for me. What would be your go to food of choice in this situation?

 

[Ohene]

oatmeal every morning
cold cut sandwiches for lunch
pasta, tomato sauce, ground beef would be a staple for dinner
rice and red stew for my african heads

 

[Ooh Marty]

A pack of bananas is 59 cent

Ramen noodles are 20 cent a pack

18 pack of water bottles at aldis is 2 bucks

 

[Karume]

for $4 you can get a pound of frozen vegetables, some canned fruit, a pack of hotdogs, and a pound bag of pasta or rice.

 

[infamous212]

Living on 4$ a day is not whats good....

At least he tryn understand what its like. After that week tho he going back to his normal budget which is much different then NEEDNG to live off that.

 

[The ADD]

Why would to buy bottle water on food stamps?.TF

 

[neko_804]

 

[HoustonHeat]

I would buy a weeks worth of frozen veggies, beans, rice, eggs, ground meat and buillon for soup. As long as you make time for cooking, you will be fine and full.

Plenty of folks have taken the snap challenge and blogged about it. They made pizza, curry, stew and more, and some of it looked good.

 

[Methodical]

I was on a similar budget years ago living off campus. Every week spent about:

Bag of brown rice = $2
Jar of oatmeal = $3
Weeks worth of chicken = $18
Can of black beans = $1
Weeks worth of salad = $5


Ate oatmeal everyday for breakfast and had brown rice and chicken with black beans everyday for lunch and dinner.

I mean, we all need to manage our money....Be wise.

 

[Harry Sax]

I was on a similar budget years ago living off campus. Every week spent about:

Bag of brown rice = $2
Jar of oatmeal = $3
Weeks worth of chicken = $18
Can of black beans = $1
Weeks worth of salad = $5


Ate oatmeal everyday for breakfast and had brown rice and chicken with black beans everyday for lunch and dinner.

I mean, we all need to manage our money....Be wise.

damn u was STRUGGLIN

 

[Methodical]

damn u was STRUGGLIN

Yeah, no lie.....when come to my money. I also went to the gym a lot so of course I had my protein shakes too but I thought I was eating good on 30 a week for food. So now, I better than back then.

 

[Still Benefited]

that ain't shyt really....I can eat off 50 for about 2 weeks,I guess it depend on where u live and the food cost....and I go shoppin for myself now cuz my baby mama can't shop and I still can do it.

4 pack of pork steaks-7$
Taco shells and kit-2$
Pack of Ground turkey-1.50$
10 peice of chicken 4.50
(2cans tuna-1.00$
Box of macaroni-.50
Mayonaise-1.50(all for tuna salad)
1 lb ground turkey-1.50
2 cans rotel 1.50
Cheese block-4.50
Bag of chips-1.50
Pack of ramen noodles for sides_1$

Thi is if u tryna eat good for 30 bucks,I got menus if u don't mind eatin absolute shyt...u can live off 20 a week or less if u have to,but who wanna live like that?

The list I made That's all about 30$ and is actually more than a week for me,and yea I said fuk breakfast nikka

 

[Ohene]

I was on a similar budget years ago living off campus. Every week spent about:

Bag of brown rice = $2
Jar of oatmeal = $3
Weeks worth of chicken = $18
Can of black beans = $1
Weeks worth of salad = $5


Ate oatmeal everyday for breakfast and had brown rice and chicken with black beans everyday for lunch and dinner.

I mean, we all need to manage our money....Be wise.

There were times where I'd splurge for some tropicana, shrimp to add to my rice, or some burgers or candy but ultimately between:

Bag of White or Parboiled rice
Onions
Broccoli
One Yellow and Red Pepper
Ragu Sauce
Ground Beef and Shrimp or Chicken (Chicken and Shrimp are diverse and go with with the stir fry and pasta sauce)
Pesto sauce if I felt rich
Teriyaki for Stir Fry or Soy Sauce for Fried Rice
Five Alive or Concentrated Frozen Minute Maid cans
Milk
Frozen Veggies
Oatmeal Crisp Cereal
Eggs
Bagels
Jam

I was whippin some good meals together whenever my roommates didnt make the kitchen dirty.
I miss being around campus, working, buying my own food (still do but a lot of fast food) and just being responsible. Cant wait til this internship is over.

 

[Ohene]

The list I made That's all about 30$ and is actually more than a week for me,and yea I said fuk breakfast nikka

This is key

During school I hated early classes so sometimes I would try to set my schedule for 12 oclock classes . Waking up at 10 oclock and fasting for 2 hours til lunch isnt even a task. When I'm really crunched for money, breakfast goes in the bushes

 

[Liquid]

that ain't shyt really....I can eat off 50 for about 2 weeks,I guess it depend on where u live and the food cost....and I go shoppin for myself now cuz my baby mama can't shop and I still can do it.

4 pack of pork steaks-7$
Taco shells and kit-2$
Pack of Ground turkey-1.50$
10 peice of chicken 4.50
(2cans tuna-1.00$
Box of macaroni-.50
Mayonaise-1.50(all for tuna salad)
1 lb ground turkey-1.50
2 cans rotel 1.50
Cheese block-4.50
Bag of chips-1.50
Pack of ramen noodles for sides_1$

Thi is if u tryna eat good for 30 bucks,I got menus if u don't mind eatin absolute shyt...u can live off 20 a week or less if u have to,but who wanna live like that?

The list I made That's all about 30$ and is actually more than a week for me,and yea I said fuk breakfast nikka

Where do you live that a 1lb of any ground meat is only $1.50?