Would you believe -- there's a mayor on food stamps? Well there isn't, that we know of. But there is a mayor who's willing to live like he's on food stamps. Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey has started a "food stamp challenge." For one week he will spend only $30 on groceries, nearly the equivalent of what New Jersey residents get if they qualify for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
No eating out for Mayor Booker, that's cheating. And no meat, either -- he's a vegetarian. So the big question is: What is he eating? I think it might actually be easier to eat for $30 a week if you're avoiding meat.
Well, clearly a lot of beans are in Cory's future. Today he bought some, along with corn and an apple. Politico.com posted a menu for him, but it included meat. Hello, vegetarian! Booker also tweeted that coffee is not in the budget. (I love how someone offered him advice on how to get free coffee.) But back to breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- here are some helpful resources Mayor Booker could turn to for menus and recipes.
- Food Stamp Vegan has lots of recipes and ideas.
- Skinny Bitch author Rory Freedman did a vegan food stamp challenge this summer.
- And here's a vegetarian-based menu plan for people on food stamps.
- Advice on living on food stamps -- or on a tight budget -- from Savvy Vegetarian.
- Seven cheap vegetarian recipes from FoodStamps.org.
You can see Cory Booker's grocery store receipts on his Facebook page. I think he's just about hit his limit! Good luck to Mayor Booker and anyone else on the SNAP challenge -- for the week and in real life.
Have you ever lived on food stamps/SNAP? How did you make it nutritious?
Image via WayWire/YouTube
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Comments 12
I don't do food stamps.
I have fed a family of 4 on a budget of $70 a week, and it isn't easy or the 'best'. It is doable though. At the very least, I hope his actions bring more focus on programs/charities (like Feeding America) that go to help the hungry in this nation.
Why is it so common for CafeMom to be redundant? Do we really need multiple blogs on the same subject? No.
Funny...Whenever posts come up here with how much people get in foodstamps rarely is it that little. Regardless it's a supplimental program.
what happened to my last comment?
Assholes!!
When I first moved out, my food budget per week was about $15. Money wasn't THAT tight that I only had that much to spend, but that's all I'd usually end up spending on a typical grocery run. But I also lived alone without any children, and I don't have a large appetite. I'll often choose sleep over food. I bought something quick for breakfast, snacks for lunches (which almost always included a bunch of bananas), and a few things to make for dinners through the week. I usually made something one day and it lasted me awhile. I didn't really buy many snacks, which can increase your grocery bill a lot. I also knew how to cook, so I didn't have to settle for expensive, pre-packaged meals. ;)
I never have, but I think it would be hard. I know we spend a fortune on fruits and veggies. Of course if you cut out the bad stuff then you can afford the good stuff :)