dollar meal

May 16th, 2007 @ 10:50 pm | food | Post a Comment

And no, I’m not talking about McDonald’s Dollar Menu.

I don’t normally discuss politics over here. But I guess this isn’t really about politics. It’s about eating. And who doesn’t love to eat?

I read a story today about four Congressmen who have pledged to spend only $21 this week on food. Why $21? Well, that’s how much the average recipient of food stamps receives. I don’t really want to debate the merits of food stamps (except to say that fact that the richest country in the world has 35+ million hungry (aka “food insecure”) people and 12+ million hungry children is shocking and deeply sad), but can you imagine trying to eat for that cheaply?

Twenty one dollars for twenty one meals. It seems to me like you’d have to totally forgo nutrition and eat the absolute cheapest things you can find: processed stuff in cans. Rice, beans, maybe peanut butter, what else?

I admit I’m probably a sucker for any politician who does something to make them more “normal.” Many of them don’t even know how much a gallon of milk costs. Another story that came out today calculated that the current crop of presidential candidates have a net worth of at least a quarter BILLION dollars.

Think about it: One dollar per meal. Every meal, every day. Do you know how many meals a QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS buys? Even good nutritious ones with fresh produce and lean protein and whole grains? A whole lot.

I may not be a billionaire, but this is yet another reason I realize my life ain’t bad at all. Maybe I should sign up for some shifts at a local food bank. In the meantime I’ll be checking in on the food stamp challenge on the Congressmen’s blogs.

comments

  1. That’s a pretty impressive thing for politicians to embark on.. I’m not one for politics at all, of whatever country, because honestly? I don’t believe that most have a clue on how “normal” people live.

    But $1 a meal here in Australia? That won’t allow you to eat out, ANYWHERE. It IS just staples. And what’s scarier? Even basic things like bread and milk and rice, the prices just keep going up and up. I feel really, really lucky as well, and as much as I complain about my horrible budget and all the rest — I’m thankful for being able to afford higher than a dollar meals.

    Even if one Aussie dollar is actually only 83c. Looks like I’d be REALLY screwed.

    written by alyndabear

    May 16th, 2007 @ 11:13 pm

  2. Good post! I like hearing what you have to say about politcs because you seem so non judgemental about it (I mean, who’s going to get bugged because you talked about hungry children? If they do. . . well, shame on them).

    written by Janssen

    May 16th, 2007 @ 11:50 pm

  3. Alyndabear is right. It’s a really noble cause. I have no idea how I’d do that in Australia unless I ate rice the whole time. Although good, healthy food is much more expensive in the US than it is here.

    written by E :)

    May 17th, 2007 @ 4:23 am

  4. Thanks for the link Janet! It’s a great story, I’ll be watching.

    written by Erika

    May 17th, 2007 @ 7:03 am

  5. This guy lived on $1 a day for a month. It was pretty impressive.
    http://hungryforamonth.blogspot.com/

    What I love about you is that you put an optimistic spin on everything. If I posted on this topic, it would have started as a soapbox rant and devolved into threats to civil disobedience.

    written by Jennifer

    May 17th, 2007 @ 7:55 am

  6. Maybe you should recommend the olive oil diet to this fella to curb his appetite.

    written by Lextoase

    May 17th, 2007 @ 8:11 am

  7. Hey, it’s my congressman! I know you’re a fan.

    written by Lextoase

    May 17th, 2007 @ 8:12 am

  8. What a great thing.
    I looked at Tim Ryan’s blog.
    He should have skipped the tomato sauce or atleast not bought so much and bought like 2 apples or oranges.

    Maybe a head of lettuce.

    written by Julie

    May 17th, 2007 @ 9:01 am

  9. Interesting. I’ll have to check that out.
    As a side, you mentioned volunteering. Our Food Bank here in Cali has a clothes closet too – and they have volunteers on hand to help people choose clothing (read: stylist!) for people who can come in and get most items for free (up to a certain number per month). I think that would be super-fun! And you’d be totally good at something like that.

    written by Aimee

    May 17th, 2007 @ 9:43 am

  10. I’m thinking it might be possible. You really have to be creative and scale back. But I’m thinking it might be able to be done. Lots of beans and rice and hamburger meat, but I think it might be done. Really tough though no doubt.

    In all honesty, I’m glad I’ve never been in that position, but I think that welfare is meant to supplement not be the only source of income.

    I have some opinions, but this was interesting.

    ~Jef

    written by Edge

    May 17th, 2007 @ 9:52 am

  11. Can I ask a few questions?
    Does the avaerage food stamps recipient LIVE on $3 a day, or is that supplemental to their own income. Because, don’t they have jobs (Obviously minimum wage, but a job none the less?)? Surely they’re living on more then just that?
    I am certainly not trying to discredit this challange. I think hunger and poverty in America and throughout the world are serious issues that need to be given the limelight. I just honestly don’t know much about how food stamps work and I am shocked to hear that someone could live on only $3 a day.
    It quite amazing to see politicians actually practicing what they preach. I will definitly follow their blogs, and I hope something wonderful comes from it!

    written by jessica

    May 17th, 2007 @ 9:52 am

  12. I know quite a few Congressmen and women. A couple I know a little too well. I assure you, their poo stinks, they fight with their wives and husbands, they watch Office Space and they do their own grocery shopping. Well, most of them do. A handfull are beyond rich, but honestly, most of them need the money. For the most part, they are all pretty normal people. Except for one congressman I know that cuts his fingernails into his lap during meetings and mines for nose-gold as though nobody is watching him. THAT dude is weird. But for the most part, they are pretty normal guys with bad glasses. And kudos to them for trying to eat on food stamps.

    written by Bones

    May 17th, 2007 @ 10:34 am

  13. What a great story. I really loved the picture of the congressman in their suits at the grocery store.

    Maybe next they should try living for a couple years with no health insurance.

    written by Laurel

    May 17th, 2007 @ 10:37 am

  14. I like Laurel’s idea no insurance for congress!

    written by Tuesday

    May 17th, 2007 @ 1:14 pm

  15. I agree that food stamps are probably meant to supplement your income, however, if $21 was all that someone actually needed for assistance, don’t you think they probably wouldn’t even bother?

    I have mixed emotions on the whole system as I’m sure that a lot of people take advantage of it…however, it breaks my heart to think that there are a lot of families out there that NEED the assistance, but are forced to survive with such little help.

    I am a Mom of two small children, and how heart wrenching to think that there are little kids among us (and apparently lots of them) who aren’t being nourished because their parents can’t afford it.

    It’s soooo sad that in a nation such as ours, with all of the luxuries that some of us are afforded, some families can’t even afford to eat. Thanks for posting about this…it’s an eye-opener, for sure.

    written by Shesabigstar

    May 17th, 2007 @ 1:26 pm

  16. that’s a pretty cool idea. i have to agree with laurel…they *should* try to go without health insurance. maybe then they will work on a way to solve that problem.

    written by cady

    May 17th, 2007 @ 2:51 pm

  17. I am sure many would try to stick inside their food stamp budget so that their dollars can be used on transportation, rent, etc.

    written by Lextoase

    May 17th, 2007 @ 3:04 pm

  18. Great post.

    written by Lizzy

    May 17th, 2007 @ 6:19 pm

  19. This number is very different from the people I know collecting food stamps here in Washington State. I have a few friends on food stamps and they definately eat better than my husband. My aunts daughter in law brags about how they have so much food it goes bad before they can eat it all. My cousin gets all organic food with her food stamps. Another cousin buys really expensive pre-seasoned $21 dollar steaks.

    I think food stamps are great when needed but consumers should have allotments of food they can buy. i.e. NOT DORITOes, soda, and marshmallows. Yes to fruit/veggies, meats, milks, grains. And only olive oil :)

    written by Willow

    May 18th, 2007 @ 9:18 am

  20. I think it’s pretty cool they are trying to live off of food stamps. Hopefully they will actively try to solve the problem too instead of just making a point.

    written by Lindsey

    May 18th, 2007 @ 9:56 am

  21. Very interesting. I’m off to read more about it at his blog.

    written by Isabel

    May 18th, 2007 @ 11:20 am

  22. this is fascinating to me simply because I spend an atrocious amount of money on food. Like seriously atrocious, and it’s things like this that humble me. I travel a lot for work and I get SIXTY FIVE dollars a day for food, and that was recently increased. Now, of course, that’s eating in restaurants in a city, but still, it’s a huge difference.

    Now, I know it’s atrocious and what not, but I am nothing if not a judger and I still get pissed if I’m in line at the grocery store and the person uses food stamps and buys a carton of cigarettes for $40. I know I shouldn’t judge, but I do. I can’t help it.

    written by Nic

    May 21st, 2007 @ 2:12 pm