The Food Stamp Challenge

by Jill Hilton, Marketing Intern

The issues with food stamps have been debated for years: cut the benefits of food stamps, add requirements to obtaining food stamps, and limit what can be purchased by the recipients. Food Stamps are coupons or stamps that are distributed by the government for impoverish or low income families. For most of the families this is their way of life, they count on the money provided through the stamps to eat from week to week. The Wall Street Journal states since Hurricane Irene the rate of food stamps have increased to one in every seven Americans benefiting from food stamps. This number is part of a 5.5 % increase for 2011.

Everyone has an opinion of how food stamps should or should not be regulated. Currently the Senate is debating 1000 page‘farm bill’, the bill will cut up to $2 billion in loopholes that some states use to help award funds that would not otherwise be funded according to The Tacoma News Tribune. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is currently costing the government 78 billion dollars according to The Atlantic. This number may seem high but this resource helps to keep children feed.

In our local area of Pierce County, the maximum dollar amount being given to a single person on food stamps is $7 dollars a day. On average a family of four receive $500 dollars a month, if you do the math that is around $125 a week and then $17 dollars a day. That is three meals a day for four people, it seems like it might be do able until you are the one forced to decide if you get your child fruit snacks instead of actual fruit because it is cheaper. Children are being feed but the healthy optionsavailable are limited. The government shouldn’t be cutting the program but making changes to help provide these families with healthier options. Giving food discounts for fruits and vegetables. A great way to put you into the shoes of another would be to take “The Food Stamp” challenge. Go to the grocery store; price out a list of basic needs for the week or just the day. Remember you only have $17 dollars for a family of four for three meals a day. I thought this challenge was do-able until I added up all the groceries, for three day's worth of breakfast and lunch and a single dinner meal, it was $48 dollars. That leaves $3 dollars for two more meals to figure out. This is one of the reasons people are not “Living the dream” on food stamps. It is easy to over spend and end up living on ramen noodles. I would like to see if anyone can actually make $17 dollars work for a family of four. Fill free to write a comment and tell us how you did it.