During the presentation for the project I came to the realization that I was the only one who took this project to the next level. My peers didn't think to be healthy, or struggle with the choices between nutrition and pleasure. I feel as though I gained the most from this project. I now know what it's like to make ends meet, and if I ever am faced with this situation I will be well prepared. I loved this project, and I plan to make a difference for those that are going through this right now. I've read a plethora of articles that state how devastating it is that people who are on welfare are living this way in SC, why is it that nothing has been done yet? Why is it that government officials have participated in this challenge, and have yet to make changes?
Well, I can't answer those questions, but what I know I can do is make a change. Protest, youtube, blogging, whatever gets my point across. I'm on a mission!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Food Stamp Challenge - Day 5
LAST DAY! I decided to cook the rice for breakfast and eat the last of the plums. All I can think of is when I'm going to be able to eat a full meal. I couldn't live like this forever, I don't know what I would do. After class today, I'm going to cook the macroni and the rest of the veggies in a butter and black pepper sauce. I'll probably make some toast as well. Now that I'm looking at my meal choices and what's cheaper in the stores, people who have to live this lifestyle must develop serious health problems. I see major cholestorol issues from all the butter usage, possibly high blood pressure because things with sugar seem to be cheaper. I tried to balance everything out while shopping with the food pyramid, but protein as in meat was the most expensive. I did purchase nuts, but I can only eat so many peanuts and I don't know if I'm getting the correct amount of protein from a couple ofs handfuls. I took a chance to feel what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes, and it was amazing. When you're never full but surrounded by others who eat until they're busting at the seams and then waste the rest of their food, it hurts your heart. Although I am fortunate enough that I don't have to live this lifestyle forever, everytime I go food shopping I'm going to think of the people that have to put things back because they cannot afford it. I'm going to remember the people who can only afford to spend $3 a day on food and my heart will go out to them, because it's a frustrating (to say the least) way to live.
Monday, October 1, 2007
The Food Stamp Challenge - Day 4
It's late at night, so I'm going to recap on all that happened today. I woke up with some crazy hunger pains so I decided to make some rice because it fills me up pretty quick and chopped up some carrots and the rest of my broccoli, and sauted it in a butter sauce. I ate that and ran out the door to work at a car wash at Sonic. At the car wash I was fine. Not too hungry, definitely not full. One of my frat brothers decided to take a break and asked me to come with. Forgetting we're working at a fast food restaurant, I followed and as she began ordering I suddenly became oh so hungry again. But I stood my ground and kept the project in mind, as a juicy chicken sandwich passed by my face, I was keeping the project in mind, as cheesy mozzerella sticks were sending their delicious aromas my way, I proudly kept my ELC 381 project in mind! After that horrible torture, I was ready to leave the car wash. I went home, took a nap and then met up with my parents. They decided that wanted to go out to eat before we went to go see my best friend in the Black and Gold Pageant. So they went to Ham's and since they paid for my food, I didn't consider it cheating. If I would have sat there watching them eat, I might have passed out from agony.
Food Stamp Challenge - Day 3
Last night I made the rest of my spaghettio-s and had some celery with peanut butter on the side. As a study snack, I had peanuts, and then I decided I no longer wanted just water to drink. I decided to go out and buy a 2 kool aid packets for a quarter and grabbed some complimentary sugar packets from UNCG's cafeteria. This morning, my pitcher of kool aid was quite refreshing. Before class I took two pieces of bread and some butter and placed it in the refrigerator, I decided to put the cheese I borrowed or was given, to use. When I come back I will make some grilled cheese in the frying pan, because I don't have any foil to put the bread on in the oven.
As I try and put myself in someone elses shoes, crazy emotions erupt inside of me...I wake up in the morning hungry, my stomach devours the food I put in it too quickly and so I'm hungry during the day, and then when I go to sleep, I can't afford to eat anymore, so I go to bed hungry. It's depressing, and I feel a change should be made.
2 more days!!!!
As I try and put myself in someone elses shoes, crazy emotions erupt inside of me...I wake up in the morning hungry, my stomach devours the food I put in it too quickly and so I'm hungry during the day, and then when I go to sleep, I can't afford to eat anymore, so I go to bed hungry. It's depressing, and I feel a change should be made.
2 more days!!!!
Food Stamp Challenge - Day 2
OH my, I'm so hungry!
I had a cup of apple sauce before I left for my modern dance class. It's 9:34, and I felt like dying about 5 minutes ago...I made some spaghetti-o's and toast before I have to go to my next class. This project is upsetting. It's frustrating to come to the realization that there are people that have to live this way everyday. This project has definitely taken HUNGER to another level. I packed a bag of raw broccoli and carrots to eat as a snack during the day. I've realized I need to bring small veggies or fruit around with me during the day to reduce the intensity of the hunger pains. 3 more days to go!
I had a cup of apple sauce before I left for my modern dance class. It's 9:34, and I felt like dying about 5 minutes ago...I made some spaghetti-o's and toast before I have to go to my next class. This project is upsetting. It's frustrating to come to the realization that there are people that have to live this way everyday. This project has definitely taken HUNGER to another level. I packed a bag of raw broccoli and carrots to eat as a snack during the day. I've realized I need to bring small veggies or fruit around with me during the day to reduce the intensity of the hunger pains. 3 more days to go!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Food Stamp Challenge - Day 1
Day 1 - September 25, 2007
After I finished shopping I had to go to tutoring, but I was so hungry. I knocked on my neighbor's door and asked I could get some jelly and peanut butter for a quick peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My neighbor was generous enough to give me both jars for free, and some cheese also! Now with her donation I'm able to make PB&J sandwiches as well as grilled cheese. I made my PB&J and ran out the door. When I came back home, I washed and cut up a carrot and threw it in a ziplock baggie and ate it as a snack on my way to rehearsal. For dinner, I wasn't really hungry so I took the peanut butter and celery and ate that while studying. When I wake up tomorrow, I'm going to be starving to death. Plus this isn't a very healthy meal...I'm going to plan this out better tomorrow.
After I finished shopping I had to go to tutoring, but I was so hungry. I knocked on my neighbor's door and asked I could get some jelly and peanut butter for a quick peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My neighbor was generous enough to give me both jars for free, and some cheese also! Now with her donation I'm able to make PB&J sandwiches as well as grilled cheese. I made my PB&J and ran out the door. When I came back home, I washed and cut up a carrot and threw it in a ziplock baggie and ate it as a snack on my way to rehearsal. For dinner, I wasn't really hungry so I took the peanut butter and celery and ate that while studying. When I wake up tomorrow, I'm going to be starving to death. Plus this isn't a very healthy meal...I'm going to plan this out better tomorrow.
Food Stamp Challenge - Day 1
Live for 5 days on $1.00 per meal (or a total of $3.00) per day. Keep a record of prices and items.
Day 1 - September 25, 2007
I decided to go to Walmart for food shopping thinking I could find good deals on food. As I started in the produce aisle, I kept finding things that were $1.00 +. My approach on the project was to not only survive on $3.00 a day on food but I also wanted to find the healthiest choices while doing so. I wanted to make sure I had some type of fruit in my cart because all I picked up were veggies, celery, cabbage, broccoli, and carrots. The cheapest fruit I saw were plums at .98/lb, so I bought .90 lbs worth of plums which equates to 6-7 plums. The produce isle was the easiest part, most likely because I was just starting. Next I went to get bread, White bread was $1.07 and wheat was $1.18. White bread is gross, I would rather spend that extra $0.11 on walmart's wheat bread. Being a very picky eater was making this shopping experience even more complicated. I searched for the cheapest things in each aisle that I liked and could make a meal out of. I picked up some canned beans at $0.58 per can, and macaroni at $0.38, rice for a $1.00, thinking in the back of my head, I can make this work. As I'm strolling down the juice aisle, I decide to add up my items. By the time I got to juice, I was at $11.40, with no meat, eggs, milk, butter, cheese or breakfast items. For breakfast I decided that I would eat yogurt with granola, one of my favorite snacks/breakfast meals. But when I went down the granola aisle. The cheapest box I found was $2.72 and the large container of plain yogurt was $1.57. Something had to go. This is what made the project depressing, because not only did I have no protein in my cart, but I really wanted the yogurt and granola. So I stood in the middle of an aisle for a while trying to decide what to do. Take out some potential lunches, or snacks for the yogurt and granola, or leave the two foods I wanted really badly aside.
As I brought my items up to the register, I put everything up on the belt except the applesauce, broccoli, and chicken noodle soup, to wait for my subtotal and add the granola and yogurt if I could. By adding the yogurt and granola my subtotal was $15.28. MAN! The yogurt and granola had to go. I added the other things that were in my cart and my total was $14.31.
Frustrated and depressed, I left Wal-mart with 4 veggies, 1 fruit, yellow rice, a box of elbow macaroni, a loaf of bread, a can of red kidney beans, spaghetti-o's and chicken noodle soup, a can of peanuts, applesauce, and a box of butter in three plastic bags for 5 days.
Day 1 - September 25, 2007
I decided to go to Walmart for food shopping thinking I could find good deals on food. As I started in the produce aisle, I kept finding things that were $1.00 +. My approach on the project was to not only survive on $3.00 a day on food but I also wanted to find the healthiest choices while doing so. I wanted to make sure I had some type of fruit in my cart because all I picked up were veggies, celery, cabbage, broccoli, and carrots. The cheapest fruit I saw were plums at .98/lb, so I bought .90 lbs worth of plums which equates to 6-7 plums. The produce isle was the easiest part, most likely because I was just starting. Next I went to get bread, White bread was $1.07 and wheat was $1.18. White bread is gross, I would rather spend that extra $0.11 on walmart's wheat bread. Being a very picky eater was making this shopping experience even more complicated. I searched for the cheapest things in each aisle that I liked and could make a meal out of. I picked up some canned beans at $0.58 per can, and macaroni at $0.38, rice for a $1.00, thinking in the back of my head, I can make this work. As I'm strolling down the juice aisle, I decide to add up my items. By the time I got to juice, I was at $11.40, with no meat, eggs, milk, butter, cheese or breakfast items. For breakfast I decided that I would eat yogurt with granola, one of my favorite snacks/breakfast meals. But when I went down the granola aisle. The cheapest box I found was $2.72 and the large container of plain yogurt was $1.57. Something had to go. This is what made the project depressing, because not only did I have no protein in my cart, but I really wanted the yogurt and granola. So I stood in the middle of an aisle for a while trying to decide what to do. Take out some potential lunches, or snacks for the yogurt and granola, or leave the two foods I wanted really badly aside.
As I brought my items up to the register, I put everything up on the belt except the applesauce, broccoli, and chicken noodle soup, to wait for my subtotal and add the granola and yogurt if I could. By adding the yogurt and granola my subtotal was $15.28. MAN! The yogurt and granola had to go. I added the other things that were in my cart and my total was $14.31.
Frustrated and depressed, I left Wal-mart with 4 veggies, 1 fruit, yellow rice, a box of elbow macaroni, a loaf of bread, a can of red kidney beans, spaghetti-o's and chicken noodle soup, a can of peanuts, applesauce, and a box of butter in three plastic bags for 5 days.
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