Peanut Butter Sandwich

I heard an interesting piece on the news at work. Someone figured out that people who receive food stamps get $21.00 a week for food which breaks down to $1.00 a meal for three meals a day. Some Congress people decided to take a challenge and try living on this budget for a short while to see how they would fare. The reason this came to light was one congressman was flying to somewhere and his jars of peanut butter and jelly didn't pass the security checkpoint and got thrown out. That was a good part of what he had left to eat for the week.

I found it heartening that some people are willing to at least open their minds and hopefully their hearts to such an experiment, rather than just lambasting the government tax dollar going to food stamps at all.

Then I thought about what I spend on food and wondering if I'm within the dollar a meal budget. I eat alot of peanut butter- and cheerios and rice and beans. I get some chicken or egg salad at the deli where I work and make sandwiches on bread or crackers I bring from home; rather than buying a deli sandwich for six bucks. Orange juice and bananas are an expense but I like to have it for vitamins.

I think I will work up a list of my usual groceries and see how I do.

MY FOOD LIST

Oat products for heart health

Cheerios store brand $2.50 2 boxes $5.00

Slow cooking oats large store brand 4.50

Oat Bread 1.99 4/ month 8.00

Oat crackers 4.00 4.00



Grains other

Wheat crackers 4.00 4.00

Bagels 6/ day old 1.80 2/month 3.60

Bag white rice 1.99 1.99

Bag Brown rice 3.00 3.00

Pasta 3/ 1.00 1.00

Annie's Mac and cheese 2 5.00

Natural peanut butter 2/ month $6.00

Jar peanut butter $3.00

Instant coffee 2/mo. $6.50

Tea $4.00

Beans and lentils $5.00

Total $60.10

So that short list of staples about takes it. I'll average $1.50 each workday for something for my sandwich = $7.50. $3.00 a day for whatever fruit, vegetable or dairy- yogurt or cheese- I choose x 7 = $21.00. That leaves about $6.00 for whatever else I might like for a treat. A jar of spaghetti sauce ? a bag of cookies ? whooo hooo!

Now imagine doing it month in and month out. Pretty narrow. What about a holiday meal with your family? That would blow your budget for the month. Something to think about.