Eating Like A College Student

College Student

So, the recent “Farm Bill” is really a food stamp bill.  And the recent decision by North Carolina republicans to reduce unemployment benefits to a more rational amount is really a “War on the Poor”.

Recently, democrats have issued the “NAP” challenge.  That is, try and eat on the amount allocated through the food stamp program – $31.50 a week.

I’m pretty sure I could do it, but a republican staffer did:

Texas Republican Rep. Steve Stockman’s communications director and agriculture policy advisor, Donny Ferguson, says he has been able to eat well on $27.58 for a week, less than the $31.50 House Democrats have limited themselves to for their “SNAP Challenge.”

“I wanted to personally experience the effects of the proposed cuts to food stamps.  I didn’t plan ahead or buy strategically, I just saw the publicity stunt and made a snap decision to drive down the street and try it myself.  I put my money where my mouth is, and the proposed food stamp cuts are still quite filling,” Ferguson said of the challenge.

Stockman’s office noted that Ferguson did not use coupons, discount programs, or a shopping list, and he shopped at locations accessible via public transportation.

“Not only did I buy a week’s worth of food on what Democrats claim is too little, I have money left over.  Based on my personal experience with SNAP benefit limits we have room to cut about 12 percent more,” Ferguson said.

On his list were items that wouldn’t make mine:

  • Root beer
  • Honeycomb cereal
  • Popsicles
  • Cookies

Off the top of my head, I would have:

  • Ramen
  • Broccoli
  • Bananas
  • Raw walnuts or almonds
  • Rice
  • Eggs
  • Pasta
  • Pasta Sauce
  • Some form of salad green – probably fresh spinach

I’m sure I could eat better on less than Mr. Ferguson.

6 responses to “Eating Like A College Student

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  2. You definitely hit on some major deficiencies in Ferguson’s list; anyone on this diet isn’t going to last long. But that’s not Ferguson’s point, he wants to show that he can eat like poor people (“so stop thinking they have it so bad, rice and beans are great!”) and that the Democrats are being prisses about the budget (“even I can eat for a week on less than that”). And at least as far as the second point, he’s completely wrong. I tried to replicate his experiment and went WAY over budget, even using the cheapest possible options and buying cheaper alternatives when his items weren’t available.

    • You definitely hit on some major deficiencies in Ferguson’s list; anyone on this diet isn’t going to last long.

      Agreed. I didn’t see milk for the cereal either.

      stop thinking they have it so bad, rice and beans are great!

      I mentioned my Puerto Rican family the other day; my wife gets down right GIDDY when we travel to the island where her grandmother makes beans and rice.

      Now, the shit Ferguson is talking about is crap, but….

      I tried to replicate his experiment and went WAY over budget, even using the cheapest possible options and buying cheaper alternatives when his items weren’t available.

      Sorry it took me so long, but my shot at it is now posted. I didn’t even consider trying to replicate his menu.

  3. Not sure about walnuts but if you went with almonds that would blow a pretty big hole in your budget. Raw almonds tend to be pretty expensive – at least they are in the supermarkets near me.

  4. Not sure about walnuts but if you went with almonds that would blow a pretty big hole in your budget. Raw almonds tend to be pretty expensive – at least they are in the supermarkets near me.

    They are very expensive, but cheaper per helping than red meat, which is what they replace. I think I can get a bag for 9 bucks that would likely last 2 weeks.

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