Day 7: I've made it!

This last day I did my best to finish all the rest of the food I had left over from my Grocery trip to the Dollar Tree. I made myself one last peanut butter sandwich and finished off the last of the crackers. I had the last frozen dinner, fried rice with chicken.

And suddenly I was I was all out of food just in time for the end of the last night.
With only a few hours left I reflected on the experience and am truly glad I participated. This challenge opens up your eyes to a world that I, myself, never thought all that much about. I know from now on when I go to grab food from Dhall or my fridge I will be utterly thankful as well as prepared to give back in any way I can, for example I plan on saving a good portion of my dinning dollars also known as fake money for the end of the semester when ETC has a food drive and use the money on people who really can benefit from it.  A few of the other things I have realized and acknowledged during this week include:

1. The amount of food I consume on a regular day to day basis could be split in half and be enough food for a grown man 
2. Had I planned better and thought more about the quality of food rather than the quantity I was getting I could have eaten a lot healthier and potentially better tasting food this week.
3. Continuing on that, when finding your next meal is a constant struggle planning meals and getting food at the lowest prices is crucial to staying healthy.
4. I realized how truly lucky I was to grow up never thinking about where my next meal was coming from and being use to food just appearing in my always packed refrigerator.
5. I also know that I had never felt real hunger. As often as I would complain that I'm am starving that has thankfully never really been the case. I had glimpses of real hunger throughout the week but there was always something there to satisfy it eventually. Real hunger is having nothing to eat and nowhere to get food from.
6. It is so important to give back to those in need because you never know what can happen. In a twist of fate I could easily end up in a tough situation similar to those who rely on the SNAP program. 

As happy as I am to be finished with the challenge and enjoy the ice cream that has been waiting for me to eat all week long,  I vow to be more conscious about the amount of food I buy and consume as well as notice the quality. I also encourage all to try the SNAP challenge for even just a few days to really open your mind and broaden your perspectives on the world around you.

Happy end to the SNAP challenge!!!

 

  

Day 6: My lazy Valentine's day with dollar store snacks

My roommate and I tend to inspire one another to stay in bed as long as possible over the weekend. This Saturday (Valentiene's day) was no difference. We normally we order in food like Jimmy Johns or Mai Sushi and lay around all day snacking on the junk food we keep in our room. My menu today was stale popcorn I had opened and forgot to close the first day of the challenge, Dollar tree cheese and crackers sans the cheese since I used it all making my quesadilla and the last mini Reese's left in the package.

It was not long until the there was a knock on the door with girls in my sorority dropping off candy grams for our valentines day philanthropy. My big had sent me three.

Usually having candy just appear at my door would make my day but not today. Although I theory this was free food that would not count towards my allowed daily spending I so badly wanted to complete this challenge only living off what I bought for myself. So the candy grams will remain unopened until Sunday at midnight. 

Throughout the week I have noticed so much more the food that is constantly offered to me for free, like the package my parents sent or these candy grams. As nice as all these gestures are I know that the money or food given could be put to a better cause for those who really need food gifts. 

 

Day 5: When your friends go out to eat and you can't afford to go

Friday. Finally the weekend! I was so excited to relax from the long and just hang out with my friends. Until I realized all the plans my friends started to make I could not participate in. They planned a big dinner at a Mexican restaurant off campus. All I wanted to do was go and order a big burrito with extra guac. 

All day I told myself it would be a bad idea to go because I'd have to watch everyone else eat while I just sat there being tortured. After hours of convincing I decided to still tag along not wanted to miss out on seeing everyone ( I had already missed countless dhall meals this week, and I desperately needed to catchup and hear the many stories i missed throughout the week).

Before leaving for dinner I whipped up a cheese tortilla to get in the Mexican mood. Although, this time using the small pieces of real cheese I bought for my cheese and crackers snacks. I was very excited this one came out much better than my last.

Proud of myself for my successful meal I headed with my friends to the restaurant. As soon as we sit down they bring out chips and guac. My favorite. All night long I sat with a glass of tap water watching my friends dig in to the delicious looking meals. The guac siting in front of me like torture.

As soon as we got home I decided to spoil myself and have another dinner I pulled out a delicious gourmet frozen dollar store mean and heated it up... basically just as good as fresh chips and guacamole right?

Only two more days i kept telling myself I can do this. But looking back I think about the people that really live off SNAP there is no end point for them its an on going struggle of finding their next meal. Some have never lived any other way and that thought makes me saddest of all as well as grateful for all that I am fortunate to have. This experience has really opened my eyes to how so many people live  every day and inspires me to want to give them the best food options possible as well as help them get to a better state finically. 

     

Day 4: When you forget to pack a lunch

Waking up Thursday morning my alarm not ringing. I looked down at my phone and its 8:46am... I have exactly 14 minutes to get up get dressed and run to Jepson for class. In this process packing my delicious dollar tree pb&j completely slipped my mind.

The first stomach growl was at 10:30 on the way in to my second class of the day and the realization hit that I am not done until 3:00pm today. Any other week I wouldn't think twice about not having any food with me. I'd stop at Lou's or Passport quickly in between class and use my fake money to grab a snake.

My third class of the day the stomach hunger was gone but I was tired. Focusing on the interesting ins and outs of Managerial Accounting was harder than usual. I kept thinking how hard it must be for those who are malnourished to focus and be efficient while working.

Last class of the day my wellness... only an hour and half left until I can run to my dorm to eat. I sat staring at the clock until finally my teacher said "have a nice day everyone"

Running back to north court I grab my jar of peanut butter and a spoon and dig in not wanting to waste time putting it on bread.

After stuffing my face with many many spoonfuls of peanut butter I decided to change up my lunch and make myself a cheese tortilla. At home this is my specialty, One minute in the microwave I make the best quesadillas that are cheese loaded and with Tacobell sauce packets. Here I am settling for dollar tree tortillas and shredded 'cheese like' product. 

Two minute in the microwave:

Absolutely nothing melted.
Finally after 4 minutes, despite that the tortilla was now on the harder side the cheese was beginning to melt together enough to enjoy a bite.

Having only eaten peanut butter and cheese like products today I was looking forward to a good dinner. I choose lasagna with Alfredo sauce.

After eating I started to think about dessert. That is something I really miss having after a good meal. I thought about my favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream that no matter what I ate before I would always have room for. I swear I spent the rest of the night thinking about how great a bowl of ice cream would be right now.

 
 

Day 3: Homemade cookie and a glance in to poverty

Waking up to a package notification is one of the best feelings. The excitement and curiosity makes my classes fly by and at the first chance I get I run to pick it up. The box, sent from home, was marked with my moms handwriting 'Fragile' with a big heart next to it. Crap.. It's a Valentine's day package, no doubt stocked with all kinds of candy and goodies that I will not be able to eat for another 4 and a half days. So the package sat unopened across from me on my bed, taunting me. Ehhh what's the harm of just opening it to see actually whats inside. In a matter of seconds I was tearing open the package.

It was worse than I thought. Homemade snicker doodles. My absolute favorite... of course. After seeing those I quickly moved the package under my bed in an attempt to avoid the temptation. Instead I stuck to my delicious peanut butter sandwich and crackers for lunch. 

Tonight we had the poverty simulation. For 2 hours I was a 17 year old high school drop out with a single mom and a 14 year old sister. We had $10.00 to our name and zero employed family members. We did not qualify for benefits, loans and we could not get a job. Despite everything we did, we could not catch a break. I thought about when I was 17 and how thoughts of paying the mortgage, utility and even where my next meal was coming from never crossed my mind. It gave me an appreciation for what I have and a better understanding of the struggle people in poverty go through every day. The whole experience left me frustrated and concerned that even those in poverty who what to get out and make a better life for themselves and their family are unable to because of a lack of resources. 

I thought the whole experience at the simulation was very interesting and informative. Although at the end they brought out trays and trays of food and drinks for us, which of course was torture. In my anger of not being able to take part in the snacks I thought about how strange it is and how much of a waste buying all this food was. Every student in the room has access to dhall and the campus food places for what most of us perceive as 'free' food. The food they gave to us could have gone to someone who actually needed it, like my simulation family who was modeled after many families in similar devastating circumstances. 

Coming home from after this long day I was so drained and just wanted a NICE meal and to get some sleep. So I go to my freezer and pull out my next frozen dinner. It was lasagna tonight.

Not quite the layered heaven I think of when I hear the words lasagna but the noodles and sauce were eatable and we're perfect for a quick dinner. 

I've realized that the amount of little meals throughout the day that I consume are unnecessary. I use the phrase 'I'm hungry' very loosely. I say it when I'm bored, when I watch tv, when I am doing work, and when its around a meal time and my body is use to eating then. Real hunger is a fear of not knowing what and where your next meal is coming from. The thought that the emptiness in your stomach is just going to keep growing with no seen end point. I hope after this challenge that I take this in to consideration when I make my late night etc runs and jimmy johns orders and think about where this food could be going. I hope to do what I can to help donated and figure out efficient ways to get food to these people.

   

Day 2: Sharing Is a lot harder when you're living off of 4 dollars a day

So day 2 Tuesday, I am still feeling confident about the project and my ability to complete it. Waking up, as usual I have no time to eat before class so my first meal is not until 11:45. I ran across campus from the business school back to north to make a quick peanut butter sandwich before I had to head back for my next class.

 
Before leaving for class I packed a small baggy of popcorn just incase I needed something to get me through my next two classes. Leaving my dorm I ran in to Yani walking the same direction. She walks over hunched over holding her stomach telling me she can't do this thing she's dying of hunger and can not focus in her classes. Me at this point was not starving having just finished my delicious peanut butter and bread automatically offered her some of my popcorn. Quickly realizing that this was a part of my small supply of food for the week and I still had to get through 2 classes, I started to take it back. I then thought about the story from class about the man who was asking for food on the street and afterwards giving half of what he had received to another man who was less successful across the road. I saw the struggle in Yani's face and I realized had the situation been flipped Yani would not think twice about giving me some of the food she had to tide me over, so I gave in.

My bag is a little emptier, my stomach was a little hungrier leaving my last class, but I knew I made the right choice sharing. If someone like the man struggling and asking for food every single day does not think twice about sharing the little food he is given I should not either when someone is in greater need.

Around about 6:30 my stomach started to growl with hunger and I decided it was time to try one of my delicious 'Gourmet' Dollar Tree frozen dinners. I choose 'Rigatoni with a garlic cream sauce broccoli and white chicken'. In just 4 minutes I have warm dinner waiting for me to dig in.

Not quite the gourmet I am used to eating but the pasta and sauce itself were actually very tasty. If you hadn't noticed from the picture there was a lack of actual broccoli pieces, instead a few shreds of what I think was supposed to be broccoli. The 3 small pieces of 'white chicken' were oddly very cube like in shape and rubbery in texture (taking one bite I immediately split it across the room). After avoiding the rest of the sketchy aspects of the meal I finished the noodles and it satisfied my hunger.

Around 11:30 like clock work I started to feel the hunger growing again, so I allowed myself 2 reese's before settling in for bed (not wanting to stay up much later to avoid the impending real hunger that was inevitably coming).

Day 2 finished. I've learned a lot about myself and my selfish tendencies and the selflessness it takes to give away food when you yourself are struggling. I also learned to avoid at all costs any chicken products found at the dollar store... probably something most people already know and do.  

Day 1: Dollar Tree Grocery Shopping

Having the flu this past weekend, for the first time, actually has some benefit. Waking up Monday morning, I still had very little appetite. I was not worried that I hadn't gone food shopping and had virtually nothing in my dorm room to eat. ( Usually this would never be a worry because I have my trusty swipe and the dinning hall only a few yards away, but this week I can't afford that, what I now have come to realize is great luxury.)

Around 3:00 I began to regain a little of my appetite and decided to make the one thing affordable I had in my room to eat. Ramen Noodles $0.67.    

This was a food I use to eat all the time when I was little before I had to think about the quality and health of the foods I put in to my body ( I called it pasta soup back then.) Although there is little health benefit from Ramen Noodles, it is very affordable and provided the sustenance I needed.

Later that evening Yani and I had free time to go grocery shopping for the week. We decided that if we went to the Dollar Tree we could get more bang for our buck, not really considering the quality of the food we'd be getting. We individually pooled our money for the week and determined that we could spend about $28.00. Despite that I have a car on campus we wanted to take the schools daily connecter to the Dollar Tree because we know that the majority of people on SNAP have to use public transportation.

We got on at 5:05 here and were the first stop. The Dollar Tree is very much on the other side of the bus pick up and drop off so we had to wonder all the way around some buildings and across parking lots to get to it.  As we walked around the strip mall we fantasized about going in to the many food places we passed, like Chick Filla and Five Guys, that we could no longer afford, and pigging out. Finally at the Dollar Tree, we first went straight to the freezer foods. Because neither of us have a real kitchen on campus, we knew that microwaving meals would our only means of cooking. So for dinners we got 7 different frozen 'GOURMET' meals.

 

Next we wondered around looking at our options for breakfast, lunch and general snacks .

In the end I was able to get a lot of items because of how cheap everything was. I got a loaf of bread and peanut butter, 2 boxes of what I thought was instant oatmeal, small blocks of cheese and crackers, a big bag of popcorn, tortillas and shredded 'Cheese-like' product (only saw the cheese part when I was buying it), gum, and 2 small bags of Reese's and chocolates... I figured that even if I am starving mini Reese's would still make me a little bit happier throughout the week.

In the end the total came out to $23.60. So I still have about 5 dollars left in case I run out of food before the end of the challenge!

After paying we ran with our bags back to the bus stop just in time to catch the 6:25 ride back to campus. The ride stopped to let people on and off 2 more times and then took us back to campus before 7:00. Although the trip could have been greatly shortened had we just driven my car to the store, we had the chance to get a closer to realistic feel for what people on SNAP with no cars go through on a daily basis. 

For dinner Yani and I had heated up frozen pizzas. It was not quite as good as the typical Digiorno frozen pizza I am use to, but the rubbery cheese pizza settled the growing hunger for a while.

Around about 11:00, while I was still up doing work, I began to get hungry again. I decided it was time to try some of the instant oatmeal... well like I said before the oatmeal I thought I had bought. It turned out I bought cream of wheat instead. 

It was a lot grainier than the oatmeal I was expecting to eat and reminded me slightly of baby food, but I of course finished it anyways not wanted to just throw away any food I bought for myself.

So I survived day 1 with a new appreciation for public transportation and the quality of food I am used to and regularly take for granted. I am looking forward to the rest of this week and the many learning opportunities and realizations to come.