Comments on: How do I make it through the day? http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/51/how-do-i-make-it-through-the-day/ Could you live of $21 of food a week? Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jackie http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/51/how-do-i-make-it-through-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Jackie Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:19:32 +0000 http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/51/how-do-i-make-it-through-the-day/#comment-117 The time factor is something I also am learning about. Last night when I came home (starving) instead of ordering up a pizza on the way home or grabbings something I could easily nuke, I had to actually cook my rice and veggies. Then, this morning, I was running late so I totally forgot to make my peanut butter sandwich and ran out the door. Luckily I had stashed an emergency banana in my handbag yesterday - because that was lunch. My co-workers did smirk a bit as they walked by the office with their Tio's bag. So another lesson - it's not all about the food, it's about how you have to structure your life. And it's not easy. The time factor is something I also am learning about. Last night when I came home (starving) instead of ordering up a pizza on the way home or grabbings something I could easily nuke, I had to actually cook my rice and veggies.

Then, this morning, I was running late so I totally forgot to make my peanut butter sandwich and ran out the door. Luckily I had stashed an emergency banana in my handbag yesterday – because that was lunch. My co-workers did smirk a bit as they walked by the office with their Tio’s bag.

So another lesson – it’s not all about the food, it’s about how you have to structure your life. And it’s not easy.

]]> By: An http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/51/how-do-i-make-it-through-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-116 An Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:52:30 +0000 http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/51/how-do-i-make-it-through-the-day/#comment-116 I didn't take it as whining! I didn’t take it as whining!

]]> By: Chuck Warpehoski http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/51/how-do-i-make-it-through-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Chuck Warpehoski Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:29:45 +0000 http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/51/how-do-i-make-it-through-the-day/#comment-114 It all worked out--I set the alarm for earlier and cut back on a few hours of sleep. My point in writing this isn't to whine about my situation, but as another example of how much harder things are on a limited budget in ways that folks who don't have to watch every penny don't necessarily realize. I expected the social isolation of not being able to join friends for a bit to eat or a coffee or a beer. I expected taking more time to cook. I expected missing chocolate. I didn't foresee how hard it would be to figure out the food in time when I don't have the budget for higher-cost convenience foods. It's just one more challenge that those of us who don't experience these hardships should remember. We took a call in the office today from someone FURIOUS at us for organizing the Challenge. She was spiteful against people who get food stamps. What I'm learning in this short week is that it isn't easy to get by on a food stamp budget. (And yes, good tip with tap water. I've been filling my belly with water this week. It does help prevent feeling hungry). It all worked out–I set the alarm for earlier and cut back on a few hours of sleep.

My point in writing this isn’t to whine about my situation, but as another example of how much harder things are on a limited budget in ways that folks who don’t have to watch every penny don’t necessarily realize.

I expected the social isolation of not being able to join friends for a bit to eat or a coffee or a beer. I expected taking more time to cook. I expected missing chocolate.

I didn’t foresee how hard it would be to figure out the food in time when I don’t have the budget for higher-cost convenience foods.

It’s just one more challenge that those of us who don’t experience these hardships should remember.

We took a call in the office today from someone FURIOUS at us for organizing the Challenge. She was spiteful against people who get food stamps. What I’m learning in this short week is that it isn’t easy to get by on a food stamp budget.

(And yes, good tip with tap water. I’ve been filling my belly with water this week. It does help prevent feeling hungry).

]]> By: An http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/51/how-do-i-make-it-through-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-108 An Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:15:52 +0000 http://www.michiganfoodstampchallenge.org/51/how-do-i-make-it-through-the-day/#comment-108 Chuck, To conserve your bread make 1/2 sandwiches and put as much pb&j on it as you would a full sandwich. Also, eating a little at a time throughout the day will help...did you buy anything to "snack" on like carrot sticks or pretzels? (Sorry I can't remember all that you bought...) Drinking water will help keep you feeling full too. It's free if you get it from the tap and it's not bad for you (although it is not going to give you protein, carbs, vitamins or minerals) Good luck. I know you can do this! An Chuck,

To conserve your bread make 1/2 sandwiches and put as much pb&j on it as you would a full sandwich.

Also, eating a little at a time throughout the day will help…did you buy anything to “snack” on like carrot sticks or pretzels? (Sorry I can’t remember all that you bought…)

Drinking water will help keep you feeling full too. It’s free if you get it from the tap and it’s not bad for you (although it is not going to give you protein, carbs, vitamins or minerals)

Good luck. I know you can do this!

An

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