Food Stamp Challenge: Day 1

Today begins my week-long challenge to live on the average food stamp benefit ($31). This would have been a lot easier to prepare for if I hadn't been out of town for a week, but it would have been a lot more difficult if it weren't Labor Day and I had to work. So this morning I trekked it to the grocery store to stock up on some staples.

I'll be headed to the 12th South Farmers Market tomorrow to get some more fresh produce, but I needed a couple of things to tie me over, plus my carbs and protein for the week. Chances are slim that I can afford to eat meat, so I'll be getting all of my protein from beans. Here's the list:

• 5lb bag of potatoes
• 2lb bag of yellow onions
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can Great Northern beans
• 1 bag lentils
• 1 bag brown rice
• 1 box whole grain spaghetti
• 1 loaf whole wheat bread
• 1 bell pepper
• 3 ears of corn
• 1 packet of taco seasoning

Total spent: $14.46

I bought the taco seasoning because I wanted to make taco soup today, but when I got home I immediately felt silly because we pretty much have all of the spices to cover it (cumin, red pepper, etc). Could've saved .89 cents.

After downing a piece of dry toast (breakfast), I got to work on dinner. Taco soup is pretty easy. I used a whole onion (sauteed), half the bell pepper, 2 of the ears of corn, half a can of black beans, half a cup of rice, and about a fourth of the packet of seasoning.

This cost $1.93 to make and it should last me for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow. I can already tell the things I will miss the most this week will be dairy related. What I wouldn't give to throw some cheese on this.

Lunch today was a serving of the whole grain pasta with olive oil, salt, pepper and oregano. Simple, but satisfying and it only cost .14 cents.

So I've spent just about half my budget on day 1. But it's mostly on things meant to last me all week. I'm going to try to spend about $10 on produce tomorrow at the farmers market, leaving me about $7 in case of a hunger emergency.

Sorry to keep it short today, but after being out of town for five days I'm just trying to play catch up. More tomorrow.