Day 1 Down...

Made it under budget, barely.

Yesterday I stopped in at my local grocery store – Smith’s – to do my shopping for the SNAP Challenge.  Forty dollars for five days, for two adults.  I didn't exactly plan ahead but, as the person in my household who normally does the grocery shopping, I was fairly confident I’d be able to find items that would stretch into multiple meals.  And for the most part, I did: a couple bags of rice, lentils, dried beans all came to less than $5.00.  But what about flavor?  After adding in oil, a lemon, hot sauce, and some garlic and chili powder - on top of more staple items such as peanut butter, eggs and bread – I had exactly $0.59 left to my name.  I thought about trading the spices for a cheap box of tea, but the prospect of several meals worth of unseasoned lentils deterred me.

More challenging was actually implementing my meal plan.  My single pb&j for lunch failed to tide me over and by the time I made it home after a long day of meetings, waiting more than an hour just for basic lentils to cook was an exercise in patience.  And I like to cook! 

My husband and I have followed a mostly vegetarian diet each for nearly 20 years now, and dry ingredients such as lentils are staples in our household.  But I am seriously considering returning my bag of dried black beans for something cheap and filling.  Following a restricted diet on restricted funds has me thinking of those who need low sodium, sugar free, non-fat or allergen free food and how they make do?

Joy