What is the SNAP Challenge?

Inspired by other SNAP challenges around the country, Iron County Care and Share is sponsoring a SNAP challenge of its own to raise awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding this essential program. After being detached from the essential farm bill, SNAP is in a precarious position, but with more than 1 in 6 Americans suffering from hunger, it is more important than ever.

The amount of assistance the average Utahn benefiting from SNAP gets amounts to about $4 a day, and we are asking interested individuals to try eating on this budget for 5 days and report their experiences here to raise awareness. By sharing and understanding the difficulty of living on this budget, Iron County Care and Share hopes to demonstrate how essential SNAP and other nutritional assistance programs are in America.

The challenge will run during September, which is Hunger Action Month, so if you want to participate or share your experience, please contact Nancy Guthrie at nancy@careandshare-ut.org or 435-586-4962.

Participation Guidelines:

1. You have a daily food budget of $4 (Utah’s average daily per person benefit). This means you should spend no more than $20 for 5 day’s worth of food.
2. All food purchased and consumed during the Challenge week, including any fast food or eating out, should be included in your total food spending.
3. All of the food and beverage you consume for the week must come from your food stamp budget. If you eat food you already own (including items like spices and condiments) you must account for the cost.  
4. Avoid procuring free food from friends, family, at work, or other events where food is served.
5. Keep a log of your spending as well as the kinds of food you are (and aren’t) able to buy. You may find it difficult to complete the Challenge due to schedule or the limited budget.  It will still be important and worthwhile to track your experiences.