Here's what $33.58 will buy--that's pretty close to the $29 a week challenge some people have taken lately in sympathy with people on the SNAP program. (The maximum amount you can get on SNAP is $194 per month according to the USDA, which comes out to $44.77 per week.)
The grass-fed angus was inexpensive ($3.90 per pound) because I buy it in bulk--and it's an odd cut (cheek meat).
There are a lot more calories here than in the rice, beans, tortillas and vegetation others have bought on the challenge. Nevertheless, what you see here amounts to only 5,397 calories, or 771 calories a day.
To eat such a diet for a week on 1,500 calories per day would cost $65.
ETA: If you're willing to eat non-pastured meat and eggs and shop the sales, a $29-a-week low-carb diet can be done. See this.
The grass-fed angus was inexpensive ($3.90 per pound) because I buy it in bulk--and it's an odd cut (cheek meat).
There are a lot more calories here than in the rice, beans, tortillas and vegetation others have bought on the challenge. Nevertheless, what you see here amounts to only 5,397 calories, or 771 calories a day.
| calories | price | $/100 calorie | |
| 12 eggs | 852 | $3.00 | $0.35 |
| 4.75# beef | 3,629 | $18.53 | $0.51 |
| 2 cans sardines | 400 | $6.98 | $1.75 |
| head cabbage | 218 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
| avocado | 227 | $0.88 | $0.39 |
| red bell pepper | 37 | $0.88 | $2.38 |
| English cucumber | 34 | $1.69 | $4.97 |
| Total | 5,397 | $33.58 | $0.62 |
To eat such a diet for a week on 1,500 calories per day would cost $65.
You might get more calories for less money on potatoes, rice and beans, but many people on such a high-carb diet will spend a lot of time hungry and tired because it will give them roller-coaster blood sugars. Diabetics will need more medication. People with bad teeth may see them get worse. As for nutrition, grains and beans have nutrient blockers that interfere with mineral absorption.
But note that the first letter of SNAP stands for Supplemental. It's not meant to be a person's entire food budget. What to do? Here's one idea.
 |
| Get a job. |
ETA: If you're willing to eat non-pastured meat and eggs and shop the sales, a $29-a-week low-carb diet can be done. See this.
Comments
All the best Jan
Something that annoyed me about my Section 8 neighbors from years ago was that they seemed able-bodied, they were home all day, and had a yard, but none of them ever grew a garden.
You have to be used to a budget creativity in order to manage successfully.