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Food stamp challenge

January 01, 1970

A food stamp challenge or SNAP challenge is a trend in the United States popularized by politicians, religious groups, community activists and food pantries, in which a family of means chooses to purchase food using only the monetary equivalent of what a family that size would receive in the US federal government Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), colloquially called food stamps.[1] In 2015, this amounted to US$194.00 per person per month, or $6.37 per day.[2][3]

Logo of the SNAP program, popularly known as “food stamps”

History edit

CNN reporter Sean Callebs did an experiment where he spent the month of February 2009 eating only as much food as what a person could get with the maximum possible amount of food stamps. Since he was living in New Orleans, Louisiana, this amounted to $176. At the end of the experiment, he said that he had eaten pretty well, and that the biggest drawback was a social one, not a nutritional one, because he could not go out to eat at restaurants with friends.[4][5]

In St. Louis, Missouri, Food Outreach executive director Greg Lukeman has led a food stamp challenge since 2008, during September "Hunger Action Month" to bring awareness of the nonprofit organization's clients. Community members, Food Outreach staff and supporters, area politicians, and members of the local media have participated and blog about the experience.[6]

In October 2010, a new documentary Food Stamped, where a couple live on a food stamp budget for a week, premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival.

In May 2013, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) took part in week-long SNAP Challenge during which he tweeted: "Living this wk on $4.80/day food budget. Got on scale this morning - lost 6 lbs in 4 days."[7]

In June 2013, Donny Ferguson, the communications director for Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX), attempted to counter the popular opinion that food stamp funds were not enough to survive on. He spent $27.68 without a shopping list or coupons or discounts, and argued that at such rates, the government could afford cuts to the SNAP program as deep as 12%. He further argued that savings could be made by buying vegetables instead of rice and beans, advanced planning, and pooling of resources with a larger family stipend. Ferguson overperformed the challenge by buying enough food for and participating for 10 days instead of seven.[8][9][10][11]

In April 2015, actress Gwyneth Paltrow purchased $29 of food for one week, and posted a picture of the food on her Twitter account.[12] Beau Brink, a nutrition writer for the Frisky, said of Paltrow's food choices, "Nutritionally speaking, this is a vitamin bonanza. But people who live on SNAP benefits don’t just have to get nutrients, they have to get actual calories, because they tend to have very physical lives, doing service labor and taking care of children and not necessarily being able to afford a car and so forth." Brink also suggested a completely different set of food items for the same amount of money, which would have yielded 2,530 calories per day: five pounds of potatoes, two dozen eggs, five pounds of flash-frozen chicken breasts, a block of cheese, a gallon of whole milk, four pounds of apples, three pounds of oatmeal, a bag of celery, 16 ounces of peanut butter, 15 ounces of raisins, one pound of carrots, and 28 ounces of rice. Brink also pointed out that such a shopping list was only realistic for someone who did not live in a food desert.[13]

Criticism edit

The Food Stamp Challenge ignores the supplemental portion of the SNAP program, which does not intend for SNAP benefits to be the only source of food.[12] 75% of SNAP participants use their own money to purchase some of their food, and the remaining 25% would receive benefits larger than the average employed in the food stamp challenge. Only 20% of SNAP beneficiaries have no income; for those with income, families are expected to contribute 30% of income to their food budget. Therefore, SNAP benefits and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) always equal the maximum benefit ($668 for a family of four).[14] Food Stamp Challenges challenges therefore result in menus bearing little resemblance to the USDA official food plans calculated on the maximum benefit because they ignore the effect of the Expected Family Contribution.[15][16]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Yardley, William (May 2007). "A Governor Truly Tightens His Belt". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  2. ^ "SNAP Eligibility | USDA-FNS". Fns.usda.gov. 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  3. ^ "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)". Fns.usda.gov. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Blog: Living on Food stamps". Cnn.com. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Blog: Getting by during the last week". Cnn.com. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  6. ^ Doug Moore (October 5, 2008). "Eating for a week on $25" (PDF). ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  7. ^ Emily Goodin (May 24, 2013). "Sen. Murphy loses 6 pounds on food stamp challenge". Capital Living. The Hill. from the original on 2013-06-09. Retrieved June 5, 2013. The lawmaker has been tweeting about it, writing about his weight loss on Friday morning.
  8. ^ "Rep. Steve Stockman aide boasts success in "SNAP challenge" as Democrats lament cuts in food assistance". Trail Blazers Blog. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  9. ^ . Trail Blazers Blog. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  10. ^ . Stockman.house.gov. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  11. ^ Ned Resnikoff (2010-02-06). "Republican staffer 'beats' food stamp challenge | MSNBC". Tv.msnbc.com. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  12. ^ a b Kurtzleben, Danielle (16 April 2015). "Gwyneth did the food stamp challenge wrong. So does everyone else". Vox. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  13. ^ What $29 A Week For Food Looks Like For Actual Low-Income People (And Not Gwyneth Paltrow), The Frisky, April 12, 2015
  14. ^ Kessler, Glen. "the 'SNAP Challenge". Washington Post.
  15. ^ (PDF). www.cnpp.usda.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ . www.cnpp.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

External links edit

  • Dietitian's attempt at SNAP Challenge

January 01, 1970
food, stamp, challenge, food, stamp, challenge, snap, challenge, trend, united, states, popularized, politicians, religious, groups, community, activists, food, pantries, which, family, means, chooses, purchase, food, using, only, monetary, equivalent, what, f. A food stamp challenge or SNAP challenge is a trend in the United States popularized by politicians religious groups community activists and food pantries in which a family of means chooses to purchase food using only the monetary equivalent of what a family that size would receive in the US federal government Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP colloquially called food stamps 1 In 2015 this amounted to US 194 00 per person per month or 6 37 per day 2 3 Logo of the SNAP program popularly known as food stamps Contents 1 History 2 Criticism 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editCNN reporter Sean Callebs did an experiment where he spent the month of February 2009 eating only as much food as what a person could get with the maximum possible amount of food stamps Since he was living in New Orleans Louisiana this amounted to 176 At the end of the experiment he said that he had eaten pretty well and that the biggest drawback was a social one not a nutritional one because he could not go out to eat at restaurants with friends 4 5 In St Louis Missouri Food Outreach executive director Greg Lukeman has led a food stamp challenge since 2008 during September Hunger Action Month to bring awareness of the nonprofit organization s clients Community members Food Outreach staff and supporters area politicians and members of the local media have participated and blog about the experience 6 In October 2010 a new documentary Food Stamped where a couple live on a food stamp budget for a week premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival In May 2013 Sen Chris Murphy D Conn took part in week long SNAP Challenge during which he tweeted Living this wk on 4 80 day food budget Got on scale this morning lost 6 lbs in 4 days 7 In June 2013 Donny Ferguson the communications director for Rep Steve Stockman R TX attempted to counter the popular opinion that food stamp funds were not enough to survive on He spent 27 68 without a shopping list or coupons or discounts and argued that at such rates the government could afford cuts to the SNAP program as deep as 12 He further argued that savings could be made by buying vegetables instead of rice and beans advanced planning and pooling of resources with a larger family stipend Ferguson overperformed the challenge by buying enough food for and participating for 10 days instead of seven 8 9 10 11 In April 2015 actress Gwyneth Paltrow purchased 29 of food for one week and posted a picture of the food on her Twitter account 12 Beau Brink a nutrition writer for the Frisky said of Paltrow s food choices Nutritionally speaking this is a vitamin bonanza But people who live on SNAP benefits don t just have to get nutrients they have to get actual calories because they tend to have very physical lives doing service labor and taking care of children and not necessarily being able to afford a car and so forth Brink also suggested a completely different set of food items for the same amount of money which would have yielded 2 530 calories per day five pounds of potatoes two dozen eggs five pounds of flash frozen chicken breasts a block of cheese a gallon of whole milk four pounds of apples three pounds of oatmeal a bag of celery 16 ounces of peanut butter 15 ounces of raisins one pound of carrots and 28 ounces of rice Brink also pointed out that such a shopping list was only realistic for someone who did not live in a food desert 13 Criticism editThe Food Stamp Challenge ignores the supplemental portion of the SNAP program which does not intend for SNAP benefits to be the only source of food 12 75 of SNAP participants use their own money to purchase some of their food and the remaining 25 would receive benefits larger than the average employed in the food stamp challenge Only 20 of SNAP beneficiaries have no income for those with income families are expected to contribute 30 of income to their food budget Therefore SNAP benefits and the Expected Family Contribution EFC always equal the maximum benefit 668 for a family of four 14 Food Stamp Challenges challenges therefore result in menus bearing little resemblance to the USDA official food plans calculated on the maximum benefit because they ignore the effect of the Expected Family Contribution 15 16 See also editLive Below the LineReferences edit Yardley William May 2007 A Governor Truly Tightens His Belt The New York Times Retrieved 19 November 2014 SNAP Eligibility USDA FNS Fns usda gov 2019 08 14 Retrieved 2020 04 04 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP Fns usda gov Retrieved 19 November 2014 Blog Living on Food stamps Cnn com Retrieved 19 November 2014 Blog Getting by during the last week Cnn com Retrieved 19 November 2014 Doug Moore October 5 2008 Eating for a week on 25 PDF ST LOUIS POST DISPATCH Retrieved 19 November 2014 Emily Goodin May 24 2013 Sen Murphy loses 6 pounds on food stamp challenge Capital Living The Hill Archived from the original on 2013 06 09 Retrieved June 5 2013 The lawmaker has been tweeting about it writing about his weight loss on Friday morning Rep Steve Stockman aide boasts success in SNAP challenge as Democrats lament cuts in food assistance Trail Blazers Blog Retrieved 19 November 2014 On food stamp challenge Stockman aide busted budget but Trail Blazers Blog Archived from the original on 10 November 2014 Retrieved 19 November 2014 Stockman staff beating SNAP Challenge Stockman house gov Archived from the original on 17 November 2014 Retrieved 19 November 2014 Ned Resnikoff 2010 02 06 Republican staffer beats food stamp challenge MSNBC Tv msnbc com Retrieved 2020 04 04 a b Kurtzleben Danielle 16 April 2015 Gwyneth did the food stamp challenge wrong So does everyone else Vox Retrieved 26 August 2022 What 29 A Week For Food Looks Like For Actual Low Income People And Not Gwyneth Paltrow The Frisky April 12 2015 Kessler Glen the SNAP Challenge Washington Post Archived copy PDF www cnpp usda gov Archived from the original PDF on 31 October 2014 Retrieved 13 January 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link USDA Food Plans Cost of Food Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion www cnpp usda gov Archived from the original on 30 August 2014 Retrieved 13 January 2022 External links editSNAP Food Stamp Challenges Dietitian s attempt at SNAP Challenge Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Food stamp challenge amp oldid 1219935852, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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