tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.comments2014-03-05T14:32:11.313-08:00The $25 ChallengeIllinois Food Bank Associationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05708719551972662710noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-38584149819223598452008-10-15T14:54:00.000-07:002008-10-15T14:54:00.000-07:00I admire your efforts and agree that it is nearly ...I admire your efforts and agree that it is nearly impossible to equate a healthy diet on about $3.50/day. For my first two weeks of living off campus, I set to do just that. I forwent the healthy food stores I usually go to and opted instead for the Wal-Mart Supercenter. I spent just shy of $26 dollars on staples: bread, milk, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, pasta & sauce, a couple apples, a few bananas, which left just enough for a (yes, just one) tomato. If it had not been for the free food offered from various organizations on campus, I don't think I could have made it! To make matters worse, the food offered was usually from the local pizzeria whose main ingredient seemed undoubtedly grease. Incidentally, the cost of just subsisting is just ridiculous.<BR/>-Tamara C.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-88582168313793259702008-10-12T22:48:00.000-07:002008-10-12T22:48:00.000-07:00I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone ...I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who even attempted the challenge. A lot of people don't want to know. It's easier for them to sleep at night, so I appluade your courage. <BR/><BR/>I am a single mother of 3. I work full time, and attend college full time. I am what you consider the working poor.<BR/><BR/>My situation got bad last Dec. I started skipping meals for 1-21/2 days so that I would have more for my kids to eat. I felt guilty every time I ate. I felt like that was food I could have saved for them. <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I am a diabetic, and I have had several trips to the emergency room for low blood sugar that got out of control. God, how much food could I have bought w/ the state money that will pay for those visits to the hospital?<BR/><BR/>It gets to the point were your choosing between rent, and food. That's like choosing between blood and breath! Try living w/o one or the other and see how far you get.<BR/><BR/> There is something that snaps in the mind of a mother who is quite literally killing herself for the sake of her children. <BR/><BR/>Even more sad is there is something that happens to the mind of a child, who knows that their mother is sacrificing so much for them.<BR/><BR/>I have never uttered a word, and yet still they know.<BR/><BR/>If it were not for programs like food stamps, and food banks I don't know what we would have done.<BR/>I just wanted to share a little. Again, thank you for your courage.Justice598https://www.blogger.com/profile/11144650426099345234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-922278517269137222008-10-11T11:48:00.000-07:002008-10-11T11:48:00.000-07:00Is the challenge $25 a week per person right? Or a...Is the challenge $25 a week per person right? Or are you people doing a $25 a week challenge for the entire family of 4?? That would make it $100 a week for a family of 4. Actually this week I did groceries in 2 supermarkets for my family of 4 plus 4 dogs! I spent a total of$28.50 per person for the entire week and that included dog food as well.So the total bill was $114 .I could have gotten it down to $100 even.<BR/><BR/> This is what I got for $114<BR/>2 1/2 gallons of milk,2 large packs of chicken breast,1 large pack of chicken drumsticks,2large rack of pork ribs,2 cans of vienna sausages,1pk of hotdogs,1Special K cereal,1 box of Apple Jacks,Pancake mix,clothes detergent,toilett paper,4 large can of fruit cocktail,1 4pk ready to eat fruit cocktail,1 gal Tropicana punch,box of diet cookies,1 loaf of bread, 1 lb of deli ham,1 doz eggs,1pk eggbeaters,hair Gel,1 bag of dogfood,1 1/2 lb bananas,lettuce,roma tomatoes,2 cans beans,can spaghetti sauce,2 box mac n cheese,2 pks ramen soup,bag of Tater Tots<BR/>A few misc items that I forgot to mention...came out to $114.<BR/>The government gives roughly $25 per person .So a family of 4 gets $400 a month.My friend says she cant feed herself and 3 kids with $400 a month. It is very hard because you can't get the yummy treats. I usually spend about $160 a week!$640 a month I feel blessed to have that even if we stay broke for the rest of the week.So many more people are in this situation and dont really talk about it. I went to do groceries and I noticed that a lot more people are hurting financially. I could not purchase a small bag of clothes detergent because the were sold out. Icould only find 1 loaf of store brand bread because it was sold out! All the store brand food was sold out or 1-2 left.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-67948070948519857092008-10-08T21:33:00.000-07:002008-10-08T21:33:00.000-07:00I just heard about this challenge from a blog (Ela...I just heard about this challenge from a blog (Elastic Waist). My family of 3, has been for over a year living on an $80 a month food budget. That is for 3 people, which is $20 a week. I make most things homemade, hardly ever buy processed items and we eat fruits and vegetables. I think it would be a "luxury" to eat $25 a person! That would be for my family, $75 a week and that is a whole lot of food!<BR/><BR/>We do not get any type of government assistance and even could spend more on food if we wanted but we would rather save money and stick with what works for us, which is $80 a month for our family of 3.<BR/><BR/>BevAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-20567780270840921862008-10-08T15:44:00.000-07:002008-10-08T15:44:00.000-07:00Mix half powdered milk solution with half fresh mi...Mix half powdered milk solution with half fresh milk. Double the milk for very little outlay and minimal compromised flavor -- especially when it's just for cereal.<BR/><BR/>Regarding the previous reply about CSA... Several CSAs will allow some subscriptions to be paid with a payment plan. Some even have sliding payment scales where you can exchange working on the farm in exchange for a reduced price for the subscription. Additionally, CSAs typically only deliver part of the year, so a family could save up during the part of the year when the CSA is not active to make the sizable up-front payment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-39448265487267322442008-10-08T12:28:00.000-07:002008-10-08T12:28:00.000-07:00Try some warm lentil salad:- Boil 1 bag of lentils...Try some warm lentil salad:<BR/><BR/>- Boil 1 bag of lentils til done, drain and set aside.<BR/><BR/>- Sautee onion, garlic, celery, and carrot, however much you have in whatever proportions you want. I did 3 garlic cloves, 1 carrot, I think 1 onion, and some very limp celery ribs I dug out of the bottom of the veg drawer...<BR/><BR/>- Dump lentils in with sautee, mix to combine.<BR/><BR/>This is your lentil base. You can do lentil salad by taking some of the base, squeezing something sour over top (lemon, lime, vinegar), adding some fresh chopped parsley (or dry or whatever flavor you'd like), and some salt and pepper. <BR/><BR/>You can also make lentil burgers with some egg and breadcrumbs. I like adding chipotle en adobo (comes in cans for cheap) to the mixture. <BR/><BR/>Nothing beats lentils (and other dried beans) for protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. You stay really full from them, too. Check out my blog. :) I'm a grad student who loves food. I don't spend much more than $25 per person per week on food normally. This little exercise isn't such a stretch... <BR/><BR/>(I make <$25000 a year, but I'm not eligible for low income housing or anything because I'm a full time student. You want to talk about a strapped-for-cash group of people? PhD candidates.)HungryGradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05710179219672456780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-25379974995255459312008-10-07T05:58:00.000-07:002008-10-07T05:58:00.000-07:00I absolutely agree with this post right here. My ...I absolutely agree with this post right here. My husband and I eat for an average of $43.75 per week for the 2 of us. We do it because I meticulously plan out our meals for the month. We are fortunate enough to not HAVE to do this, we do it because we believe that you shouldn't waste things just because you can.Cash Ninjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02904017130538024260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-73343043159842979822008-10-06T08:04:00.000-07:002008-10-06T08:04:00.000-07:00If you are trying to survive on $25 dollars a week...If you are trying to survive on $25 dollars a week you could certainly cut out the bottled water. Is that really necessary. Even if water in Chicago is bad (which i know it isnt) you can buy a tap water filter for fairly cheap. And bottled water is a huge drain on the environment. Kudos for comiting and completing the challenge but there are day to day activities like using a water bottle that would save $ and our environmentNicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03077872875477947627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-5715270990395882532008-10-05T10:37:00.000-07:002008-10-05T10:37:00.000-07:00This challenge was recently brought to my attentio...This challenge was recently brought to my attention via a gardening forum - here was my entry. As you can see, we ate normally, with minimal restrictions to our diet. This did not include any free meals, altho I do frequently have access to free meals, condiments, and lots and lots of coffee at work.<BR/><BR/>Okay, here you go. This is a menu for Hubs and I for 7 days; with normal size servings for us:<BR/><BR/>Menu:<BR/>Breakfast:<BR/>*Breakfast burritos - 2 eggs, 1/4# sausage, scant milk, little bit of grated cheese, T tomatoes with green chiles, 4 tortillas, juice<BR/>*Oatmeal, milk, juice<BR/>*Scrambled eggs (2 eggs), toast, juice<BR/>*Oatmeal, milk, juice<BR/>*Omelet, fluffy (2 1/2 eggs), with ham bits, toast, juice<BR/>*Oatmeal, milk, juice<BR/>*French toast (3 sl bread, 1 1/2 egg, scant milk), juice - the syrup for the french toast will be made from brown sugar and water, brought to a boil<BR/><BR/>Lunch:<BR/>*Chicken salad on crackers, carrot and celery sticks, apple slices<BR/>*Potato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches<BR/>*Tuna cassarole, peas, carrots<BR/>*Salmon cheese (yogurt cheese) ball on crackers, apple slices<BR/>*Open face sloppy joe, cottage cheese, peaches<BR/>*Bean burrito with cheese, tomatoes, rice pudding<BR/>*Baked potato with chili and cheese, assorted toppings (any leftovers)<BR/><BR/>Dinner:<BR/>*Grilled ham steak, baked sweet potato, spinach, pineapple<BR/>*Teryaki chicken stir fry, rice <BR/>*Ham and beans, cornbread muffins, fried potatoes with onions<BR/>*Chili soup, crackers, slice of cheese, celery and carrot sticks, peaches<BR/>*Chicken biscuit stew, glazed carrots, baked apples<BR/>*Salmon patties, macaroni and cheese, peas, cinnamon apples<BR/>*Pork chop and dressing bake, mashed potatoes, mushroom soup gravy, green beans<BR/><BR/>Snacks:<BR/>*Leftover corn muffins<BR/>*Celery and carrot sticks<BR/>*Potato skins<BR/>*Rice pudding<BR/>*Tortilla spread with butter and springled with cinnamon sugar<BR/>*Cottage cheese and any left over fruit<BR/><BR/>The prices on the following grocery list were taken from current sales ads at the stores in the town I work in; or current prices from Aldi's or Dollar General.<BR/>*Salt - 33 cents<BR/>*Pepper - 99 cents<BR/>*Ground cinnamon - 99 cents<BR/>*Chili powder - 99 cents<BR/>*Brown sugar - 99 cents<BR/>*White beans, 1# - $1 - will cook 1/2#<BR/>*Rice, white, 1# - $1 - will use 1/2 bag<BR/>*Macaroni, 1# - $1 - 3/4 cup for tuna cassarole, 1/2 cup for mac and cheese<BR/>*Milk, 1 gallon whole - $1.99 - 1 qt to make yogurt with; and 8 oz of that yogurt will be used to make yogurt cheese for cheese ball; some will also be allowed to drain a bit and used in place of mayo in chicken salad<BR/>*Butter, 1# - $2 - should have at least a half pound left over<BR/>*Cottage cheese, 16 oz - $1<BR/>*Yogurt, 8 oz - 50 cents - use to make quart of yogurt<BR/>*Cheese, cheddar, 8 oz brick - $1.50<BR/>*Eggs, 1 dozen - $1.34 <BR/>*Ham, butt portion, 2# - $2 - cut two small steaks, then cut bits for omelet, chunks for ham and beans, simmer what's left over to heat green beans in for flavor<BR/>*Butterfly pork chop, 7 oz - $1<BR/>*Pork sausage, 1/2# - $1 - use 1/4# in breakfast burritos; reserve rest<BR/>*Ground chuck, 1# - $1 - use 1/2# for chili; reserve rest or use in burritos<BR/>*Chicken breast, split, 2# - $2 - cut nice flat fillets off; then boil rest. Skim fat off (use to fry potatoes and onions), pick meat, use broth for chicken biscuit stew<BR/>*Frozen peas - 16 oz - 99 cents<BR/>*Frozen stir fry or California mix veggies, 16 oz - 99 cents<BR/>*Frozen orange juice, 12 oz - $1.19 - makes 48 oz; will mix up and divide into 2 qt jars, adding juice from pineapple to one, and from peaches to other to stretch<BR/>*Flour tortillas, 10 - 79 cents - 4 for breakfast burritos, 3 or 4 for bean burritos; rest for snacks<BR/>*Corn muffin mix - 39 cents - makes 6 muffins<BR/>*Jiffy biscuit mix, small box - 75 cents - 1/2 box mixed up for topping for chicken biscuit stew, 1 T of rest of box used for white sauce for mac and cheese, 1 T for thickening gravy, 1 T for thickening tuna cassarole sauce<BR/>*Spinach, canned, 16 oz - 45 cents - will use half can<BR/>*Green beans, canned, 16 oz - 45 cents - will use half can; reserve rest for veg soup the next week (freeze)<BR/>*Diced tomatoes, canned, 16 oz - 2 @ 45 cents; 90 cents - use 1 1/2 can in chili soup; reserve rest for veg soup next week<BR/>*Diced tomatoes with green chiles, canned, 16 oz - 49 cents - use 1-2 T for breakfast burritos; some for bean burritos; rest in chili<BR/>*Chili beans, canned, 16 oz - 48 cents<BR/>*Salmon, canned, 14.75 oz - $1.69 - split can 2/3 for salmon patties, 1/3 for cheese ball<BR/>*Tuna, canned, in oil, 54 cents - drain oil, use as the fat for making the white sauce for the tuna cassarole<BR/>*Pineapple, canned, chunks, 16 oz - 78 cents - serve half can with meal; use other half in teryaki chicken stir fry<BR/>*Peaches, canned, slices, 16 oz - 89 cents<BR/>*Cream of mushroom soup, canned, 10.5 oz - 59 cents - use half can in tuna cassarole, use other half for pork chop and dressing bake<BR/>*Celery, large stalk - 99 cents - should have 1/2 stalk left over<BR/>*White potatoes, 8# - $2 <BR/>*Yellow onions, 3# - 69 cents - should have half a bag left over<BR/>*Apples, choice of varieties, 3# bag - $2<BR/>*Sweet potato, 1 large - 96 cents<BR/>*Carrots, 1# regular carrots - 79 cents - might have a couple left<BR/>*Catsup, 24 oz - 99 cents - will use this as a condiment, in the chili if needed, and in making the sloppy joes<BR/>*Teryaki marinade - 12 oz - 99 cents - will use maybe half<BR/>*Saltine crackers, 1# box - 89 cents<BR/>*Oat bran bread, 24 oz - 79 cents - save heels to make bread crumbs for topping tuna cassarole, save 3 pc for dressing<BR/>*Oatmeal, 18 oz - $1.79 - <BR/>*6 pk generic Cream soda for Hubs - 78 cents<BR/><BR/>Total - $49.91Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-28332814314105829802008-09-28T12:32:00.000-07:002008-09-28T12:32:00.000-07:00I, too, was surprised at how many folks weren't ab...I, too, was surprised at how many folks weren't able to fit in any fresh vegetables. <BR/><BR/>I think a lot of it probably has to do with the fact that most people nowadays aren't very well attuned to how to shop for cheap fresh vegetables and how to cook them so that they stretch a long way. A lot of people's idea of eating plenty of fresh vegetables means spending $5 on a bunch of asparagus or $3.50 on a bag of salad mix, rather than spending $1-$2 on a couple pounds of eggplant which will cook into a couple of dishes that will last all week.Sara C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06515632013123513841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-15595124938683455132008-09-28T12:12:00.000-07:002008-09-28T12:12:00.000-07:00I also just stumbled on this challenge, right at t...I also just stumbled on this challenge, right at the end of the week. I've read the whole blog so far, and I have to say that it's very enlightening. My first thought, hearing about this, was to say, "Oh, sure, no problem. How can it even be a challenge?" <BR/><BR/>Well, that's easy to say when you have a CSA subscription of fresh vegetables (at about $15 a week for enough veggies to feed a family of 4 which is twice what my roommate and I need), my windowsill herb garden, and a pantry fully stocked with bulk goodies and seasonings. I grocery shop for only a few items a week, and aside from the occasional megasplurge it never comes to more than $20 or so for two people. <BR/><BR/>Then I realized something else. That CSA cost $300 up front at the beginning of the year. The olive oil, basmati rice, parmesan cheese and other bulk staples get refreshed a couple times a year, which makes them much cheaper than small quantities, but it costs $200 easy to fully stock the pantry.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and another thing. I'm lucky to have a fully functional kitchen full of high quality tools and appliances, which weren't cheap. I'm also lucky to know how to use it all, which means I can turn a couple pounds of tomatoes into the best sauce you ever tasted inside of half an hour (Ragu? What would I want with that junk?). <BR/><BR/>And there's more. Because I have a stable office job and no kids underfoot, I have the time to cook a big dish from scratch and save leftovers, to "put up" fresh foods from my CSA vegetables, and to take a pile of dirt-encrusted veggies and make them into an appetizing dish without needing to buy convenience foods like deboned and skinned chicken breasts, containers of diced onions and minced garlic, bottled salad dressing, and all that stuff which really adds up.<BR/><BR/>Let's not even talk about dietary restrictions and able-ism issues!<BR/><BR/>The final conclusion? It might be easy for me, a middle class single young (and healthy!) woman with good kitchen skills and plenty of free time to eat on less than $25 a week. But it's probably not easy for just anyone, and it's got to be especially hard for overworked, underpaid people with families in substandard housing.Sara C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06515632013123513841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-37699995154609428202008-09-28T09:13:00.000-07:002008-09-28T09:13:00.000-07:00One of the things I've done to cut down on expense...One of the things I've done to cut down on expenses is to join our local food co-op. They offer fee waivers for those who cannot afford them, and they accept food stamps. There you can buy healthy food in bulk at a discount. And, if you're like me and have the time, when you put in some hours working at the co-op, you can earn up to 25% off all your purchases. I can't tell you how great of a difference in our bottom line that makes. It IS possible to have a healthy diet on little cash.Deb Schiffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00930921557637227921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-87437288826343342692008-09-26T08:19:00.000-07:002008-09-26T08:19:00.000-07:00Thank you for participating in this fair and impor...Thank you for participating in this fair and important challenge! What you are doing is shedding light on a problem that so many people struggle with... silently and often for years if not their whole lives.<BR/><BR/>You're an inspiration to me because if someone who genuinely lives in abundance chooses to put themselves in the shoes of those who are in pain... there's hope for this civilization yet.<BR/><BR/>I just stumbled across this challenge today but I'm going to try it next week on my own. <BR/><BR/>And to those who say this challenge goes too far... they need to deal with their fears better and try to inspire others instead of trying so hard to drag others down. <BR/><BR/>Since I'm a vegetarian I used to get that kind of attitude all the time from insecure people who are intimidated by my taking positive action to make a better world.<BR/><BR/>People who work to improve the world around them are bound to make some (scared of change) people uncomfortable... you just have to ignore those negative messages and keep on doing what you believe in. Hopefully, eventually, they'll catch up!<BR/><BR/>Thank you again for your good work!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-64937252994056204352008-09-22T20:38:00.000-07:002008-09-22T20:38:00.000-07:00Were you unable to find any vegetables on sale? I ...Were you unable to find any vegetables on sale? I don't know where you are located, but in east central Illinois I was able to find reasonably good prices on some vegetables, both fresh and frozen.cu_martyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395384643853236889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-65195700193440284362008-09-22T04:55:00.000-07:002008-09-22T04:55:00.000-07:00i've decided to try and take this challenge myself...i've decided to try and take this challenge myself, you can check out my blog if you're interested. http://chambanamarty.blogspot.com/cu_martyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395384643853236889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250613253776613784.post-79664166822909603402008-09-20T17:24:00.000-07:002008-09-20T17:24:00.000-07:00hi, I have had four speaking opportunities this we...hi, I have had four speaking opportunities this week. I thougt it would be neat to use a 2 and one half gallon gas container to illustrate the high costs of fuel. It cost $10.00 to fill up the can.<BR/>I spent $10.00 buying food. I got one loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly, mac and cheese and a can of tuna, one half dozen egges and the hope that I can strecth this food to cover half a week since it cost almost $16.00. <BR/><BR/>My earlier comments about drinking water...well, I have started to practice. <BR/><BR/>by the way...my experiment ends next weekend. The real person on Food Stamps...well, their experience may be their daily life.<BR/><BR/>Don't lose track of that point.<BR/>dennisH. Dennis Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03575559205165680495noreply@blogger.com