I have to be honest, I didn't think it would be very exciting, but the more I thought about it the more I realized I really don't know much about how to shop for groceries! So then I got super excited about it and had my notepad and pen ready when we walked in.
It was so much better than I expected. We toured with a group of young, single mothers and to see them really benefiting from the program - paying attention, asking questions, relating it to their shopping habits - once again reminded me why I love my job.
After the tour, the students were given a $10 challenge - they had to create a meal for four people for $10 or less. AND they had to include a protein, starch, vegetable and fruit. Obviously Allison and I ran to grab our own cart and did it with them! I have to give props to Allison for giving me an idea for a meal .(Remember, I'm still getting the hang of this whole cooking thing.)
Here's my basket....
Two sweet potatoes - $1.21
One pear - $1.98
One bag of frozen broccoli - $1.00
One lime - $0.25
Two chicken breasts - $2.60
As fun as it was, it was also a harsh look at reality. Those who are on SNAP or WIC (aka Food Stamps) have to survive on roughly $4/day. Although it's doable, it's very difficult to do it healthy. (By the way, if you're interested they actually have Food Stamp Challenges you can participate in: http://frac.org/initiatives/snapfood-stamp-challenges/). Programs like Cooking Matters help empower these families to cook healthy meals on their budget.
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