By Brenda Rupp, The Family Investment Administration, Maryland Department of Human Resources
Day 3:
On Wednesday nights during Lent, my family and I eat soup and salad before my church's Lenten Service, which includes dinner. I completely forget to eat my dinner before going to Church because I am not accustomed to cooking dinner on Wednesdays. I had to sit there hungry, watching everyone eat. When asked why I was not eating, I said I was on the Food Stamp Challenge and could only eat the things I bought. Everyone was shocked when I said that people on food stamps have to eat on about $3 per day or $1 a meal. Everyone said they could not be able to do it. I challenged everyone that night to try it for a week. However, I was not able to focus on the sermon as I was hungry and thinking only of food and kept looking at my watch to see if it was time to go. It was 8:30 when we got home. I hate my cup o’noodles and was still hungry so I made myself two scrambled eggs.
My Last Day
On my last day on the challenge, the only food left is oatmeal and eggs. My lettuce mix only lasted 3 days and I went through my fruit in the first 4 days. I ate oatmeal for breakfast, two hardboiled eggs for lunch and leftover rice (a very small portion) for dinner. I am still hungry.
My challenge is over. All I can say is that it was truly a humbling experience. My kids saw how little food I ate during the week compared to what they ate. The experience put a new perspective on “left overs,” and my kids appreciated what they had to eat. Not once this week did they complain about what was on their dinner plate.
Showing posts with label Brenda Rupp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brenda Rupp. Show all posts
Monday, March 24, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Food Stamp Challenge - My Challenges Go On
By Brenda Rupp, The Family Investment Administration, Maryland Department of Human Resources
My Second Challenge
Day 1:
I was able to get through the first day but felt hungry at dinnertime. It was challenging cooking dinner for my family, as they are not doing this with me. Oh how I wanted so badly to eat what I had prepared them for dinner. I prayed to GOD for strength and will power to not cheat.
My Third Challenge
Day 2:
By the lunch the second day, I was very sick. I realized it was because I was using my tap water to drink rather than Deer Park Spring Water that I usually drink. We have well water and it is full of chemicals and not only tastes bad but has a funky smell. When buying my groceries, it did not dawn on me to buy bottled water. Even if I had remembered, that would have taken up most of my budget. As much as I wanted to continue to drink the tap water, I had to cheat and drink the deer park water for health reasons. One of the things my doctor told me 7 years ago when I was diagnosed with Chron’s disease is that well water can be debilitating to the disease. I had to use the water from my deer park cooler at home. I felt so so bad for cheating (not buying the water) but had to for my health.
My Second Challenge
Day 1:
I was able to get through the first day but felt hungry at dinnertime. It was challenging cooking dinner for my family, as they are not doing this with me. Oh how I wanted so badly to eat what I had prepared them for dinner. I prayed to GOD for strength and will power to not cheat.
My Third Challenge
Day 2:
By the lunch the second day, I was very sick. I realized it was because I was using my tap water to drink rather than Deer Park Spring Water that I usually drink. We have well water and it is full of chemicals and not only tastes bad but has a funky smell. When buying my groceries, it did not dawn on me to buy bottled water. Even if I had remembered, that would have taken up most of my budget. As much as I wanted to continue to drink the tap water, I had to cheat and drink the deer park water for health reasons. One of the things my doctor told me 7 years ago when I was diagnosed with Chron’s disease is that well water can be debilitating to the disease. I had to use the water from my deer park cooler at home. I felt so so bad for cheating (not buying the water) but had to for my health.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
My Food Stamp Challenge Journey
By Brenda Rupp, The Family Investment Administration, Maryland Department of Human Resources
I wanted to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge for two reasons. One is to bring awareness to the “powers that be” that people with special dietary needs due to health reasons (Diabetes, Chron’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, etc.) need to eat a healthy, whole foods diet. Essentially, this means eating fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, protein, beans/legumes and nuts – no processed foods. This is very hard to do on $3 a day. My second reason for taking this challenge was because not to long ago, my family and I prepared and served a meatloaf dinner at the only overnight homeless shelter in Harford County. We do this on the 15th of each month with our Church. I did not eat dinner that night with the people we served because I do not eat red meat because of my dietary issues. When asked by one of the ladies who was staying at the shelter why I was not eating, my response was “I can’t eat this food”. I said it assuming she would understand what I meant (because of dietary issues), however this was not the case and she was offended. She said, “When you are hungry and homeless you take what you can get and don’t complain about it”. She then said something that really stuck with me, “Everyone should have to walk a mile in the shoes of those less fortunate”.
My First Challenge
Before going to the grocery store, I prepared a menu for my meals. I realized immediately that I would not be able to afford to eat that way I am accustomed. I have Chron’s disease and have it under control for the most part by eating a whole foods diet. I stay away from processed foods as much as possible. I knew I would not be able to afford to by fresh vegetables and fruit on $3 a day, let alone meat. I thought of some foods that would make me feel full but still healthy. I went to Food Lion and was happy to say that most of my purchases were on sale. Thank goodness or I would have not had much at all in my cart. I purchased eggs for my protein because I could not afford meat. I can’t have lunch meat because it's processed. I bought oatmeal, brown rice, bananas, two apples, pre-packaged lettuce mix, salad dressing, cup o’ noodles and rice cakes. I actually had boxes of macaroni and cheese that were on sale for $0.33 a box. I was so excited I put 3 in my cart and then realized I had to buy milk and butter to make it, so I put it back. At the check out, I told the cashier I was taking the food stamp challenge. He laughed when I told him I had only $3 per day to spend. He said the items in my cart are what he consumes in a day. He looked to be about 21 and about 6ft. 4in so I think he was probably right.
Tomorrow: My Second Challenge
I wanted to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge for two reasons. One is to bring awareness to the “powers that be” that people with special dietary needs due to health reasons (Diabetes, Chron’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, etc.) need to eat a healthy, whole foods diet. Essentially, this means eating fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, protein, beans/legumes and nuts – no processed foods. This is very hard to do on $3 a day. My second reason for taking this challenge was because not to long ago, my family and I prepared and served a meatloaf dinner at the only overnight homeless shelter in Harford County. We do this on the 15th of each month with our Church. I did not eat dinner that night with the people we served because I do not eat red meat because of my dietary issues. When asked by one of the ladies who was staying at the shelter why I was not eating, my response was “I can’t eat this food”. I said it assuming she would understand what I meant (because of dietary issues), however this was not the case and she was offended. She said, “When you are hungry and homeless you take what you can get and don’t complain about it”. She then said something that really stuck with me, “Everyone should have to walk a mile in the shoes of those less fortunate”.
My First Challenge
Before going to the grocery store, I prepared a menu for my meals. I realized immediately that I would not be able to afford to eat that way I am accustomed. I have Chron’s disease and have it under control for the most part by eating a whole foods diet. I stay away from processed foods as much as possible. I knew I would not be able to afford to by fresh vegetables and fruit on $3 a day, let alone meat. I thought of some foods that would make me feel full but still healthy. I went to Food Lion and was happy to say that most of my purchases were on sale. Thank goodness or I would have not had much at all in my cart. I purchased eggs for my protein because I could not afford meat. I can’t have lunch meat because it's processed. I bought oatmeal, brown rice, bananas, two apples, pre-packaged lettuce mix, salad dressing, cup o’ noodles and rice cakes. I actually had boxes of macaroni and cheese that were on sale for $0.33 a box. I was so excited I put 3 in my cart and then realized I had to buy milk and butter to make it, so I put it back. At the check out, I told the cashier I was taking the food stamp challenge. He laughed when I told him I had only $3 per day to spend. He said the items in my cart are what he consumes in a day. He looked to be about 21 and about 6ft. 4in so I think he was probably right.
Tomorrow: My Second Challenge
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