Comments on: Food Stamp Challenge: Day 2

By: bekka

bekka — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:38:54 +0000

what a cool project. i can’t wait to read more.

By: jessica

jessica — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 05:26:37 +0000

this is a good experiment and that is the only thing that it should be. how can anyone live healthy on such little. it is not right.
growing up in a communist country, waiting on food lines and having very little is my experience. perhaps that is what lead me on my path of eating healthy.
i would include seeds for sprouting to this list. it is amazing how tiny little seeds, sprouted, can give good energy and health. of course that takes education, the government with its lack of education needs to look into this.

By: Amanda Cowan

Amanda Cowan — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:57:25 +0000

Hmm.. I must have a jewel in the Walmart world. Granted, as a company they are not Mother Nature. But the Walmart I shop at is always fully stocked with more variety than the regular stores around here and I’ve always had wonderful experiences with their produce, and I find them less expensive (more expensive than the farmers’ markets here, but only by a small amount).

And again, my point is that the average person who really is on a this budget probably won’t have the luxury of driving past 3 Walmarts because they don’t like their corporate persona or whatever. I’d love to save the world as much as the next person, but first I have to make sure that my husband, daughter and I can manage to not spend more than our budget on groceries.
I grew up in a family that was pitifully poor. Kelli, that website you posted, HillBillyHousewife? That was us! No joke. Somehow when you’re trying to figure out where the next weeks worth of groceries is going to come from, you are suddenly not so concerned with how environmentaly friendly the company is..

By: Olivia diane

Olivia diane — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:53:25 +0000

Sounds like I’m not the only one who hates WALMART. I will not, repeat, will not, shop there. I will drive by three Walmart’s to pick up one item, rather than shop there. Their stock is down and their produce sucks!

By: jess

jess — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:40:47 +0000

give it up for oatmeal!

and really, that’s reason # 428 why you shouldn’t go to wal-mart, isn’t it? although really, it would probably be a more authentic experiment in poverty if you did haul your $25 worth of groceries home in 11 separate plastic bags.

on a related note, a co-worker and i have suggested to our local co-op several times to offer a ‘weekly food basket’ of low-cost whole foods that would have a fixed price — like, $20 for the bag, whatever it contains each week. like the CSA model, only for dry goods.

oh, and also? i heard that some insurance companies are reimbursing for participation in CSAs… but not mine. yet. (ahem)

keep at it!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:27:00 +0000

Dude –

I think it would be interesting to get us all to do it. I would sign up in a heart beat. I so rarely even just try to stretch what I already have in the house before I buy new. Matt and I could definitely learn from this.

By: LLA

LLA — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 18:38:34 +0000

The WalMart story – incredible. Just incredible. And I love that they are currently trying to remarket themselves as more concerned, more eco-friendly, and green…. And then they wonder why we aren’t buying this new party line…

What I love about you doing this challenge is that you are still working to eat healthily. I’m so glad that you didn’t just buy 10 bags of ramen noodle, and a few more of Mac&Cheese and call it a day. Keep up the good work. (Oh, and thanks for the link to the hillbilly housewife! I’m half in love with her already!)

By: FinnyKnits

FinnyKnits — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 18:06:28 +0000

Oh bastard Wal-Mart, how I hate thee. Now I have yet another reason to LOATHE that place.

I have to say though, at stores other than Trader Joe’s, I’ve gotten the stink eye from the cashier when I reminded them to PLEASE USE MY CLOTH BAGS. I always put them in front of my groceries on the conveyor belt and 9 times out of 10 they push them to the side and try to bag my stuff in their plastic ones.

Uh, no, I don’t care that my bags don’t hang conveniently from your little metal rods so that you can overhand my tomatoes in there on top of my lettuce. USE THE OPPOSABLE THUMB THAT THE GOOD LORD GAVE YOU AND OPEN THE BAG.

Clearly, this issue irks me.

Good job eating on $20. My mom says you are free to email her if you have any questions on government aid or food stamps. She’s also a whiz at stretching a food budget. Just ask her how many ways she can disguise turkey. This is the reason I hate leftovers.

By: Christina

Christina — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:27:36 +0000

I really admire you for doing this challenge. I have never tried anything like this but I can imagine that it would increase my appreciation of the many blessings I have.

I can’t believe that WalMart would treat you that way for using your own bags. Oh…wait. I can. It’s WalMart!! My husband and I avoid shopping there whenever possible. I think I only end up in one if it’s the only thing for 50 miles around…

By: robin green eye

robin green eye — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:15:10 +0000

Blow your budget and buy an espresso machine. A decent one can be had for not too much money and Americanos are very easy to make. In the long run you will save. If you need any beverage assistance drop me a line, I worked at Starbucks for 2 years

By: rosie

rosie — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:56:22 +0000

I am so glad you’re doing this! I’ve got so much to say on the subject I don’t even know where to begin

And you’ve just given me further reason to hate Wal-Mart. (Like I needed another reason.)

We have Sunflower here too. It is WAY cheaper than any of the major grocery chains.

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:43:24 +0000

i wish my grandparents were still around to ask them. i must say that once we move into the new house a garden will be grown. even if my two black thumbs have to read every gardening book known to man to get through it.

and i agree that the country should do something to teach people gardening, canning, and the proper way to cook something.

i’m just fortunate that i am not one of those that takes my family out to eat every night.

By: Sarah HB

Sarah HB — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:43:09 +0000

I always bring my own bags….we have so many collected over the years and now the grocery stores I frequent TOTALLY know me and ASK for my bags.

I don’t think WalMart’s food is that cheap. Some is but I find their produce kinda expensive.

However, produce is VERY CHEAP at Sunflower Market.