End of the World Today

Food Stamp Challenge (remaining days)

Well, turns out I'm on all liquids for probably another week, due to my fussy lapband-- which is why i haven't posted.

:(
I think I invalidated the challenge, but I have to say, I'd like to see these politicians live off 900$ income and 16$ in food stamps for the MONTH.
I think that's more realistic since that's what the government says you need.

Anyways, Wednesday Funnies:

Pay Attention to YOUR taxes!

I am astounded by how people don't know where their taxes go.

Food Stamp Challenge Day 4

Alright, I admit it.

I stink at taking pictures of what I eat.

I'm a grab and go person I guess.

Anyhoo Day Four of the Food Stamp Challenge:

Breakfast: 1 cheese stick (.39 different brand)

Total Breakfast .39

Lunch: 1 slice deli turkey sample from publix

1 slice american cheese from publix (sample too) 

1 slice asiago sample (sample)

1 cranberry juice bottle (1.00, mini bottle)

Lunch total: 1$

Dinner, 1 slice Digiorno Pizza (left over from yesterday) .50

3 Glasses water with lemon wedge .24

Dinner total .74

Snack: 1/2 cup natural canned corn, no salt added. -** .20

***I actually got these for .10 cents a can because of couponing, but I will use shelf price for this purpose

Butter pat for corn .20

Snack total: .40

Daily Total 2.33

This is a lot harder than I thought.

Food Stamp Challenge Day 3

A lot of people taking this challenge are doing 35$ or so a week, per person in their household.
I am trying to keep it to a collective total of less than 70$ for the month, which is 4x the minimum food stamp benefit, or 17.50 for the week.
I'm actually using what I have on hand, which kind of goes against the rules of the challenge, but for my health needs its necessary, and I will try to keep it under 17.50 for the week.


I actually made a reflection video and its converting on youtube right now, I'll post it when its done.

I took pictures, Blogger hates me and keeps auto deleting them from my post.. I'll have to work around that in the next few hours. :)

So todays meals:

Breakfast : 1 8 oz glass orange juice (.22 cents a glass)
                1 scrambled egg with a sprinkle of shredded cheese (11 cents an egg, 25 cents per ounce of cheese, I had maybe 1/4 an oz, so I'll say 7 cents) 
                1/2 oz shredded chicken breast (left over from yesterday) about 9 cents (its 17.2 cents an ounce)
                 1 romaine lettuce leaf wrapped around the chicken (i'll say 4 cents I have no idea..)
                 1 packet of light mayo I got from Chick Fil-A-- free

Total Breakfast: 1.34

Lunch: Glass of water with lemon wedge (8 cents)
          1 light cheese stick (.17)

Lunch Total: .25 cents


Dinner: Slice of pizza, Digiorno (its been in my freezer for ages) .50 (whole pizza was 4$)
Glass of water with lemon wedge and ice 8 cents
Dinner: .58

Snack 1  one hard boiled egg 11 cents
snack 2 lettuce tuna cup (1 leaf lettuce, 1 oz tuna) .16 cents (.59 cent tuna per 5 oz) with mayo packet from Chick Fil-A (free)

Snack total: .27 cents

Daily total: 2.44


I'm actually hungry now, but I've already spent just about as much as I can today. :(

Food Stamp Challenge Day 2 Meal

I didn't think.. I switched phone carriers today (BYE BYE SPRINT YOU SUCK!!!!) back to Verizon and I didn't think to switch my photos over before I switched and factory reset my old phone.

Before you try to say something--- my phone is work subsidized. I pay less for my high end cell phone each month than I could get on a prepaid line though ANYWHERE. Its less than 60$ a month tax included-- which is a steal especially with Tennessee's 9.5% sales tax.

I promise to put pics up tomorrow.

Today's food:

Breakfast: 1 oz shredded cheddar cheese & 2 (16oz) glasses of water

Lunch: 1 hard boiled egg, 1 glass water

Dinner: 2 oz chicken breast (in the oven) wrapped in romaine lettuce leaves, 3 glasses (16oz) of water (I drink 45 minutes AFTER meals)

Snack 1 Tangerine (23 cents)

I'm not even close to hungry, but I have a lap band. I don't get hungry very often and when I do I'm easily satiated. I can't imagine doing this challenge without my band, or without refrigeration cooking again. I'm not sure how I managed the first time!

Food Stamp Challenge Day 2

So I'm a bit of a slacker with the updates.. I've been busy. I had a biopsy of my right foot last night and although it really didn't hurt when they did it (thank you Lidocaine!) its horrifically painful now, so the idea of getting up to do anything involving pressure on my foot is just unbearable.

Anyhoo I posted my purchases online and got ripped apart (or people attempted to)

Let me clear some things up:

1) I am allergic to: Wheat, yeast, eggs, milk, seafood, onions, apple JUICE, grape JUICE and horseradish.

My lapband cannot tolerate: dense carb foods (like bagels, muffins) green beans (I also despise these) thick cuts of meat or stringy meats, rolls, rice, carrots and on the rare occasion pudding/jello.
Some days I MUST do all liquids because NOTHING will go through. Just the way the band is.

Anyhoo, I do not have a 'I touched the tuna I'm going to die' allergy anymore. As a child I would break out in hives, wheeze and at least once (for unknown reasons) went intoshock and had to go to the ER after using an EpiPen.

After 15+ years of eating tiny bits of these foods, I can usually tolerate them in small amounts.
I can eat a hard boiled egg today, but if I eat two, I will get itchy. Three, rash or hives.
Same with wheat.
I avoid apple juice and grape juice 100%. I avoid onion and horseradish, because they make me violently ill and not in a hives kind of way. (I can eat apples and grapes no problem though)


So now that thats cleared up some what...

I purchased:

One bottle of store brand light ranch dressing (1.29)
1 Bag garlic & cheese croutons (1.19)
3lbs boneless skinless chicken breast (5.99)
1 dozen eggs (1.19/dozen)
1 bag of romaine lettuce (it came to about 3lbs) 1.99
1 oz bag of light shredded cheddar 1.99
1 lemon, .23
13.97 + Tennessees ridiculous 7.5% food tax.

That will feed me for a week, of 3 meals. I supplement with liquid protein that was given to me (the local food pantry got a box of single serve packets, no one else wanted them, they taste like brownie batter!) which I equate to .35 a serving.

I drink water, which is free as its included in my rent.

The lemon is just for adding to my water, I like to mix it up.

That one weeks worth of food, with almost no variety is almost the entire minimum monthly benefit for someone on food stamps.

Have anything planned?