Food For All

David M Baltierra

4/24/16

            In our cause "Food for All "I took a food stamp challenge for a one week just to see if it was possible if I could go without any of my favorite foods like; tortillas, beans, and menudo on a food budget of just $36.50 for a week. I wanted to experience how low-income individuals go into food acquiring and strategizing challenges they face in order to survive in a week.

Day 1

            Perhaps the first day was the most emotional moment during my weeklong attempt. Going to my mother's house to visit her one the first day made me want to quit that same day, however I knew that I was up for a challenge. I was able to leave happy that day. Knowing that I was about to past this test. I have always loved food and always said no but that first day I was proud of myself. So I went to Walmart and bought the food items that I could only buy with the money for the challenge. I bought a dozen of eggs, a whole chicken, five cups of nodules, a litter of coke, hamburger helper, and a fish.

Day 2

            I really didn't have to worry about where my next come from however food became my enemy. Knowing that I felt it was a constant source of stress, worry, and this made me very nervous, like being jittery. Every meal seemed like an indulgence that I should watch what I eat and not have taken my food for granted.

Day 3

            Because the food that I ate was nutritious and felt that I would make it through, I felt good about myself at this time. However as time when by and now it was late in the afternoon I felt hungry again and I now had a headache for most of the day. I began not to focus well and my work suffered as a result of it. Can you imagine how hard it would be to work full-time feeling the way I did on a food stamp budget and then just think about your family as opposed to yourself?

Day 4

            Over the course of the week, if it's all my spirits have gotten lower and lower as this weight has been placed on me. I felt that I brought the right items and planned my meals meticulously, but something went wrong with my striates. Since I was almost out of food I had to go to Walmart and eat some of their fruits, like bananas, peaches, and apples. Yes I was stealing them without buying them.

Day 5

Since I had a little money left over I went to Mac Donald's and got two big macs for a dollar. Also I did this all day long when I was very hungry. By the time I finished this challenge, I did noticed significant changes in myself.

           

 

 

 

In California, about three million people like you and I receive food stamps, and this number has grown since I just write this food stamp challenge. California alone I believe has the worst participation rate who are eligible in any state in the country. The average length of time people in California spend on food stamps is about 27 months, according to the California Department of Social Sevices.