Random food stamp question

6fsn

I know that WIC has restrictions on what you can use the benefit for, but does the Food Stamp program exclude certain foods? 

I'm watching The Chew, and Mario Battali is doing a food stamp challenge as part of a Farm bill thing.  Just curious.

loveshine1

I think with food stamps you can buy whatever, but no alcohol or cigarettes. I could be mistaken.

Wzz

i *think* it all has to be unprepared. like you can get frozen vegetables, but not frozen prepared meals.

MNNEBride

The only food excluded in the food stamp program are foods to be eaten in the store and hot foods.  Soda, candy, snacks, etc.  are considered food and not excluded.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/eligible.htm

6fsn

Interesting.  He was talking about how much research he had to do and how he had to go to several stores to make it happen.  If a chef who has a little more knowledge and time (and money to travel to several stores) has issues it can't be easy. 

I'm not a fan of his, but I give him credit for doing this and putting it out there.  He also said he wasn't tasting anything this week because that would be free food.

dharmabunny

In Response to Re:Random food stamp question:[QUOTE]I'm not a fan of his, but I give him credit for doing this and putting it out there.nbsp; He also said he wasn't tasting anything this week because that would be free food. Posted by 6fsn[/QUOTE]

No free food? Anyway, I wish a LOT more food wonks would put a LOT more thought into those kind of things. Especially when dirt poor doesn't always mean unemployed.

6fsn

I think it's that they make 3+ recipes on that show and could easily add up to a meal.  He said he was hungry. 

Wzz

the food stamp challenge doesn;t seem all that difficult with a little work and meal planning. i am not so sure people actually on food stamps are couseled so they learn how to do their research and meal plan in order to make the most of the budget they are given.

what is it, $35 per person, per day? to me that is a generous budget to work from.

AuntFlo

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_random-food-stamp-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:2690d3e7-eb19-41e5-9008-8e218dd12228Post:9e65f967-0d62-4fdb-bbd7-f95067711693">Re: Random food stamp question</a>:
[QUOTE]the food stamp challenge doesn;t seem all that difficult with a little work and meal planning. i am not so sure people actually on food stamps are couseled so they learn how to do their research and meal plan in order to make the most of the budget they are given. what is it, $35 per person, per day? to me that is a generous budget to work from.
Posted by Wzz[/QUOTE]

::::record screech:::::   $35 per person per day?   Good God, Wz, I hope you're mistaken!!!

mrsconn23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_random-food-stamp-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:2690d3e7-eb19-41e5-9008-8e218dd12228Post:85415a55-94ea-4355-9bf9-a22dacae60ce">Re: Random food stamp question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Random food stamp question : ::::record screech:::::   $35 per person per day?   Good God, Wz, I hope you're mistaken!!!
Posted by AuntFlo[/QUOTE]

I thought it was $30-35 per person per week. 

zsazsa-stl

http://www.ndhealth.gov/dhs/foodstampcalculator.asp

I tried doing this calculator assuming that I had a family of four and only made enough money to pay for rent.  The benefit came out to about $5.50 per person per day.

Wzz

if it is 30-35 per week, then i am REALLY off.

zsazsa-stl

WZ, $35/day would add up over $1,000 per month per person.  H and I aren't very good at budgeting but we come in waaaay under that.  We could open a restaurant in our living room with a food budget of $2,000 per month.  I'm pretty sure it is closer to $35/week.

6fsn

They said a family of 4 was an average of $124/wk.  I know my budget is much lower than that, but I also have time to go to different stores and the stores to go to.  I have a little bit of food knowledge too.  Plus I have a husband who picks up kid duty so I can cook from scratch or for the freezer.  I spent a lot more on food in BFE and when I was working.

*Barbie*

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_random-food-stamp-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:2690d3e7-eb19-41e5-9008-8e218dd12228Post:9e65f967-0d62-4fdb-bbd7-f95067711693">Re: Random food stamp question</a>:
[QUOTE]what is it, $35 per person, per day? to me that is a generous budget to work from.
Posted by Wzz[/QUOTE]

i don't know about that... i mean even Rachel Ray got $40/day

Wzz

$35 a week/person  makes so much more sense. ADURR. i didn't even think about the math.

GBCK

in my state, there's the added issue that low income = food desert.

Hell, the Mr. figured that for the average folks to make 2 stops in our city (not the BFE, not a real 'food desert" from a crappy area to places w/ fresh food, they'd have to spend over 4 hours on his bus...