What is Your Food Budget?
$63.00
That’s the maximum food stamp benefit a 2-person family is allocated each week in Seattle. While food assistance is designed to supplement a family’s food budget, many people don’t have enough money to buy extra food and cover rent, childcare, transportation, and other basic living costs as well.
Next week United Way of King County is sponsoring a Hunger Action Week to bring attention to the issue of hunger here at home. Jon and I typically spend more than twice the food assistance budget on groceries alone, but next week we will limit our purchases to $63.00 and forgo eating at restaurants. Our goal is to not only stay within the budget, but also prepare meals that are healthy and delicious.
As we prepare for this challenge I can’t help but think back to my time in Cuba last summer. What impressed me most about Cubans was not their ability to live without—which they certainly do—but how they manage to make do with what they have. I’m going to keep that spirit in mind as I draw up our menu and shopping list.
If you’d like to take part in Hunger Action Week, please visit United Way’s website and take the challenge!
Several other Seattle food bloggers are also taking part in the challenge, including A Conscious Feast, Savory Sweet Life, Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef, Family.Friendly.Food.
Way to go Willi!! I’ll be sowing seed for my 2010 veggie garden next week. This will enable me to resume my weekly food bank donations later this year. Not sure I can do this $63 challenge effectively since I have so much of our food already purchased and stored from seasonal growers, but we’ll see.
Go girl!
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:31 pm.-= gardenmentor´s last blog ..Another Reason to Love a Sunflower =-.
I’m proud to say that my husband and I spend a LOT less than $63 per week. We NEVER eat out if we can help it. . . that’s because the very best place to eat in Kitsap County is my house thanks to my shopping and my husband’s cooking.
We grow our own, only eat what it is season and never, never, never eat processed foods.
Thanks for the inspiration, Willie. I wish you the best for the year!
January 22nd, 2010 at 10:18 pmGorgeous site you have here! I’m looking forward to following you throughout the challenge.
January 25th, 2010 at 1:23 am.-= alice´s last blog ..United Way King County Hunger Action Week =-.
Robin–Your garden and food preservation efforts are so inspirational. I’m hoping that I can do half as much as what you did last year!
Robin–I’m so impressed with you and your food budget. This project is making me realize how much less I could spend at the store and furthermore it is making me want to grow even more, especially in the winter. I love your rule and thanks for your well wishes!
Alice–I’m interested to follow you on the challenge as well since you are feeding 3 hungry kids, too! Good luck!
January 26th, 2010 at 2:40 pmI have to confess that our food budget is more than I would like. However, this is partly due to our preference for naturally-produced products that tend to be priced at a premium. We consider it worth the cost to provide healthier alternatives for our family.
November 10th, 2010 at 3:55 am.-= Wayne Baker@Homemade Baby Foods´s last blog ..Homemade Baby Food- What Equipment Is Required =-.