Day 7 concludes

I cannot describe how thankful I am this challenge is coming to an end.  In working on my paper over the weekend one thing really has stood out is that we only get a taste of what surving on food stamps is like.  The reality would probably be too harse of an experiment. We don't have to deal with the stigma of swiping our EBT cards in the store and hoping there is enough money left for our purchases or the shame many feel to needing the benefits or even the shame in applying.  In reading a lot this weekend about the process and many of the hassles that are seen with the process and how that in and of itself deters many individuals who would otherwise qualify and need the benefits.  I am very thankful for the things I have the opportunities that I have been given.  I think I will be more cautious or at least aware of what I'm now viewing as frivilous expenditures.

Day 7

I have to admit, I am already planning where I'm going to treat myself Monday.  My first treat will be coffee at Dunkin Donuts on my way to work.  I'm thinking I will hit the Greek Touch in the Arcade for lunch!!  I am looking forward to that.  I didn't get to post last night for what I did for lunch and dinner.  I had tuna salad sandwich for lunch with a chocolate pudding individual serving and ramen noodles and saltines for dinner.  This challenge has really eliminated my snacking.  Majority of my typical snacks are sweets, ice cream, cookies, fresh fruit, etc.  I have none of those things, so there really hasn't been any snacking.  I guess that's a good thing and probably shows I'm more of an emotional eater instead of realling eating for the fact that I'm hungry and the nutritional value it adds.  This morning I had my morning coffee and then fried two eggs for a sandwich.  I will have tuna salad for lunch and cheese raviolis for dinner.  I'm going to have some food left over.  I have two eggs left, I can say that I've never eaten almost a dozen eggs in one week.  I'll have peanut butter, jelly and mayo left more than half a jar of each.  I have two individual packages of saltines left and a few pieces of bread.  However, I was running low on diet coke and had to buy another two liter yesterday for $1.25 at the Dollar Store.  I knew I couldn't make it through the weekend without it.  Even though I technically went over the budget, my grand total for the week is $22.45, having food left over makes me feel better that I didn't completely blow it, as long as I don't accidentally end up at Sonic Drive In ordering a cheeseburger, french fries and large diet cherry lime aid :-)

Day 6

Today was nice in that I wasn't rushed to put anything together for breakfast.  I got up and made coffee, started reading a little bit and then when it was time for breakfast, I was able to cook.  I made scrambled some eggs and had toast with jelly.  The funny thing is my dog loves eggs and so when he heard me cracking them he patiently waited.  I know you're not suppose to feed dogs table food but we started this bad habit years ago and it's too late to change it.  I sit down to eat and I get the stare down.  He is patiently waiting for his bite or too and I hear the occasional wimper as if "c'mon mom already, give me some".  I ended up caving in and letting him have a little bit.  I guess it's funny how I was being selfish with my food, it's not like he didn't have a bowl full of food or a beggin strip already this morning.  I went ahead and made tuna salad, which is chilling in the fridge for lunch today and probably tomorrow. 

Day 5

I had my coffee this morning and noticed I'm running a little low but thankfully just two more mornings left so I think I can make it stretch.  I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich around 9:30.  Then for lunch, you guessed it, Ramen noodles.  I never realized how much I give in to temptation and eat when I'm not even hungry.  Today someone brought little individual size blue bell ice cream in chocolate and vanilla.  Oh my, was it ever hard to resist.  For dinner tonight, I ate cheese raviolis.  Yum yum!!  What I've realized is that I think I'll have some food left over.  I'll have more than half a jar of peanut butter and jelly, saltines, a can of tuna and a pack of ramen noodles.  I probably should have calculated per serving costs, then I would have had more left over for my in case of emergency chocolate fund!!  I'll have to ration the remainder of my diet coke over the weekend, which means drinking more water, which I should be doing anyways.

Day 4 concludes

I joined in the birthday celebration today and ate a cupcake.  I calculated the cost and need to add 58 cents to my budget.  I had Ramen noodles and saltines for lunch and raviolis for dinner.  The worst part about this is really the choices are just limited and the same things gets monotonous.  I think I'm a little over $21 for total spent, though I still have enough food for the rest of the experiment.

Day 4

Something interesting happened this morning, I actually woke up feeling hungry.  I have never really been a breakfast eater and often go without breakfast if I've had my coffee.  I woke up today thinking, gosh, I'm hungry that's odd.  Then I got to thinking either I typically eat too much which is why I stay full longer or I'm not getting enough to eat.  Either way, it's getting me off schedule.  I ate an egg sandwich for breakfast and then had my coffee.  Lunch today is Ramen noodles and dinner will be cheese ravioli.

Day 3 concludes

I am running low on bread, growing tired of Ramen noodles...so I scrambled some eggs for dinner.  I went ahead and fried an egg for my breakfast sandwich Thursday morning.  One positive I can say is this has really eliminated the guesswork out of deciding what I'm eating for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  But that is also a negative in that my options are really limited.  That's kind of depressing, not having options and the same old thing is getting mundane.