Limosine Liberal Gwyneth Paltrow Fails Food Stamp Challenge

[braces_for_impact]

5 limes?

 

[bigfield]

5 limes?

For scurvy

 

[ronburgundy]

I average about $500 per month.

I can't eat pasta/rice/grains/starchy vegetables without putting my blood sugar in a tailspin.

So I have to leave out sugars, pastas, rices, beans, most breads, and stick with real lactose free milk product (less sugar) and buy mostly meats and eggs and leafy vegetables. Prices rise accordingly.

$500 is a crazy amount. I eat mostly meat, cheese, eggs, and veggies (little pasta or bread) for about $100 per month. I'd have to sub all my meat for high-end filet mignon and salmon to get up to $500. Granted, I don't buy much fish, which is pricey. I buy things like chicken dark meat (50 to 80 cents per pound), pork shoulder ($1.50 per pound), lamb shoulder chops ($4 per pound), and rarely a porterhouse or NYstrip steak when on sale for about $5 per pound. Sticking mostly with chicken and pork, I average $2 per pound for meat, meaning I can eat 1/2 a pound per day totaling about $30 a month for my meat budget.

 

[thebeave]

5 limes?

Actually, 7 limes.

 

[credoconsolans]

I average about $500 per month.

I can't eat pasta/rice/grains/starchy vegetables without putting my blood sugar in a tailspin.

So I have to leave out sugars, pastas, rices, beans, most breads, and stick with real lactose free milk product (less sugar) and buy mostly meats and eggs and leafy vegetables. Prices rise accordingly.

$500 is a crazy amount. I eat mostly meat, cheese, eggs, and veggies (little pasta or bread) for about $100 per month. I'd have to sub all my meat for high-end filet mignon and salmon to get up to $500. Granted, I don't buy much fish, which is pricey. I buy things like chicken dark meat (50 to 80 cents per pound), pork shoulder ($1.50 per pound), lamb shoulder chops ($4 per pound), and rarely a porterhouse or NYstrip steak when on sale for about $5 per pound. Sticking mostly with chicken and pork, I average $2 per pound for meat, meaning I can eat 1/2 a pound per day totaling about $30 a month for my meat budget.

$500 / 30 days per month = $16.66 per day / 3 meals = $5.55 per meal

I can eat out at fast food for less than $16.66 per day. However, sometimes you have to buy things that aren't necessarily a meal - milk, condiments, oils, spices - and that counts as 'food' but you're not eating a bottle of olive oil.

I buy dark meat too. Like chicken thighs. Not sure where you're shopping but pack of 4 thighs costs $3.80.

 

[TSwizzle]

$500 is a crazy amount. I eat mostly meat, cheese, eggs, and veggies (little pasta or bread) for about $100 per month. I'd have to sub all my meat for high-end filet mignon and salmon to get up to $500. Granted, I don't buy much fish, which is pricey. I buy things like chicken dark meat (50 to 80 cents per pound), pork shoulder ($1.50 per pound), lamb shoulder chops ($4 per pound), and rarely a porterhouse or NYstrip steak when on sale for about $5 per pound. Sticking mostly with chicken and pork, I average $2 per pound for meat, meaning I can eat 1/2 a pound per day totaling about $30 a month for my meat budget.

$500 / 30 days per month = $16.66 per day / 3 meals = $5.55 per meal

I can eat out at fast food for less than $16.66 per day. However, sometimes you have to buy things that aren't necessarily a meal - milk, condiments, oils, spices - and that counts as 'food' but you're not eating a bottle of olive oil.

I buy dark meat too. Like chicken thighs. Not sure where you're shopping but pack of 4 thighs costs $3.80.

Really ? I must admit I don't so the grocery shopping too often but I remember buying a whole roast chicken for not much more than that.

The $29 challenge intrigues me, I might try it myself.

 

[TV and credit cards]

The $29 challenge intrigues me, I might try it myself.

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

 

[J842P]

The $29 challenge intrigues me, I might try it myself.

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

You can get even lentils for less than $2 per pound. Rice even cheaper than that. Salt, pepper and perhaps some onions and garlic for seasoning and you are looking at pretty cheap survival food.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

You can get even lentils for less than $2 per pound. Rice even cheaper than that. Salt, pepper and perhaps some onions and garlic for seasoning and you are looking at pretty cheap survival food.

My memory is that lentils are under $1/pound. Rice is often on sale here for 40 cents/pound. To change things up a bit cheaply there are also split peas and barley available cheap. There are quite a variety of beans but the long cooking time could be problematic for some people.

 

[Togo]

We used to make huge vegetable soups, and then use them as a backstop to whatever else we could find that was cheap. That way you have a basic supplement of calories and vitamins, and can be more flexible and opportunistic with the rest of the budget. The best and cheapest deals are for large bulk items, which may be beyond your budget. You can't really squeeze a kilo of potatoes into a weekly budget - you have to save up for it in advance, and then buy it all at once, and then use it for the next few weeks.

The very best deals are typically at supermarkets you can't easily reach unless you have a working car or a convenient address. If you're living in a neighbourhood with a lot of other people on the same budget, you can forget about deals.

It's possible to do. It's not particularly condusive to getting work though.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The $29 challenge intrigues me, I might try it myself.

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

5 pound bag of flour - $5
Dozen of eggs - $2
Veggie Oil - $3

$10 investment should get you about 12 family sized batches of pasta. All you need is a rolling pin. A pasta roller would be better (much quicker!), but a rolling pin would work. The set back is the time prep. Mixing the dough is quick. But rolling with a pin takes a little time, and not as fast as a box of pasta. Can cost less if you get the flour/oil on sale.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

We used to make huge vegetable soups, and then use them as a backstop to whatever else we could find that was cheap. That way you have a basic supplement of calories and vitamins, and can be more flexible and opportunistic with the rest of the budget. The best and cheapest deals are for large bulk items, which may be beyond your budget. You can't really squeeze a kilo of potatoes into a weekly budget - you have to save up for it in advance, and then buy it all at once, and then use it for the next few weeks.

Huh? How much do you pay for potatoes??? Around here you generally can't even buy a kilo of ordinary potatoes--because they're usually sold in 10 pound bags. Only specialty potatoes are available in such a small quantity.

The very best deals are typically at supermarkets you can't easily reach unless you have a working car or a convenient address. If you're living in a neighbourhood with a lot of other people on the same budget, you can forget about deals.

Around here it's mostly the opposite--more expensive neighborhoods have more expensive stores.

- - - Updated - - -

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

5 pound bag of flour - $5
Dozen of eggs - $2
Veggie Oil - $3

$10 investment should get you about 12 family sized batches of pasta. All you need is a rolling pin. A pasta roller would be better (much quicker!), but a rolling pin would work. The set back is the time prep. Mixing the dough is quick. But rolling with a pin takes a little time, and not as fast as a box of pasta. Can cost less if you get the flour/oil on sale.

We were just out shopping. The ad had eggs 5 dozen for $5.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Huh? How much do you pay for potatoes??? Around here you generally can't even buy a kilo of ordinary potatoes--because they're usually sold in 10 pound bags. Only specialty potatoes are available in such a small quantity.

The very best deals are typically at supermarkets you can't easily reach unless you have a working car or a convenient address. If you're living in a neighbourhood with a lot of other people on the same budget, you can forget about deals.

Around here it's mostly the opposite--more expensive neighborhoods have more expensive stores.

- - - Updated - - -

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

5 pound bag of flour - $5
Dozen of eggs - $2
Veggie Oil - $3

$10 investment should get you about 12 family sized batches of pasta. All you need is a rolling pin. A pasta roller would be better (much quicker!), but a rolling pin would work. The set back is the time prep. Mixing the dough is quick. But rolling with a pin takes a little time, and not as fast as a box of pasta. Can cost less if you get the flour/oil on sale.

We were just out shopping. The ad had eggs 5 dozen for $5.

You'll be hard pressed to have them last long enough to use them all in pasta.

 

[ronburgundy]

Huh? How much do you pay for potatoes??? Around here you generally can't even buy a kilo of ordinary potatoes--because they're usually sold in 10 pound bags. Only specialty potatoes are available in such a small quantity.



Around here it's mostly the opposite--more expensive neighborhoods have more expensive stores.

- - - Updated - - -

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

5 pound bag of flour - $5
Dozen of eggs - $2
Veggie Oil - $3

$10 investment should get you about 12 family sized batches of pasta. All you need is a rolling pin. A pasta roller would be better (much quicker!), but a rolling pin would work. The set back is the time prep. Mixing the dough is quick. But rolling with a pin takes a little time, and not as fast as a box of pasta. Can cost less if you get the flour/oil on sale.

We were just out shopping. The ad had eggs 5 dozen for $5.

You'll be hard pressed to have them last long enough to use them all in pasta.

I live in a major high cost of living city and I have about 20 stores within 2 miles of me where I can buy a box of dried pasta for $1 that makes about 6 hearty adult servings of pasta, which means $10 for 60 servings of pasta, which means 1 pasta main course or 2 side dishes every day for 2 months for $10. Making your own pasta is an expensive hobby for hipster foodies and or a job for servants of the rich.

 

[arkirk]

Huh? How much do you pay for potatoes??? Around here you generally can't even buy a kilo of ordinary potatoes--because they're usually sold in 10 pound bags. Only specialty potatoes are available in such a small quantity.



Around here it's mostly the opposite--more expensive neighborhoods have more expensive stores.

- - - Updated - - -

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

5 pound bag of flour - $5
Dozen of eggs - $2
Veggie Oil - $3

$10 investment should get you about 12 family sized batches of pasta. All you need is a rolling pin. A pasta roller would be better (much quicker!), but a rolling pin would work. The set back is the time prep. Mixing the dough is quick. But rolling with a pin takes a little time, and not as fast as a box of pasta. Can cost less if you get the flour/oil on sale.

We were just out shopping. The ad had eggs 5 dozen for $5.

You'll be hard pressed to have them last long enough to use them all in pasta.

I live in a major high cost of living city and I have about 20 stores within 2 miles of me where I can buy a box of dried pasta for $1 that makes about 6 hearty adult servings of pasta, which means $10 for 60 servings of pasta, which means 1 pasta main course or 2 side dishes every day for 2 months for $10. Making your own pasta is an expensive hobby for hipster foodies and or a job for servants of the rich.

Surprisingly, one can find most of these ingredients at local ethnic grocers and green grocers in my neighborhood at prices a lot lower than I have seen so far in this thread. If you shop at Walmart or other Supermarkets you are going to pay more. Obviously if you go to Whole Foods, you are going to pay even more...for all the hype. Actually local farmer's markets are quite expensive... That is unfortunate, but to be expected.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Huh? How much do you pay for potatoes??? Around here you generally can't even buy a kilo of ordinary potatoes--because they're usually sold in 10 pound bags. Only specialty potatoes are available in such a small quantity.



Around here it's mostly the opposite--more expensive neighborhoods have more expensive stores.

- - - Updated - - -

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

5 pound bag of flour - $5
Dozen of eggs - $2
Veggie Oil - $3

$10 investment should get you about 12 family sized batches of pasta. All you need is a rolling pin. A pasta roller would be better (much quicker!), but a rolling pin would work. The set back is the time prep. Mixing the dough is quick. But rolling with a pin takes a little time, and not as fast as a box of pasta. Can cost less if you get the flour/oil on sale.

We were just out shopping. The ad had eggs 5 dozen for $5.

You'll be hard pressed to have them last long enough to use them all in pasta.

Eggs actually last pretty darn well. While they might not be quite as good as fresh I've seen eggs lost for months in the back of the fridge that were still good to eat and I've seen eggs transported without refrigeration for a month (through a reasonably warm climate) and still good to eat. (Obviously you had better be sure you're dealing with unfertilized eggs if you're going to do that. The group leaders planned this--they knew the eggs were going to still be good.)

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Surprisingly, one can find most of these ingredients at local ethnic grocers and green grocers in my neighborhood at prices a lot lower than I have seen so far in this thread. If you shop at Walmart or other Supermarkets you are going to pay more. Obviously if you go to Whole Foods, you are going to pay even more...for all the hype. Actually local farmer's markets are quite expensive... That is unfortunate, but to be expected.

Second this--check the ethnic markets!!

And there's a reason that I've heard many people call Whole Foods "Whole Paycheck".

 

[ZiprHead]

The $29 challenge intrigues me, I might try it myself.

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

I do better than that, eating off the dollar menu. 2 buffalo ranch McChickens, 2$ and a drink for a total a little over 3 bucks. The fries are way overpriced and not very healthy.

 

[TV and credit cards]

I think you have to need to do it.
Last time I ate this cheap, I had no choice. I was in navy tech school and hurting for money. My roommate was the Drum Major for the base marching band and told me to join the band. I could draw ComRats (Commuted Rations (money for meals in lieu of eating at the mess)). Sounds good. Can't play an instrument but why sweat the details. The ComRats was nice but my car kept breaking down. I ended up living off one Extra Value Meal a day until I graduated. I was 163 lbs when I transferred. Which was down 30 lbs from my norm. The McLean Deluxe lived up to it's name.

I really think the McDonald's Extra Value Meal is the way to go here for those looking to step up. You may have to split a meal or skip a day here and there. Try to sleep through the weekend, maybe.
Package of Ramen with an egg and Keebler crackers are an unhealthy alternative.

I do better than that, eating off the dollar menu. 2 buffalo ranch McChickens, 2$ and a drink for a total a little over 3 bucks. The fries are way overpriced and not very healthy.

I was taking a second look at this. It was quite some time ago but I think I may have just been buying a McLean Deluxe sandwich, not the meal. The memory fails.

But, many are putting out non-meat suggestions. At $29 a week, it's fat, fat, fat.
It takes a good bit of time to get used to eating a non-fat diet. You basically have to get used to feeling somewhat hungry on a regular basis. If this is you, good on you. I did this when I did the vegan thing for awhile. It took some time to convince my brain it wasn't getting the fat intake it was used to.

Now, if we look at the QPI, in my neck of the woods, I can live off one greasy Quarter Pounder a day and have $8 left over for cheap booze and maybe a few cigarettes (ex NYC). I think this is the formula many follow.
I piece of cardboard and a magic marker can supplement you income.

 

[ZiprHead]

2 dollar triple cheeseburger over a quarter pounder for me any day. Better meat-to-bun ratio.

What really gets to me is that we have to discuss how to get the most nutrition for pennies for poor people in this country in this day and age. What a fucked up country...