NUTR351

th
DueNovember17
workbook,receipts,anddietanalysisinclass

LauraBussey
Dr.BykerShanks
NUTR351
11/17/2015
FeedYourselffor$4PerDay

Assignment
AccordingtotheWorldBank,abouthalfoftheworldspopulationlivesonless
than$3/day.TheaverageSNAPbenefitperpersonperdayinMontanaiscurrentlyaround$4.
Seeifyoucanmeetyourfoodneedson$4/dayforthreedays($12/3days).

Conditions
Striveforanutritionallybalanceddiet
Donotacceptanyfreefoodorcharityfromyoursocialnetworkoverthethreedays.
YouareallowedtogotothebreadroomattheGallatinValleyFoodBank,eatdinneratthe
CommunityCaf,orsimilarcommunityservices.
Onlyconsumewhatyouhavepurchasedwithyour$12.

Instructions:
Thisassignmenthasfiveparts.Answerthefollowingquestionsbelowattheappropriatetimeas
ifthiswasyourjournal.Usethisworkbookasyourwrittenlogandsubmitatypedversionofyour
questionswithanswers(structuredliketheworksheetbelow),receipts,anddietanalysisinclass
th
byNovember17
.

PartI:Planning
CompleteyouranswerstoPartIbeforeyoubegintheexperience.
PartII:Purchasing
CompletePartIIafteryouhavedoneyourshopping.
PartIII:TheExperience
CompletePartIIIonadailybasisduringtheexperience
PartIV:Analysis
CompletePartIVwhenyouhavecompletedtheexperience.
PartV:FollowUp
PartVhasquestionsthatshouldbecompletedduringtheexperienceand
aftertheexperience,soreadallquestionsnow.

SEENEXTPAGEFORPROMPTSACCORDINGTOEACHPART

Rubric

AssignmentComponent
Points Score
Dietanalysisandreceipts(turnedinduringclass)
10

Qualityofcontentspelling,grammar,sentencestructure
10

Content(mealplan&evaluation,descriptionofexperience,implications 30

forprofession)
TOTAL 50

NUTR351
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workbook,receipts,anddietanalysisinclass
PartI:Planning

Beforeyoubegintheexperience,reflectonhowdoyouthinkitmightfeel(physically,
emotionally,andmentally)tobefoodinsecure?
IexperiencedfoodinsecurityasachildsoIhaveexperiencedmanyofthefeelingsthat
comealongwithit.Thankfully,it'sbeenalongtimesinceI'vefelttrulyfoodinsecure,sothis
challengewillbeagoodreminderofhowfarIhavecome.
IthinkthatattimesIwillfeelhungry.AttimesIwillfeelundernourished,evenifIhave
enoughcalories,becauseIdoubtIwillhavemuchvarietyinmydiet.IthinkattimesIwillfeel
upset,angry,orsadthatIcan'thavemyfoodthewayIlikeitbecausethatrequirescertain
condimentsorgarnishes(suchaspickles,olives,chiaseeds,herbs,flavoredwater,andother
flavorfulfooditemsIenjoyeatingregularly).

Beforeyougoshopping,whatkindsoffoodsdoyouthinkyouwillbuywithyour$12?

Iamgoingtotrymybesttomaintainnutritionaladequacy,butIknowitwillbedifficult.
Proteinfoodsareexpensive,soIdontknowifIllbeabletoaffordanymeats.
Mygoalistobuyatleastonetypeoffreshvegetableandatleastonetypeoffreshfruit,and
keepmygrainproductswholegrain.
ConsideringIeatoatmealeveryday,IhavealargeportionthatIboughtfromCostco.
Forthisreason,Iwillnotbebuyingoatmeal,butIwilltakeapictureofthepriceofacontainerof
oatmealatmyneighborhoodmarketanddeductthatamountfrommy$12allotment.Thisisthe
samecasewitheggs.

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PartII:Purchasing
Keepallofyourreceipts.YouwillturntheseinduringclassonNovember
th
17
.

Describeyourshoppingexperience.Wheredidyoushop,whatdidyoubuy,andhowmuchdid
eachitemcost?

Ishoppedandattendedafewdifferentestablishments.Iboughtthebulkofmyfood
itemsatWalMartbecauseIfeltthatmostitemswouldbelessexpensivethanatregular
markets.Thiswastrueforsomeitemsbutnotforafew.Fortheitemsinwhichitcostmoreto
buyfromWalmart,IwenttoAlbertsonsinBelgrade,whichisrightnexttowhereIlive.

AtWalMart,herearetheitemsIbought:

4mediumbananas$1.08
3mediumapples$1.49
1smallstalkofbroccoli$0.92
1bag(1lb)ofcarrots$0.78
2small(4oz)cansoftuna(butIonlyusedone!)$0.78ea
1jarofgardenvegetablepastasauce$1.50
1packetofwholewheatspaghetti$1.00
1regular(15oz)canofwhitecannellinibeans$0.72
1kingsizepacketofM&Ms$0.98

AtAlbertsons,herearetheitemsIbought*:

dozenlargeregulareggs$1.69
1containeroldfashionedrolledoats$1.00

HerearesomecondimentitemsItookfromtheSUB:

Splendapackets
Sugarpackets
Mustardpackets
Salt&pepperpackets
Liquidcreamers

TheitemsbelowareonesIaskedmyboyfriendtobringhomefromthecafeteriaatthehospital
heworksat:

Mayonnaisepackets
Lemonjuicepackets
Butterpackets

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*fortheitemsthatIbought,Ididnotactuallypurchasethem.TheyarestaplesthatIbuyat
CostcoinlargebatchesandIsavemoneythatway.Myfinancialsituationissomewhatlimited,
soIdidntwanttospendextramoneyonanitemthatIalreadyhaveinbulk.Instead,Itook
picturesofthepricesfortheseitemsanddeductedthelistpricefrommybudget.

Whatstrategiesdidyouusewhileshoppingtomaximizeyourallottedmoney?
(Copyyourreceiptstoturninwiththisassignmentsheet)

ItriedtosticktovegetarianoptionsbecauseIknewthatmeatstendtobeexpensive.

Iboughtthestoregeneric(ratherthanbrandname)exclusively,becausetheywere
alwaysatleasttencentscheaper.

IscouredtheManagersSpecialandclearancesections,althoughIdidntfindanything
thatIwouldeat.

Istucktofoodsthatwerebasicstaples,notheavilyflavoredorconvenientlypackaged.
Forexample,Iboughtrolledoatsratherthanoatmealpackets.

ItriedtothinkoffoodsthatIcouldeatinseveraldifferentways.

Forexample,withbreadandeggs,Icoulddoafewthings:Icouldmake
scrambledeggsandtoast,aboiledeggsaladsandwich,orevenfrenchtoast(ifI
couldacquiresomesyrup!!)OatmealissomethingIenjoyforbreakfastORasa
snack,andIcouldaddbananasorapplestoittochangeitup.Tobehonest,I
couldeatoatmealforanymealoftheday,Ienjoyitthatmuch!

OnethingthatIhadtroublewithisthefactthatthebiggeryoubuy,thecheaperit
costsbutsometimesyoujustdonthavetheextradollarorcentstobuythebiggerversion!Iran
intothatissuewitheggs.Anentiredozenwas1.99thatworksoutto16.6centsperegg.Ahalf
dozenwas$1.69thats28.2centsperegg!Thatsacostof42%moreperegg!Iwasangered
bythisproblem,butoptedtobuythehalfdozenbecauseotherwiseIwouldnothavestayed
withinmybudget.

NUTR351
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Receipts:

ThisreceiptshowsallthefooditemsIboughtatWalMart.Isubtractedthecostofonecanof
tunabecauseIdidnotuseit.

NUTR351
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Receiptscontd:

ThistagshowsthepriceoftheoatmealIbought.Theoriginalpricewas$1.29,butthankfullyit
wasonsalefor$1.00!(Ididnothavetobuy10toreceiveadiscount)

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Receiptscontd:

ThistagshowsthepricefortheeggsIbought.

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PartIII:TheExperience

Foreachdaystatewhatyouateandhowyoufeltphysically,mentally,andemotionally.Record
yourobservationsandinsights.

Day1

DateandDayoftheWeek:Thursday,November12th,2015

WhatIate:

Breakfast
Crolledoatscookedwithwater
mediumapple.
Sweetenedwith3Splendapacketsand1liquidcoffeecreamer.
Lunch
Tunasandwichmadewith
2slicesbread
1(5oz)smallcanlighttunafish(providesa4ozservingoftuna)
1mayopacket
Saltandpeppertotaste(frompackets)
Carrotsticks2carrots
mediumapple

Snack
Onebanana

Dinner
2ozwholewheatspaghettinoodles
jarofgardenvegetablepastasauce
canofcannellonibeansaddedtosauce
56mediumbroccolifloweretsaddedtosauce
Peppertotaste(frompacket)

Dessert
kingsizepacketM&Ms
banana

HowIfelt:

IfeltsadthatIdidn'thavecinnamontoputinmyoatmeal.Iloveoatmealandeatitevery
morningforbreakfast.NormallyIputblueberriesinitbutthoseareexpensive,andalthoughI
getareallygooddealonthematCostco,mostfamilieswholiveinpovertyarenotabletoafford
aCostcomembershipsoIelectednottopurchaseanyfoodfromCostco.WhenIputapplesin

NUTR351
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myoatmeal,though,Inormallyaddalotofcinnamon,somenutmeg,almondmilk,anddried
cranberries.Itcomesoutphenomenal!Iwasunabletodoitthatwaytodaybecausespicesare
expensiveandwereoutofmybudget.Also,whenIputbananasinmyoatmeal,Iprefertoadd
somechiaseedsandsliveredalmondsagain,tooexpensivetodo.
IwassatisfiedwithmylunchbecausewhenIwasakidmymomalwaysusedtomake
meplainlighttunasandwicheswithmayo,salt,andpepper.ItisacomfortfoodtomeandI
honestlypreferlighttunatowhitealbacoretuna.However,asIvegottenolderIprefertoadd
celeryandoniontomytunasalad,andunfortunatelyitjustdoesnttastequitethesamewithout
that!!Also,Icouldntaffordtobuylettuce,somysandwichesunfortunatelyhadnovegetables
incorporatedintothem.Ididbuycarrots,however,andatecarrotsticksforavegetableatlunch.
IwasdisappointedatdinnertimewhenIhadnoparmesancheesetoputonmypasta!!!
thatwasarealbummersincethatitsomethingIlovetodowithanymealincludingtomato
sauce.AtleastIhadpepperpacketstoaddalittlekicktothedish.

ObservationsandInsights:

AfterIatedinner,Iwassuperfullbecauseofallthefiberfromthewholewheatpasta
andbeans.However,notlongafter(probablytwohourslater)Iwasreallyhungryagain!Idont
knowifitwasaflukeandIwasjustreallyhungrythatday,orifIhadnthadenoughcalories.I
feltthatIhadeatenenoughthroughouttheday,butperhapsIdidnot.

NUTR351
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workbook,receipts,anddietanalysisinclass
Day2

DateandDayoftheWeek:Friday,November13th,2015

WhatIate:

Breakfast
Crolledoatscookedwithwater
1banana
Sweetenedwith3Splendapacketsand1liquidcoffeecreamer.
Snack
Oneapple

Lunch
2eggs,scrambled
2slicesbread
3butterpackets(tocookeggsandbuttertoast)
Saltandpeppertotaste(frompackets)

Snack
Carrotsticks1.5carrots
1slicebread

Dinner
2ozwholewheatspaghettinoodles
jarofgardenvegetablepastasauce
canofcannellonibeansaddedtosauce
56mediumbroccolifloretsaddedtosauce
Peppertotaste(frompacket)

Dessert
KingsizepacketM&Ms
banana

HowIfelt:

Ireallylovedmyoatmealthismorningbananasweresoyummy!Ifirstcutuphalfthe
bananaformyoatmeal,butIwasfeelingsuperhungrythatmorningsoIendedupeatingthe
restofthebananaalongwithmyoatmeal.
Atlunch,Ienjoyedmyeggsandtoast!ItsbeenawhilesinceIveeateneggsandtoast.
TheyusedtobeastapleformebutsinceImovedtoMontanaIhaventeatenthemquiteas
much.IthinkthereasonIvebeendeterredisbecausemyboyfriendandIdontownatoaster.

NUTR351
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Youhavetotoastyourbreadinthepanyoucookedyoureggsin.Ididthattoday,though,andit
didnttakemuchlongerthanifIpoppedtheminatoaster.Itwasdelicious!Strangely,though,I
foundmyselfprettyhungrynottoolongaftermylunch.Iwassurprisedbecauseeggyolksand
thebutterIcookedtheminbothhaveadecentamountoffat,soIfiguredIwouldfeelsatiated
forseveralhours.Aboutanhourlater,though,Iwasstillprettyhungry.SoIhadsomecarrot
sticksandaplainsliceofbread!

ObservationsandInsights:

Today,thelackofvarietyinmydietbecameprettyapparentwhenIwaseatingmysnack
ofcarrotsticksandasliceofbread.IhadalreadyhadasliceofbreadatlunchandIreallywas
notlookingforwardtoaplainsliceofbreadbutIwashungrysoIateit.Ialsodidntreallywant
thecarrotsticks,becauseIhadhadthemthedaybeforeandtheywerentappealingtoday.I
wantedtogetmyvegetablesin,though,soIdidmybesttosticktowhatIhadbought.
IalsorealizedhowmuchIjustenjoysnacking.ItrytobemindfulaboutwhatImputting
inmybodyandwhetherImtrulyhungrywhenImeatingsomething.Irecognizethatsometimes
Imnotactuallyhungry,butsomethingtastesgoodsoIwantafewbitesofit.BecauseIhave
thatawarenessofmybodyandmind,IthoughtIwouldbeabletohandlethatpsychologicalpart
oftheprojectfairlywell.Asitturnsout,itwasmoredifficultthanIthoughtitwouldbe.Assillyas
itsounds,Ijustwantedtohavesomethingthatwasfuntoeat!!Imissmygotosaltysnacksof
Goldfishcrackersandpretzels.AndImisshavingfrozenblueberriestosnackonwhenIwant
somethingicyandsweet.

NUTR351
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workbook,receipts,anddietanalysisinclass
Day3

DateandDayoftheWeek:Saturday,November14th,2015

WhatIate:

Breakfast
Crolledoatscookedwithwater
1banana
Sweetenedwith3Splendapacketsand1liquidcoffeecreamer.
Lunch
3eggs,scrambled
2slicesbread
3butterpackets(tocookeggsandbuttertoast)
Saltandpeppertotaste(frompackets)
Carrotsticks1.5carrots

Snack
Oneapple

Dinner
2ozwholewheatspaghettinoodles
jarofgardenvegetablepastasauce
canofcannellonibeansaddedtosauce
5mediumbroccolifloretsaddedtosauce
Peppertotaste(frompacket)

Dessert
KingsizepacketM&Ms

HowIfelt:

Ifelthungrytoday,butIwasnotlookingforwardtomymeals(exceptmyoatmeal!).At
lunch,IdidntwanttobehungrysoonaftersoIjusthad3eggsinsteadof2.Iwasabit
concernedaboutthecholesterol,butIdidntfeelthatIhadmuchofachoice,soIjustwentforit.
Dinnerfeltblandandnotpalatableafterhavingit2daysinarow.Ireallywishedithadground
turkeyorbeefinitratherthanbeans,butmeatisexpensivesoIcouldntbuythat.

ObservationsandInsights:

IcantbelievehowhappyIamthatthisexperimentisoveraftertoday!Iatealotof
thingsInormallyeat,butIjusthatedeatingalmostthesameexactthingforbreakfast,lunch,
ANDdinner,forthreedaysinarow.

NUTR351
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workbook,receipts,anddietanalysisinclass
PartIV:Analysis
Foreachdaycompleteadietanalysis.
Printthedietanalysisfromeachday
andturnin
th
duringclassonNovember17.Calculatetheaveragefromthreedays.Whatwereyour
average
intakes
overthethreedaysforthefollowingmacroandmicronutrients?(Stateinamountsand
percentagesofrecommendedvalues).UseMyPlate
(
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/supertrackertools/supertracker.html
)ifyoudonothaveaccess
todietanalysissoftware.

NUTRIENT
AVERAGEAMOUNT
PERCENTAGEOF
RECOMMENDEDVALUE
Calories
1530kcals
85%withinnormallimits

(targetintake:1800kcals)
Fat
36g321kcals
21%oftotalkcalsOK

(target:2035%totalkcals)
Carbohydrates
251g1004kcals
66%oftotalkcalsOVER

(target:4565%totalkcals)
Protein
65g260kcals
17%oftotalkcalsOK

(target:1035%totalkcals)
Fiber
42g
OK

(target:atleast25gdaily)
VitaminA
1501gRAE
214%OK

(target:700gRAEdaily)
VitaminC
111mg
148%OK

(target:75mgdaily)
VitaminE
8mgAT
53%UNDER

(target:15mgATdaily)
Calcium
438mg
44%UNDER

(target:1000mgdaily)
Iron
16mg
89%UNDER

(target:18mgdaily)
Zinc
9mg
113%OK

(target:8mgdaily)
Folate
319gDFE
80%UNDER

(target:400gDFEdaily)

Consideringnutrients,foodgroupsandotherimportantfoodcomponents,howwelldidyou
meetyournutritionneeds?

Surprisingly,Imetmynutrientneedsverywell.Iwasunderonafewkeynutrients,such
ascalciumandvitaminE,butIthinkthatisduetomyinabilitytobuydairyproductsandnut
products.IthoughtforSUREIwasgoingtobeunderonprotein,andalthoughIdidnthaveas
highanintakeasIwouldhaveliked,Istillmadeitto17%,whichisaperfectlyhealthyamount.I
wassurprisedbythat.

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Howcouldyourdiethavebeenimproved(withinyourbudget)?

Idefinitelycouldhaveshoppedaroundmoretofindthebestpricesforitems.IfIhad
shoppedatseveraldifferentstores,usedcoupons,etc,Imayhavebeenabletoattainmore
varietyinmydiet.Ielectednottodoso,however,becauseIknowthatmanypeoplewholivein
povertyandareonSNAPdontevenownvehiclesorhavereliabletransportation,sothe
likelihoodthattheywouldgotoanymarketoutsideofwalkingdistanceislow.

Whatdidyoueatthatyounormallydonoteat?

Itypicallydonoteatbananas,forasillyreasonIlikethemSOMUCHthatIwilleat
severalperday.Andiftherespeanutbutterinthehouse,Icantcontrolmyself!!Peanutbutter
andbananasareaweaknessofmine!However,itwasnicetohavethemagainandIwasable
toeatthemmoderately(afterthechallengeended,Iboughtanotherbunchofbananasbecause
itwasnicehavingthemaroundasahealthysweetsnack).
Ihadneverboughtacanofcannellinibeansbeforeitwasnicetotryanewtypeof
bean!IalsotypicallydonothavepastafordinnerthoughIenjoyit,Ijustdonteatitoften.It
wasanicechangeatfirst,butIgotsickofitquickly.

Whatfoodsdoyounormallyeatthatyouhaveavoided?

ThoughIamcomfortableeatingvegetarianitems,IfoundthatImissedhavingmeatas
anoption.Itypicallyeatsalmonfillets,chickenbreast,turkeydelimeat,groundturkeyand
sometimesgroundbeef.Idonteatanimalproteineverysingleday,butIeatitseveraltimesper
weekandtunafishwasnotassatisfyingasawarmbowlofheartybeefchili(anitemIeat
often)!
IalsofoundmyselfcravingitemsthataresuperfluousImisseddrinkingdietsoda,
flavoredwater,tea,andcranberryjuicecocktailthatInormallylovetobuy.Imissedputting
picklesonmysandwiches.Imissedusingdriedspicesandherbsthatmostpeoplewould
considernormaltouse.Inadditiontothat,Imissedsnackfoods!!!Itrytolimittheminmydiet,
butIoftenhaveonesmalldessertitem(suchastheM&MsIhadduringtheproject)perday,
andonesaltysnack,suchaspretzelsorGoldfishcrackers,perday.Icouldntaffordtobuy
thosethingsandstillmaintainnutritionaladequacy,soImissedbeingabletoeatthose.

Didyouhaveanydifficultycomplyingwiththeconditionsoftheassignment?

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Tobecompletelyhonest,therewereacoupleoftimeswhereIslippedup.Forexample
ILOVEputtingunsweetenedcocoapowderinmyoatmeal.Chocolateoatmealisoneofthe
bestfoodsIveeverhadthepleasureofdiscovering.Onday2,whenIhadbananainmy
oatmealforthefirsttimeinayearorso,Ijustcouldntresistputtingcocoapowderinit!!Atthat
point,IrealizedhowmuchIappreciatethelittlethingsinmydailylifethatIfindsosatisfying.I
feltsadthatsomepeoplecannotaffordtodothisonadaytodaybasisespeciallysinceevenI
knowitisnotasuperexpensiveitem(youcanbuyabigcontainerofcocoapowderforabout
$3.50).IalsodidnotfigureinthecoffeethatIdrinkeachmorningIknewIwouldnotbeableto
affordtobuyacanisterofinstantcoffeewithmybudget,andIcouldntstandtheideaofgoing3
dayswithoutcoffee!Admittedly,Iamaddicted.ThosewerethetwoslipupsImadewhereI
broketherulesentirely.Duringothermoments,though,Isimplyfoundittobereallydifficult.On
day3,Isawmyboyfriendeatingadeliciousdinner(hebroughtpizzatoafriendshouse),andI
wassosickofmypastadinnerthatIalmostgaveupandatesomepizza.Thankfully,Istuckto
theplanandatemydinner,butIdidntenjoyitatall!

Couldyoucontinuetoliveon$4/day?Howwoulddoingsochangeyourlife?

IpersonallydontthinkIcouldcontinuetoliveon$4/day.ManyfoodsthatIeatare
inexpensivestaplesandkeepmyfoodcostslow.However,thecostofcondiments,spices,
herbs,beverages,andeatingouteveryonceinawhile,addupquickly.Ithinkthatonsome
daysIamabletoeatfor$4perday,butIdontbelieveitissustainableforthelongterm,without
sufferingsocial,psychological,andphysicalconsequences.
IfIweretocontinuelivingon$4perday,mylifewouldchangedramatically.Iwould
likelybeabletogetmanyofthenutrientsthatIneed,buttherewouldbeweekswhereIjust
wouldnotwanttoeatsuchsimplefoodsandwouldeatmorejunkfoods(sinceIwouldntbe
abletoaffordboth,IdprobablysacrificenutritionalqualityduringtheweeksordaysthatI
wantedtobuycandy,soda,orchips).Mysociallifemightsufferaswell.Sincefoodismuch
morethanfuelitiscelebration,tradition,entertainment,andattimesacomfortitissomething
thatbringssocialgroupstogether.IfIwaslivingon$4perday,thereisnowayIdeverbeable
togoouttoanicedinnerwithfriendsorfamily.Ithinkthesociallimitationswouldbethemost
difficultpartoflivingon$4perday.

Didyouutilizeanycommunityfoodresources?Ifso,howdidtheyhelp?Ifnot,whynot?

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IutilizedtheGallatinValleyFoodBankBreadRoominordertogetaloafofbread.Iwas
thankfulforthatresourcebecauseIseriouslycouldnotafforditwithoutmakingasacrifice
somewhereelse.IfoundawholewheatbreadthatInormallyeat.Iwouldnothavebeenableto
makemybudgetwithouttheBreadRoom.Mostpeoplethinkofbreadascommonplaceand
inexpensive,butthe$24ittakestobuyahealthyloafofbreadcanreallyimpactapersons
budgetespeciallyiftheyarefeedinganentirefamily!

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PartV:FollowUp

Duringthethreedaysoftheexperience,
findanapplicationforSNAP(foodstamps).Examine
andcompletetheapplication.Describethisexperience.Howdifficultwasittoobtainan
application?Howdifficultwasittocompletetheapplication?Considerhowtheexperiencemight
havebeendifferentifyouhadpoorreadingorwritingskills?

IappliedforSNAPbeforeinmyhomestateofCalifornia.Itwasanonlineapplication
andevenforme,withcollegelevelreadingandwritingskills,Ihadadifficulttimeunderstanding
alotofthequestions.TheapplicationforMontanaSNAPwassimilar.Ifeltthatitwaseasyto
accessIgoogledmontanaSNAPandthefirstresultwasexactlywhereIneededtogo.I
realize,though,thataccesstotheinternetisnotaregularpartofmanypeopleslives.
IdownloadedthePDFversion,anditwas17pageslong!Thereweresomany
stipulations,instructions,andtheapplicationwassowordy.Ifounditdifficulttoreadeverything
andcompletetheentireapplicationItooktwodaystodoit.Ijustgaveuphalfwaythrough,
movedontosomethingelsefortheday,andreturnedtoitthefollowingday.
IthinkitwouldbedifficultanddauntingtocompletethisapplicationifIhadverylittle
education.WhileIdontbelieveitisimpossibleornotunderstandable,Ithinktheactual
applicationiswordierthanitneedstobe.Perhapsthefineprintshouldbeincludedina
separatedocumentgiventotheapplicant,butnotintegratedintotheapplication.Ithinkthat
mayhelptheapplicantfeelthattheprocessissimpler.Theactualapplication,though,is13
pageslong!Theremustbesomewaytoshortenandsimplifyit.

Whatareyouroverallconclusionsaboutthisexperience?Describewhatyoulearned,your
observationsandinsights.

Ilearnedalotthroughthisexperience.IlearnedtoappreciatetheadvantagesIhavein
life.AlthoughIliveonastrictbudgetasastudent,IamluckyenoughthatIpayforonlymyself(I
donothaveanydependents)andIhavealittlediscretionarymoneythatallowsmetoafford
moreexpensivefooditems.IamluckythatIamreceivingacollegeeducationthathastaught
mehowtothinkcritically,weighmyoptions,andunderstandnutritionalrequirements.
Igrewupinpoverty,onfoodstamps,andthisexperiencewaslikedejavuattimes.Iate
thesametunafishsandwichandcarrotsticks,thesamesimplespaghettidinner,manynights
throughoutmychildhood.IalsoateaLOTofjunkfoodfrozenmeals,HamburgerHelper,Dollar
MenuatMcDonalds,anddiscountpastries.Icompletelyunderstandwhymymomchoseto
feedmethoseitems,becausetheywereconvenient,tasty,andsometimesMUCHcheaperthan

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buyingalltheingredientsforawholesomemeal.IamdisappointedthatourSNAPsystem
promotesunhealthyeatingthroughprovidingsuchlimitedbenefits.

Whataretheimportantthingsyoulearnedduringthisexperiencethatwouldbenefityouasa
foodsystemandnutritionprofessional?

Itseasytomakeblanketstatementsaboutwhatchoicesapersonmakes,especiallyif
youhaveneverexperiencedlifeintheirshoes.Iveheardsomanynegativecommentsabout
SNAPrecipientsandwhattheychoosetobuyonSNAP.Inreality,thepeoplemakingthose
commentsoftenbuytheSAMEunhealthyconveniencefoods,ortheybuyreallyexpensive
foodsthatapersononSNAPwouldneverbeabletoafford.Ithinkitisimportant,asanutrition
professional,tohavesomesortofempathyforwhatimpoverishedfamiliesgothrough.This
projecthelpedusbuildsomeofthatempathybyliving3daysinthelifeofapersoninpoverty.I
appreciatetheexperiencethisprojectprovidedus.