SNAP Challenge Offers Taste Of Surviving On Food Assistance

BOSTON (CBS) – Could you get by on $31.50 a week for food?

One state official is giving it a try as part of what's called the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) challenge. It's designed to demonstrate the difficulties facing families on food assistance.

Transitional Assistance Commissioner Stacy Monahan took the SNAP Challenge, which required she shop with the same budget as people on food stamps. It breaks down to $1.50 per meal.

Monahan bought beans, rice, tuna fish, bread, cheese, a few meats and few vegetables.

Monahan told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic people on food assistance need a plan. "It is a lot about priorities and preparing in advance. You need to have sort of a menu plan for the week."

She said people on food assistance deal with a lot of stress making choices on what to eat and how to make their food last.

Monahan said 80 percent of food assistance family's just get by, with less than $10 left at the end of the month.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports

When Monahan finished shopping her cart wasn't even a third full but she had 57 cents to spare.

Her department is working with farmer's markets to create two-for-one deals so people on food assistance can eat healthy.

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