Facepalm: The "EBT Challenge" Doesn't Add Up - Don't Believe the Hype!

[The Straight Story]

There has been much media coverage in the past two weeks regarding the Farm Bill and members of Congress participating in an “EBT Challenge” to prove that EBT benefits don’t provide enough food to feed one person with the current benefit of $31.40 a week. When I saw my Congressman post online that he couldn’t sleep after eating two hot dogs and Ramen noodles, my blood started to boil. You see, I am a single working Mom. I spend less than this for food and my children are holding up pretty well. In fact, I believe the opposite: considering the state of our economy, benefits could (and probably should) be reduced.

I spent a total of $58.63 to feed myself and my thirteen year old teenager for one week, well under the $62.80 EBT challenge amount for two people, and this included an unplanned purchase of 2 cases of PowerAde (my teen is in the gym training 15 hours a week and it was on sale). I did not make a list ahead of time, use coupons or price shop. Many of the items are brand name, and most are ready to eat items. Without the purchase of the sports beverage, I spent only $41.23 on food for both of us.

My EBT challenge demonstrated to me that SNAP, which is supposed to be a supplemental food program, has become the “Cadillac Plan” of government welfare. While I certainly believe we should assist Americans who cannot purchase food on their own, I also believe that just as many Americans like myself shop within their budget and make sacrifices, so should those on the EBT program. When times are tough, I buy rice and dry beans. Being on EBT shouldn’t mean than you eat better food than those who work but don’t qualify for EBT.

http://decaturgladiator.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-ebt-challenge-doesnt-add-up-dont.html

Food list at link.....Oh...and a place to leave comments

[Turbineguy]

1. We spend about $800 per month on food for 3 people.

Yes, we could probably get by on less. But not all that much less. And we do have relatives over for the occasional dinner....

[Fumesucker]

2. A lot depends on your situation, if you have access to grocery store, kitchen and food storage

Location also has an effect on prices.

I note that in one place the writer says "my children" and in the next "myself and my thirteen year old teenager" no mention of any other child or children.

Feeding two is also somewhat more economical than feeding one.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. The writer also uses no fresh protiens, only cured meats, very unhealthy in excess

Hard to make sense of what she's writing, it is not consistent. How many kids? She's not sure....

[dhol82]

4. wow - one salami sandwich per day

just curious how much these people weigh? are they hungry all the time? how does the mother garnish the salami and/or pepperoni sandwiches with the peppers from the farmer's market?

reads like a bunch of hooey to me.

and just wait until her son gets that adolescent growth spurt. remember when my step-son hit 16 and became a bottomless pit at all times. he could put away more food than the entire rest of the family at any given meal.

[The Straight Story]

5. Yeah and wondering what they already had that makes it easier - condiments,

eggs, flour, etc and so on.

[Alenne]

6. This person should list her menu for the week.

I don't see any breakfast foods, either. That doesn't seem like enough food for breakfast, lunch and dinner for two for a week.
Anybody can buy food and claim they did just fine on the challenge.

[tammywammy]

10. +1 n/t

[erpowers]

7. Who Eats Like That

I saw the list of the things this woman claims she bought. There was barely anything to make a real meal, if anything at all. In addition, what if someone does not eat pepperoni or salami. Furthermore, what is someone supposed to make with the pepperoni? A pepperoni sandwich? Also, what would the peppers and an avocado be used to make? Could any of those items be put together with the other items she bought to make something that can be eaten? Is someone supposed to make a sandwich with peppers and an avocado? Is the sausage and the peppers supposed to be put together to make some type of food item? It seems to me that this is a person who wanted to make a point by buying inexpensive items and did not consider how the food could, or would be used to make meals.

On another note, this woman claims the SNAP Program has become the Cadillac Plan of government welfare. Clearly this woman does not know what she is saying when she says Cadillac Plan. Maybe she bought store brand food to show that people do not have to spend a large amount of money to buy certain items, but a plan that allows you to buy store brand items is not a Cadillac Plan. I do not think a plan that allows you to buy name brand items is a Cadillac Plan. In my opinion, a Cadillac Plan is one that allows you to buy steak and lobster.

[vanlassie]

8. Invoking a "Cadillac" seems a bit Reaganite to me. I call bullshit.

[matt819]

9. Something seriously smells here

Really? Someone on assistance decrying that it's too generous?

Then there's the food purchases. They are horrible, and if this what the EBT funding encourages, it's no wonder there's an obesity epidemic. The salt intake alone is in the stratosphere with cheese and cured meats. Add the sugars from the PowerAde and empty carbs/sugars from white breads. Four pieces of fruit for a family of three for a week? To quote the SNL gag, Really? The Kroger's shopping looked more like snacks for watching football on Sunday afternoon.

Something's not right.

[JimDandy]

11. I have never, not ever, heard someone on SNAP

say they benefits were sufficient, let alone generous. And Cadillac plan... I call foul, really smelly foul.

[JaneyVee]

12. This person may not live long on that diet. Raise the SNAP benefits.