The Balancing Act...Feeding a family healthy on a food stamp budget

A chef and a mother take this challenge of getting only $68.88 for a week to feed a family of four and try to meet federal health guidelines.

[@aldralee]

"Good all natural chips." LOL Bless her heart.

[@GeckoHiker]

LOL - That is a great example of rampant consumerism when you have to buy your "all natural chips" in a plastic bag for 20 times the cost of making your own snacks.

[@MELINDASSIMPLEBLESSINGS]

😂

[@geralynneeson2911]

😂😂😂

[@camillecali2]

@@GeckoHiker That is exactly what I was thinking. I make my own chips and my own tortillas. I buy everything from scratch and spend $25 a week no food stamps.

[@GeckoHiker]

@@camillecali2 That's the way to do it! I also make tortillas from masa dough and turn some into chips. I used some tortilla chips to go with homemade hummus for lunch--along with homegrown tomato, scallion, and jalapeño salsa. It was a complete meal. $25 a week is a good budget and easily achievable when leaving out manufactured faux-foods.

[@katherinedorton4562]

Coupons , cook everything , no junk food or processed foods. Food banks to supplement

[@saracornejo2361]

She is not Resourseful at all...

[@MrDiedaily]

beans n rice baby

[@charleneoneill4729]

Yes, that's cheap.

[@ScourgeMonastik-oj1uo]

Eewwww carbs

[@MissAshten]

I grew up poor and can stretch a dollar easily. I've had a food budget of 350 per month for a family of 5 for years. Key things is learning to cook. Less processed foods, shop sales and buy items that can be universally used

[@jocelynpaul8082]

I know how to stretch a dollar I learned coupons on my best friend and watch for things that go on sale don't buy name brand all the time and there's a Dollar Tree that I go to that sells food like soup ketchup and can goods I guess growing up without much was a blessing because it taught me how to survive

[@mimad57]

My grandma is rolling in her grave. Make a loaf of bread ffs 🤦‍♀️

[@JennsCorner777]

Yes the guy at the end is right its a lot of mental preparation & then physical preparation & strategy to make several meals from the same ingredients. You have to check different store's sale flyers every week to see where the most values at once are so you don't purchase diff. things at diff. stores & waste gas $. You need to save receipts & compare previous prices with current prices so that later on when you spot a good deal on your most consumed items you can bulk purchase. You have to put away some cash to be able to buy in bulk. You have to know what goes on sale & when. You can not go in unprepared, you have to have a flexible list and even that has to change if you see your items are pricier than expected. You have to meal plan & keep a recipe directory with all your recipes so if you have to buy whatever's on sale you can look up what you can make from your recipe directory with those items.You have to cook everything & a lot of things from scratch. Gardening should always be a first option so you have food for yourself & to trade with others for things you can't make ie your neighbor makes homemade bread or whatever. It isn't hard its just time consuming. We live in CA which is super expensive here & the coupon thing is almost not worth it because there are so many restrictions & they don't allow coupons to double etc. BUT with all the work I had done for my menu planning it took me hours to do, I was spending around 75-100 per week & that is NOT very expensive here at all. Its all a game, you HAVE to know how to cook (if not you're screwed) & how to be savvy. If I HAD to I could've gotten that weekly amount lower maybe down to 50 but we had it in the budget to spend that amount so it was ok. Its hard its really hard sometimes if you don't know what you're doing.

[@charleneoneill4729]

Yup

[@debbieframpton3857]

I do use paper coupons when available and stores digital coupon I am very much a fan of Kroger's mark down meat and mark down aisle at times when they have the five for five deal going on I have combined the markdown section with the five for five and coupons and got stuff for pennies one time in the markdown section they had Quaker instant oatmeal 10 packs to a box for $1. 39 they were part of the five for five deal I had one digital coupon and one paper coupon I ended up getting all 10 boxes for $0.09 a piece did I need 10 boxes no but I shared. I'm a senior and I have senior friends who always swap saving ideals.

[@sophietierney-jf6el]

she will have a big shock how much you can’t buy like vegetables and fruits a lot of the foods you buy is very processed and not healthy it’s very sad the government needs to give people more money to live on 😠😤😡😠

[@Prettyredflames]

This woman is an absolute princess. Makes me feel sick

[@deniseduggins8933]

It's a lot of cooking....as she pours a bowl of cereal....

[@laCachanilla650]

She doesn't know how to cook that's the thing

[@walkerbait610]

You can make your own bread!! It's not that difficult. Stop going to high priced stores like Costco, Trader Joe's..etc. Start shopping at the cheaper stores.

[@AbiZolanski]

Baking your own bread actually sounds really good

[@Nunes67]

Not everyone can make their own bread.. Don't assume it is easy for everyone.

[@zenodotusofathens2122]

Lara Nunes Yeah baking your own bread is easy. My retarded cat Willie can do it

[@ruthpullis4977]

can you please. give me you bread response i can afford. to buy. bread my kids. go through bread like candy i. buy 5 lofe a week. and my kids. complain. when it gone

[@TheBeagle1975]

Ruth Pullis try making Irish soda bread that’s what we eat and it’s heck of cheap and super healthy. It does not contain yeast and takes 20 minutes to bake

[@theresabollman8061]

If they really qualified for assistance, the children would have qualified for free breakfast and lunch at school so she would not have had so much of a drain on her limited food funds. But I know it still has to be hard to do it on that limited amount. To be fair though, there are many, many people who are out there working hard every day who do not get/take any assistance, and they are having the same problems...sometimes worse. There has to be an answer.

[@kenbob1071]

+theresa bollman Great point about the free school breakfast and lunch.

[@jessicawright605]

The point is that guidelines include per family per day so she yes would really get help with meals and a Little more wiggle room

[@MrStarofTruth]

i had no income and the food stamp people gave me $15.00 of food stamps for a month and my neighbor from Russia they gave her $200.00 just because she was not an American.

[@GeckoHiker]

That's a myth that you can't afford fresh vegetables on a limited budget. The best deals on vegetables include plain onions, celery (for building flavor), carrots, carrots, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and greens when they are 99 cents a pound or less. Roma tomatoes are the least expensive and tastiest option for tomatoes. If any of the above is on sale you buy more and prep the excess to freeze. I try to spend no more than $10 a week per person on food and make meals from scratch from one-ingredient foods. I make all our condiments, bread, tortillas, snacks, and beverages myself from minimally processed one-ingredient foods. I make simple cheeses and yogurt at home but will buy grated cheddar and mozzarella in bulk and freeze portions. It doesn't take that much time...the hour a day you would spend prepping meals, in any case, can be used to meal prep in bulk. Cook once, eat many times! I made a mystery soup last night that used up homemade chicken stock, chicken picked from stock bones, all the leftover bits of vegetable, lentils, and chickpeas saved from other meals, with onion, carrot, and celery as the base. To that, I added chopped broccoli stems, kale, and tomato that I'd previously prepped and frozen. For a few dollars, a few minutes, and using food you'd normally toss (like broccoli stems!), this soup can feed a family of four for several days of lunches and dinners. You change it up each time with a sprinkle of grated cheese, a side of sauteed cabbage, a slice of buttered bread, a sprinkle of crushed crackers, a salad of fresh greens & tomato. and anything else you might want to use up. That's the key--if you are going to pay money for food use it up!

[@thesurvivalist.]

If get into the Coupon Game, and you can eat for nearly free even on EBT, while not using up your benefits! Also get brand name non-food products for near zero dollars too! With in store, online, bogo, and manufacture coupons, and a little planning and organization, there is no need for folks on EBT to not be living at the same level as someone making 60k per year!

[@Denigoddess2001]

I know how difficult it can be to feed a family on a small budget. If you have them in your area, I recommend Aldi and Dollar Tree. That save my budget every week. Both chains accept food stamps and EBT cards.

[@BlueberryFundip]

I love this statement because I've been saying this for a very long time.

[@BlueberryFundip]

Dollar Tree has saved me HUNDREDS of dollars💖

[@BXLatina35]

Deni yes those are my favorite stores. I work for a living and I shop there LOL

[@BlueberryFundip]

I work for a living at a Dollar Tree and I use EBT because it doesn't pay enough. But I love my job and am grateful for the savings

[@BXLatina35]

BluefoxxyNautral84 I love dollar tree store.....yes u save money... I always get the necessities at the store. ..

[@DuffyLew91]

Having been on a tight budget for years, I find it easier to plan meals and get more for my money by shopping frequently. Less food is wasted, and I don't throw anything away. Take advantage of sales for non-perishables. I don't understand why this family ate a loaf of bread in one day. Eat more vegetables than fruit. Pancakes are not healthy, so cut that out. High-fiber and low-sugar cereals, oatmeal, and eggs for breakfast. Adults don't need milk like children do, and nobody should drink juice everyday. Eat fresh fruit instead of juice, or blend it if you want a drink. Sure, it is an adjustment, but this family would figure it out if they really were on that budget. Buy a whole chicken instead of chicken breasts, the most expensive cut. A roasted whole chicken and two fresh vegetables costs about $10. Drink water or make tea. I find healthy eating cheaper. Grated cheese is expensive, that is one reason why I never buy it. The other reason is that eating cheese regularly is not healthy, and I love cheese. Combinations of foods are also key to healthy eating. I disagree with the four-part pie. Most meals should contain 1/3 meat and 2/3 vegetables. Many vegetables contain the fiber and vitamin C found in grains and fruits. It is doable, but, yes, it takes time and effort. Hope folks out there will benefit from the excellent suggestions found in these comments below, too.

[@mommabear2many]

It can be done but everything is from scratch and meat is a min. If you can try to grow what ever you can, plan your menu around what is on sale. I understand people saying get a job but for some( no not my family) they have been laid off from good jobs and cannot find anything. Try to raise a family at a min wage budget yes some people use the system but until I walk in everyone shoes I won't judge there situation.

[@beckyshell4649]

People should look at federal assistance just as that ASSISTANCE not we will take care of you . There is enough to let you not starve if you are wise in your purchases .A big box of oatmeal for breakfast is very reasonable . Potatoes ,frozen vegatables .pasta,rice, eggs and dark meat chicken and beans for protien shop the sales and buy in season.

[@Nunes67]

Becky Shell - My taxes pays for this food stamps btw only American citizens and Green card holders should be getting any kind assistance from USA government .Helping our own is a good thing. If anyone is on welfare it is the USA government and Israel. Two parasites entities who should be starving to death.

[@oulhouma4ever729]

Baking your own bread is a good option :flour yeast water and voila Buy a whole chicken and stretch it I mean breast upper thighs low thighs wings even the bones for soup for extra flavour Taking care of a dog is even pricy Get the necessary: oatmeal flour rice Egg sugar oil beans and cook at home...

[@saracornejo2361]

I go to the Dollar Store or 99 cent store--> has good veggies and fruits!!😃😃

[@andreafoxx7722]

THAT BEST SAVE MONEY

[@yellowbird5411]

Many do not know that not all grocery stores are created equal. Just looking for bargains in the store you normally shop at is not enough if you are having a tough time financially. Find all the grocery and dollar stores in your area, including farm stands, and start comparing prices. You will find that what is a "bargain" at your favorite store because it is half price or something, is being sold at a fraction of that somewhere else. Learn to cherry pick. Go to three or four stores, make a route. Start at the cheapest, and work your way up. Not all stores carry everything. I start at Dollar Tree, go to Aldi, then Save a Lot, then Walmart. You will learn what products are cheaper at what stores. You can save hundreds a month if done right.

[@umm7063]

Just a note from the South of Florida, Shredded cheese cost the same as block cheese and I am not leaving any on the grater. Bread can come from pantries ....

[@WildWarriorBill]

just go out the back of the supermarket and dumpster dive for free food! tens of thousands of tonnes thrown out yearly around the country!

[@dannasmith2437]

yep wen u buy that NAME BRAND SQUEEZE TOP JELLY .u could buy a bigger jelly of store brand for less. ALL the food u showed was name brand. u are a bad shopper. if u buy name brands have coupons for them. then u could get more bread. or buy the day old bread that is always m a rked down and put one in the freezer for later. use ur head lady.

[@zenodotusofathens2122]

D'Anna Smith Exactly! I am not leeching off the public on food stamps and shop much better. For instance I don't buy canned beans. I buy dry beans. canned beans are 3 times more expensive.

[@wildsurvival4306]

I buy canned pasta on occasion and sometimes opt for the Chef-Boyaredee lasagna or ravioli when I could get the store brand at a 20 cent discount. And guess what? Sometimes I do it ON FOODSTAMPS. MUHAHAHAHAHAH. IM A HORRIBLE PERSON

[@GeckoHiker]

And dollar stores can be a treasure trove for items like this. Our local Dollar Tree consistently carries an all-natural line of preserves in larger sizes for $1. I stocked up on blackberry, raspberry & strawberry, enough for a couple of years of tasty recipes. Jelly and preserves are not just for bread and toast. I like to make a blackberry or raspberry based sauce to put on my lentil "meat" loaf, chicken, or salmon patties. The things I can do with a can of Aldi salmon boggles my own mind. LOL

[@debbieframpton3857]

When the grocery store ads come out on Wednesday I always compare the different ads the three stores that I shop at are all within 2 miles of each other I shop the mark down meat sections and other markdown Foods I use coupons I keep a foam cooler in my car year round and put ice packs in it during the summer that way I can shop more than one store at a time not having to go home and unload if you do this enough time you kind of get used to the store prices and know if a sale is really a sale

[@breannapiscitelli3941]

That man is a genius. I’m definitely going to use some of his advice. We are forced to make our food stamp work as healthy food because I almost died from sugar. There are many days where I don’t eat and i just make food for my children. I would rather die than be forced to feed my child the garbage food I grew up on.

[@georgesingh826]

She have a very large diamond ring, she can sell that to buy food if she think she need more money!

[@MELINDASSIMPLEBLESSINGS]

Maybe its fake ???

[@mandysimmons2769]

I got an air fryer for Valentine's day. So I could have my beloved French fries with no guilt. When I peel the potatoes, I take all that thick skin and potato meat ( I like my fries skinny ) and I cook that separately in the microwave and let cool. I'm not a breakfast fan too much but my husband loves a hot breakfast. I add egg and bacon bits and lil green onion and often ( ugly ) tomatoes from our garden and cheap cheese shreds to make him an eggy tater bowl. I grew up not wasting food and I still do that meal stretching. I don't really "have to" have to do that now but we are paying off our retirement house quick so we save it wherever we can! I see eggs and cheese there, the grownups can eat cheesy omlettes for supper.

[@luciielove1]

So you think it is still possible despite taking the challenge and not being able to do it yourself. It is a job itself that regular Americans do not have time for when they are already working 40+ hours a week.

[@meaganwilson6159]

Welcome to life.

[@victoriapalmer5146]

Sometimes it feels like a full-time job to stretch your food stamps as far as they'll go. Everything from meal planning making the shopping list hunting down coupons to use searching stores for best sales and prices going to more than one store. Be willing to eat pretty much the same thing every day.... It shouldn't be such a struggle in a chore to enjoy a nice meal. The prices at the grocery store are just way out of hand. And food stamps just doesn't even nearly come close to meeting high food prices. And the newer generation which grew up on pre-packaged foods doesn't have the knowledge or experience and cooking natural foods.

[@Iheart2cook]

The federal government gives no consideration to the age of the children. The woman in this video has two young kids. As you all know, feeding teenage boys (or girls in many cases, not judging) is EXPENSIVE. When my children are home on break, my grocery bill goes up $200 per week, and I don't buy junk food. It's true, the older they get, the more expensive they are.

[@marshamagic8551]

She could have bought canned pasta? Spaghetti?

[@ahlewsiv]

I shop in different stores to save I go to dollar tree for most cans and condiments

[@marshamagic8551]

You can get frozen vegetables..

[@dougmillar3874]

kA box of dry cereal with its inherent sugar and white flour cost $3-$4. A bag of rolled oats that will last two people two months (without the sugar) costs about a quarter that amount. A bag of turnips or potatoes or onions is cheap and more nutritious than "french fries". Eating inexpensively and healthier is very cheap if you shop wisely. Stop complaining and learn. Knowledge is power1

[@wigwmg77]

Those ideas do help...but most places these days don't have $1 bags of frozen veggies...atleast they don't where I am.

[@AudreyCeropin]

This is why food stamps is called a supplement. It is not the goal for food stamps to be the sole providor of your familys food. you have to be able to utilize your community Pantry, WIC if you have younger children, and yes sometimes, some of your earned income. Its assistance in supplementing what your in lack of. Couponing is a must! Shopping multiple different stores., utilize the free web pages and apps to find where the best deals are.

[@janetslater129]

Shopping multiple stores is only an option though if you have access to them. There are a lot of people on foodstamps who don't have cars, and need to rely on other forms of transportation, particularly if the grocery store isn't within walking distance. If someone is in poverty, their take home pay simply may not be able to cover food. WIC, depending on where you are at, only covers up a certain amount as well, pantries can also often run out of stuff, and food stamps for a lot of people just doesn't provide enough money to really get them through the month.

[@perinekj]

Most people don't eat breakfast ,lunch, and dinner. We only eat lunch and dinner and soon probably on dinner.

[@user-ov5oq6iy2j]

Oh God buy frozen or canned. You can use coupons.

[@55ostaR]

It sad on how the government can tell you what to eat live soon they will tell us what time we have to be in the house

[@wolftreetree]

Its interesting that she didn't quite make it.

[@foodstamp-orfrugalbudget-c8822]

Canned and frozen fruits and veggies are just as nutritious (often more nutritious) than fresh, and cost much less.

[@janetslater129]

I don't agree with the canned stuff, but the frozen stuff, sure. A lot of the canned stuff has a ton of extra salt added. However, if needed, one could possibly just drain the can, and rinse the veggies under some water from the sink to help get rid of the excess salt.

[@foodstamp-orfrugalbudget-c8822]

@@janetslater129 Are you saying canned foods have fewer micronutrients than fresh?

[@lollypop3301]

Some good ideas in the comments

[@emeraldkimble7602]

A lot of my budget goes to csbs transportation

[@rainbowflower8388]

I got $355 for 2 people on food stamps. I don’t get how a family of 4 only gets less then $300. I feel VERY privileged. Now, we can only afford like $200 for 2.

[@carolhill564]

You don’t have to eat 3 times a day

[@MIRAISHOME000]

It is crazy

[@julia9991]

Buy flour and yeast and bake your own bread.

[@wigwmg77]

My household buys groceries with foodstamps and I can tell you for sure...it is impossible to buy healthy foods to last an entire month for 2 reasons...#1 most of the healthy foods come at a higher cost, #2 They do not stay good for the entire month. I have been trying to find a way for some time...if anyone has cracked it please let me know....I do not buy junk foods..sodas ect unless it's a one time occasional small treat...suggestions welcome ;)

[@ThePerksdeLeSarcasmeSiorai]

I know this is a very late reply (and you probably don’t need help anymore) but you should consider growing your own food. If you have a small garden, then it’ll help tremendously. If you live in an apartment, then consider indoor planting. You’ll be facing limitations but it still helps in the long run. Tomatoes are extremely easy to grow (you can just squeeze tomatoes seeds from your tomatoes, water the pot, and voila: abundant tomatoes after 2-3 months). My household has a very small rear garden but my parents plant blueberries, pears (whose tree can withstand harsh Midwestern winters), amaranth, lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, eggplants, chilli peppers, basil, mint, etc. We never need to shop and pay for vegetables during summer and autumn. And plus, they’re inexpensive and ORGANIC (the label that rich people really like 😂) And last but not least, consider freezing your abundant summer vegetables so that you can still have access to them in winter (if you live in a temperate environment, that is).

[@chelbydavis8202]

Bread and rice in bulk is the best at Costco. Never shop at whole foods on food stamps. That place is for rich and middle class people. I know. If people see you using ebt card then that's a discretion breech because people that can afford to shop there will stare at you like you're broke and mental. Always shop at Costco, trader Joe's, grocery outlet and food max as well as winco.

[@user-nw4kk1hx6c]

😂😊uh huh she is spoiled

[@feliciakidd9358]

🙂👍

[@louisvuitton1584]

Eggs are cheap u can do a lot with eggs not that complicated

[@annawitte9082]

I couldn't do it! I spend 100 a wk just on fresh produce a wk for my family.

[@charleneoneill4729]

She need to learn to cook. Ugh

[@nnyv0040]

Fruit and veg cost more than junk food. Eating healthy cost more that's why people living in poverty are more susceptible to being overweight.

[@raycity1234]

Why taxpayers have to feed the layabouts is beyond me.

[@KristenHH]

Here's an idea.........GROW YOUR OWN FOOD. Mind=blown. ANYONE can grow their own vegetables, even in the cities. There's no excuse.

[@mayataylor5743]

I see plenty of people using food stamps not using coupons and they damn sure don't be having no list. they eat very good

[@Julieaism]

here's an idea, rather then settle on food stamps, find a job

[@jimcyr7380]

Kinda sick of all this crying about the hand outs they get. We never had anything just work and understanding that nobody was responsible for our kids but us . Simple roofing job paid everything . Shitty work and averge pay no assistance or houseing nothing . Shop at aldies or somthing

[@marcysere1081]

I agree. It's like they want us to feel sorry for them. They made their choices, now, live with it and quit complaining.

[@israelsaldana1441]

Get a job

[@chariblomquist]

Get a job. Stop reproducing Tired of paying for your actions