Eat Like You’re Poor So the Poor Can Eat
Long story short: in 2007 12.2% of Americans were experienced what the USDA calls ‘food insecurity’. This means that during the year there wasn’t enough money (or puclic/private assistance) for them to “maintain active, healthy lives.”
The USDA Food Security Report (linked above) includes all the gory details, but I think this chart (right) does a good job of explaining things quite clearly. First thing to note: if you’re worried that your food might run out and you sometimes can not afford to eat a balanced meal, you can still be considered ‘food secure’. Let that sink in a minute: there are some people and families who cannot afford a balanced diet and the government still says they’re doing AOK.
Another thing that strikes me: what type of people and households might not be included the Current Population Study (CPS)? Does such a study include homeless people, or families living in shelters or cars? What about college students? I don’t know about you, but I was definitely in the low to very low food security group when I was in college.
And possibly worst of all: these numbers are from 2007. Before unemployment started to rise, before retirement plans started to crash, before the cost of gas (and therefore food) skyrocketed. What do you think the numbers for 2008 will look like?
Let’s put some real numbers behind this. The USDA Thrifty Food Plan is what the food stamp allotment in the US is based upon: it’s supposed to meet the caloric and nutritional needs for males and females of varying ages. If you’ve never seen the report, take a look at it because it really is an interesting breakdown. Something that you should take note of immediately, however, is that the TFP is designed for an omnivorous diet: meat, eggs, cheese, etc. While I haven’t run the numbers, I’m going to guess that the monthly cost of meeting dietary requirements would get higher and higher for vegetarian and vegan diets.
The September 2008 TFP allotment for a couple aged 19-50 was $363.90 for a month. For comparison purposes, the USDA’s “liberal plan” for that same couple was $711.70 for the month, almost twice as much. The TFP for each individual was $155.60 for a 19-50 year old female and $175.20 for a 19-50 year old male. This adds up to $330.80 so I’m confused where the extra $33.10 for the couple’s TFP comes from, but you know what they say about ‘gift horses’…
While $363.90 for two people doesn’t sound like a whole lot, it’s pretty doable. Also, the USDA site is actually a really good resource when it comes to “working” the TFP. Specifically, they have a really great recipe finder that counsellors use with food stamp recipients. You can search for recipes based on ingredients (great for when you find something on sale), nutrional needs, even cost. Take a glance at it, some of these look really tasty (like butternut squash and black beans). To give you an idea, there are 372 recipes that cost less than $1 per serving.
Alright, back on task: do think you can eat on $175 a month? If you’re in a couple, think you can do it for $360 a month? I know the holidays are upon us and it’s the time of dinners and baking and entertaining, so I’m not necessarily talking about right now. I’m speakin in general: could you do it?
Now that you’ve answered, I’m going to throw a challenge your way: could you eat like a poor person for a month? You could save a couple hundred bucks in that 30 day timespan. Would you do it? Even better: would you donate your savings for the month to charity? Your savings for one month could be enough to feed a family the next month.
Think about it, would you? I know I am. January is a time of new beginnings, resolutions, and tight pants from a month of gustatorial debauchery. What better time to make a change?
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This post has a rather long inspiration chain, so thanks to Steven Perez at FriendFeed for posting Compassionate Conservawhat? I Couldn’t Hear You Over My Growling Belly which sent me to a Yahoo! News article on hunger which finally led me to the USDA’s Food Security Report for 2007.
