Imagine only
being able to spend $29.40 on food for the entire week. You can’t splurge on
coffee, eating out with friends or even alcohol. Accepting free food from
people you know isn’t allowed either. Now imagine being a college student
living with this budget.
This was the reality of several
students that participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or
SNAP challenge that was administered through the Human Nutrition Program at
Winthrop University this week.
“It’s like I’m consistently eating
the same meal,” says Human Nutrition Graduate Student Jessica Laurence from
Charlotte, North Carolina.
Kelley Robb, Human Nutrition
Graduate student from Charlotte, North Carolina describes challenge guidelines
as follows:
During
the challenge, participants can spend no more than $29.40 on food and beverages
for the week. They are only allowed to eat what is purchased for the challenge
and cannot accept free food from friends, family, or at social gatherings such
as meetings, receptions or parties.
“You really can’t do fast food,”
says Hannah Cheesborough, junior Human Nutrition major from Charleston, South
Carolina, “that’s like $5 to $8 a meal.”
When asked how they stuck with the
challenge, deciding what to purchase beforehand was among many of the answers
given by participants.
“I had all of the items planned out
and worked into each meal, so I could utilize my budget,” says senior Human
Nutrition major Erin Lawler from Syracuse, New York.
“I made sure that when I went to the
grocery store that I would not over buy or go over my budget,” says Laurence.
Some students didn’t make the
adjustment as easily.
“I already spent most of my money,
so I’ll probably be forced to give up,” says Miranda Jartman, Human Nutrition
Graduate student from Irmo, South Carolina.
“I already gave up,” says Human
Nutrition Graduate student Jackie Lambert, Batesburg, South Carolina.
Aside from experiencing what life is
like for those that receive SNAP benefits, participants learned other skills to
continue using outside of the challenge.
“I think you can get more money than
you think,” says Shealor, “Some people spend too much money on one thing when
you can make food and put little portions of it together.”
“The SNAP challenge has helped me
learn how to budget my money better,” says Sarah Furmansui, Human Nutrition
Major from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Lauren Cobb, Human Nutrition
Graduate student from Samford, North Carolina names awareness as something she
got from the challenge, saying that she has “more of an appreciation” for what
she has to spend.
For more information on Winthrop
University’s SNAP challenge along with insight from the students visit the blog
http://www.WinthropSNAPChallenge.blogspot.com
or contact Human Nutrition Graduate students Kelley Rob at robbk2@winthrop.edu or Tyler Wallace at wallaces14@winthrop.edu. Also, feel
free to follow posts using the hashtag #WinthropSNAPChallenge on Facebook and
Twitter.
