Yesterday's start was a little uneven, as I relied on bananas for my breakfast and lunch. I did, however, end the evening with a dinner that was more enjoyable than it might sound. I had a tuna sandwich on two slices of wheat toast, a serving of baked beans, a serving of mixed peas and carrots, and three glasses of tap water.

According to the caloric information on the various food items, on day one I consumed a total of 759 calories. By any definition, that's a very paltry diet. But my feeling was that I just hadn't planned my diet very well. I was certain that I would do much better on Day Two.

Well as the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. My plan to boil a serving of grits was foiled when my teenaged daughters informed me at 6:50 am that they needed a ride to school. I grabbed one of the boiled eggs I had prepared the night before, put some water in a water bottle, and of course grabbed another banana, and my daughters and I were off to start our day.

I was also able to bring to work the other food I prepared for lunch. In my menu for Day Two I had a tuna sandwich, a boiled egg, and three cups of water.

After two days of tuna and bananas, I've been wondering if maybe I could have done a better job with my shopping. A Bread for the City Board member, Nisha Patel, has been documenting her experience on the Food Stamp Challenge on her organization's website, http://thewomensfoundation.org/category/blog/. I noticed, with no little envy, that she had the foresight to purchase milk and sliced cheese (although no fruit).

Some BFC staff have also been documenting their experiences:

Juliana, Medical Case Manager
I haven't bought groceries yet, have been very busy. So, my morning meal consisted of a...banana. And a cup of coffee, which gave me some energy up to 11 am, when it became difficult to focus on anything else but how hungry I was. My stomach wouldn't stop growling. All I could think was: "Is it lunch time yet"? When that time of day finally came, I had to be creative and got a toast with a side of...butter. And some more coffee. Not the healthiest of meals. I am definitely going to buy groceries with the $17 I have left...how expensive it can be to buy prepared food! I keep thinking about working parents that have to come home after a busy day at work, have to feed the children, and then prepare the next day's meals for themselves on top of it all.

Meredith, Intern:
After my first day at Bread for the City yesterday, I decided that I, too, wanted to participate in the Food Stamp Challenge. I realized my best option was to wander the aisles of the Co-op near my apartment in search of the upcoming week's meals. Armed with a few ideas and my mother on the other end of my cell phone, I managed to spend $18.17 of my budget on 14 meals.

Several others at BFC had mentioned the need to buy rice, lentils and beans to hold them over for the week. Karen even had a soup of the aforementioned items already made. I, however, faced a different challenge. My biggest obstacle, probably even more so than the limited budget, is my inability to cook. Nonetheless, I attempted to make the healthiest purchases from various food groups in order to sustain myself for the week. I purchased tortillas, turkey lunchmeat (the overly processed, watery, yet 89 cents a package kind), and cheese slices for lunch at work. For my dinners this week, I will be eating whole-grain pasta from a bag (the “Pasta Sides” kind that you only have to boil and stir), and various rice flavors (also individually packaged and “Boil only”). I was able to buy canned vegetables for fairly cheap to complement my dinners. With the remaining $2.83, I purchased grapes and bananas to snack on and eat for breakfast. I'm not a big breakfast eater generally, so I saved money there, but I think this week will make me realize how often I splurge on an iced coffee and pastry mid-morning.

Adrienne, Development Associate:
It was harder to shop than I expected -- I hadn't really planned out my week of meals as well as I should have. Mostly, though, it was stressful to keep a tally of how much I was spending in my mind, worried that I would have to experience the embarrassment of returning something in the check out line.

Something interesting that has come of the challenge so far is the conversation it provokes. Four of my colleagues in the office are also doing the challenge, and I find that we aren't just using each other as springboards for our whining and complaints, but also for some fairly thoughtful insights on how the Challenge has already forced us to put ourselves in some pretty uncomfortable shoes. Working in the non-profit sector, I think we are all accustomed to living on a budget. But I know that I'm also used to being able to treat myself if I've had a long day -- to a glass of wine, to a meal with friends... it's almost like a safety valve to know that you at least have the option.

We are very excited about all the attention the Food Stamp Challenge has received. On Thursday I will be attending Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's press conference, where she will be announcing her involvement in the Challenge. Representative Norton is a cosponsor of H.R. 2129, the Feeding America's Families Act of 2007, which aims to increase food stamp benefits and support working families in other ways. Please take a moment to thank Representative Norton for her commitment to fighting hunger: http://www.norton.house.gov/forms/contact.html.