Austin Food Bank to Table: A week living off of food pantry & food stamp meals

I feel truly blessed every time I work with these phenomenal people who leverage their resources in such an extraordinary way.  It would be almost impossible to find another organization who maximizes their donations as effectively to serve so many people as our food bank. They are able to turn every $5 donated into $25 worth of nutritious food.  Genius, right?



So, when Addie Broyles from the Statesman and I started talking about the food bank one day and how we could get the food bloggers involved, I got downright giddy. Addie had this terrific idea for each of us to cook for a week from items similar to what a family would get from a pantry. We decided that we could supplement the pantry items with food that we bought within the limits of the food stamp program.



I was worried that the other bloggers wouldn't embrace the project, but Addie sent out the invite and 30 people responded. Outstanding!



We kicked off the project by going to the Food Bank facility where the bloggers received a tour and orientation to the vast services the food bank offers.



We received a sample list from what one pantry gave out for one family for a month. Each partner agency operates differently, but this is considered typical. I bought my groceries at H-E-B and bought mostly their store and Hill Country Fare brands and it cost me $36.89.





2 cans spaghetti sauce

4 cans veggies (choice of green beans and/or corn) - I bought corn.

4 fruit cans (choice of sliced pears and/or mixed fruit) - I bought pears.

1 meat selection: Anything and everything HEB has. Most of what was available was whole chickens, fryers and pork chops. But we really get everything from pig trotters to ham. - I bought a whole chicken.

3 drink items: choice of large bottle of cranberry apple juice and/or powdered milk (shelf stable milk) boxes and/or apple juice boxes - I bought 2 bottles of cranberry/apple juice and 1 package of apple juice boxes.

1 bag spaghetti or bag of egg noodles - I bought spaghetti.

1 bag of pinto beans or white navy beans - I bought pinto beans.

1 bag of white rice

1 package of jalapeno slices

1 ready-made dinner (hamburger helper) - I bought chicken helper.

1 bag/container of rolled oats

1 bag of cheerios - I couldn't find a bag of plain cheerios so I bought a box.

5 lb bag of potatoes



We learned that over half the people who pick up food at a pantry are also qualified for food stamps. We also learned that a typical single person would receive a $200/month allotment from the SNAP Food Stamp program. I divided by 4 and supplemented my food pantry list with $50 of food.



I then went to H-E-B to spend part of my $50. This list cost me $29.22







1 lb bulk Italian sausage

1 pkg link chicken sausages with feta

1 pkg of smoked ham hocks (includes 3)

1 can pink salmon

1 qt plain yogurt

1 2 lb brick mozzarella

1 qt milk

2 poblano peppers

2 onions

1 clove garlic

1 bunch of bananas

1 can baking powder

1 pkg corn tortillas (20 ct)

2 cans green enchilada sauce

1 can whole wheat bread crumbs