tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post7211272664429938822..comments2024-01-28T05:20:01.172-08:00Comments on The Cynical Sailor & His Salty Sidekick: Eating On $4 A Day SNAP Challenge | The ResultsThe Cynical Sailorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-39272706557340063522016-03-10T11:44:38.774-08:002016-03-10T11:44:38.774-08:00Thank you so much for the lentil tip! When I looke...Thank you so much for the lentil tip! When I looked at buying sprouting seeds online I was surprised how relatively expensive they were (especially once you included postage). I like the idea of buying a bag of lentils to try it out. If it doesn't work or I don't like them, then there's always lentil soup that I can make with the rest of them.The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-60469071115780538992016-03-09T06:10:59.203-08:002016-03-09T06:10:59.203-08:00No, we did not cook the sprouts and never had heal...No, we did not cook the sprouts and never had health issues with it. We used them on salads and sandwiches for lunch. We would buy a pack of lentils (very cheap!), which would last for many weeks. We would cover the bottom of a rectangular, largish Tupperware container and soak them overnight. In the morning, we discarded the water and rinsed the lentils. From then on, they don't sit in water anymore and we rinsed them every morning and every evening with fresh water with a sif/tight colander. After about 5-7 days, the container would be filled with yummy and healthy sprouts, which we then kept in the fridge. we would start a new batch almost immediately to never run out. Especially handy in places where there are no greens available, like the atolls and remote islands in the Pacific.Liesbethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13402741679152508367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-4585289175790807512016-03-09T05:27:44.245-08:002016-03-09T05:27:44.245-08:00Scott's the cynical one of the two of us, not ...Scott's the cynical one of the two of us, not me :-)<br /><br />You raise some good points - thanks for sharing. I think the SNAP challenge is still a good eye opener as to what it's like to live on a limited food budget (whether by choice or circumstance). Some people don't have access to or eligibility for benefits or aid programs (or choose not to opt in) and have to live on a tight food budget, others might have to divert the extra money they have earmarked for food to other needs like medical bills, rent, utilities etc. and as a result have to try to live on something more akin to the average benefit. It's definitely a complicated issue. The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-72829210296510068782016-03-09T05:23:38.135-08:002016-03-09T05:23:38.135-08:00I've been thinking of trying sprouting, but th...I've been thinking of trying sprouting, but then I read stuff about the risk of Ecoli. Not sure how much of a real risk that is. Did you cook the sprouts you used? I've seen other people grown herbs - maybe I should give that a go. I'd love to have a garden - that's one of the things I miss about having a house.The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-18687807769843447592016-03-08T06:42:27.019-08:002016-03-08T06:42:27.019-08:00I'm surprised that someone with your nom de pl...I'm surprised that someone with your nom de plume would so readily accept the SNAP challenge assumptions about what amount to "live on" with food stamps. <br /><br />The SNAP Challenge is based on an invalid premise. Those who must "live on SNAP benefits" as their only source of money for paid food receive the MAXIMUM benefit, not the average. Those who receive the average (lower) amount receive that because they are presumed to contribute some of their income to food purchases. The max benefit is $194 per month, or $6.47 per day, not $4.44. http://www.cbpp.org/research/a-quick-guide-to-snap-eligibility-and-benefits.<br /><br />Further, there are approximately 12 Federal programs and additional state programs for food assistance, food banks and soup kitchens as additional sources of nutrition.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03485338007119876461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-34162039138297965192016-03-08T06:33:05.067-08:002016-03-08T06:33:05.067-08:00Great challenge and congrats to you, Ellen for try...Great challenge and congrats to you, Ellen for trying this! Too bad that friends always have to ruin it! Just kidding, of course... I agree that you shouldn't count the food that is given to you or the meals you were invited to. Eating out is out of the question, when you want to keep food costs low. I think the saddest thing we learn over and over again, when trying to cut costs for food, is that a healthy diet is expensive, way more expensive than an unhealthy one, which is sad and wrong. And, it explains why fast food chains are so popular. The only way around this, I feel, is having your own vegetable and spice garden, which is hard to do on a boat, of course. We managed to keep basil, mint and spinach on our boat for many years and made sprouts constantly. We also ate what the locals ate, made our own bread, pizza, granola... and managed to have a much lower food expenditure while sailing those eight years than now, on land. The choices and temptations in a Western grocery store are just too great!Liesbethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13402741679152508367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-40836584643129804742016-03-07T14:12:04.225-08:002016-03-07T14:12:04.225-08:00Aww...thanks so much for your kind words. I'm ...Aww...thanks so much for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoy the blog!<br /><br />One of the big issues about living on a SNAP budget is that it can be really hard to afford foods that are good for you. Instead, some folks have to resort to cheaper carbs and things which aren't all that nutritious, but provide a lot of cheap calories for their food dollar.The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-80665842064690419382016-03-07T14:10:29.984-08:002016-03-07T14:10:29.984-08:00Thanks - I'm glad I have "dispensation&qu...Thanks - I'm glad I have "dispensation" from not costing up the food that people gave me :-)The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-45986535706301957082016-03-07T14:08:58.136-08:002016-03-07T14:08:58.136-08:00I know - it's not a lot. Especially in New Zea...I know - it's not a lot. Especially in New Zealand where it always seemed like the cost of food was pretty high. The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-45854367309725955862016-03-07T14:08:05.667-08:002016-03-07T14:08:05.667-08:00Oh yes...mac n'cheese - the staple food when y...Oh yes...mac n'cheese - the staple food when you're on a budget. That and ramen noodles :-)The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-85744938930673879232016-03-07T11:57:26.498-08:002016-03-07T11:57:26.498-08:00Love your blog and share your passion about food (...Love your blog and share your passion about food (snacks:-)).. Can indeed imagine that eating on such a frugal budget is not so healthy, I spend around 70 euro on fruits and veggies only every week! (2 kids and 2 adults) so without protein, dairy, snacks and all....Viseehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01729668795898585863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-27135410115744422452016-03-07T10:44:45.295-08:002016-03-07T10:44:45.295-08:00I think you did a great job and I don't think ...I think you did a great job and I don't think that part of rule #2 should apply! People who live on SNAP would not have to count food that has been given to them or if they were invited to a family's or friend's place for a meal would have to account for it to the agency that hands out the "stamps/money" so why should you. Obviously it won't be the same if people were feeding you every day but one or two meals throughout a month shouldn't count.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com" rel="nofollow">www.travelwithkevinandruth.com</a>Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136052866820208847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-70444748618848730852016-03-07T09:48:33.014-08:002016-03-07T09:48:33.014-08:00Wow that is not a lot of $$$! Wow that is not a lot of $$$! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10654290512610728603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-42062475162162152662016-03-07T07:22:19.003-08:002016-03-07T07:22:19.003-08:00I can remember being so poor that I ate macaroni a...I can remember being so poor that I ate macaroni and cheese most of the time. I wasn't on food stamps or SNAP, but I was not making a lot of money at the time. There are really cheap things to eat if you know what they are. I wouldn't say it was very healthy though.<br /><br />I've already done this kind of thing was I was really poor. It wasn't fun, it was just what it was.<br /><br />Have a fabulous day. ☺Sandeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06785788498697004273noreply@blogger.com