Starting on Monday, May 5th, our family will be participating in the "Do the Math Challenge" through The Table Community Food Centre, our local food bank. For this challenge, each participant is either given a food basket from the food bank filled with typical items a user of the services at the food bank would receive, or the participant is allowed to spend the allotted money on groceries.
I felt that this was the perfect kick off to my blog as it will give visitors to the site a glimpse into who we really are as a family as we face something new ... the good the bad and the ugly so to speak!
It is estimated that once someone who accesses Social Assistance pays their rent and other expenses, there is about $5 per person per day left over for food. The fact is, that's $100 per week for my family. True confession time ... we can spend almost 3 times that amount in a week sometimes! This is going to mean a major shift in thinking, in planning and in shopping. True to my nature, I'm weirdly excited about making it work, but I know that for many this is real life and not some sort of reality TV style task. I hope that we-- my kids especially-- get a glimpse into the struggle that many face and thereby become more empathetic to the obstacles. I am also hoping that my theory holds true that knowing how to cook is one of the key factors in living a healthy life, and that eating well is not just an elitist notion.
The Table Community Food Centre is not just a food bank. It is a place where community members cook and eat together. People learn how to use the food in the baskets, and I believe that is what makes all the difference.
So going into this, I have a few things working in my favour.
- I know how to cook: give me the raw ingredients and I can put together a meal! This also means that I can take cheap cuts of meat or frozen veggies and figure out what to do with them.
- My kids are pretty adventurous eaters (at least for kids) and will probably be ok with what I put on the table.
- As a family, we have transportation, food storage and refrigeration facilities, and the tools and appliances that make cooking from scratch that much easier (this is something many food bank users in general lack so this is HUGE!). I can drive to the less expensive grocery stores (in an area without public transportation... this is a factor).
- I have time and energy. My stresses are not the same. I am not worried about how to pay my hydro bill, or having to ask the school for a subsidy for the school trip. I live in safe and secure housing, so I sleep well and don't have many of the same worries that someone living in poverty might have. Without the other stressors hanging over my head, I'm free to think about our meals in a way that others might not be able to.
- I do not have to live with shame or stigma. Because we do not live in poverty, when I tell the school that we are doing this challenge and the kids will likely need to access the school snack program (to which I donate, so will offset the use!), I am going to be met with kudos, not concern. This is very different from a parent who relies on these safety nets to fill the gaps, but can be faced with the attitudes and judgement that go along with that.
The challenges I foresee?
- The kids are already nervous. They've asked if we are going to starve for a week. They are wary of the community meals at The Table (the fear of seeming "poor" and asking for help is a barrier to many accessing food banks and community dinners). We will see if they think differently after the week if it turns out we do need to access a community dinner.
- Snacking: when we are hungry, we eat! When I want a coffee, I grab one. When we are out and about and someone gets cranky, we bribe with treats (See ... I told you you'd get a glimpse into what this family is really like!)
- We are active. My kids swim, dance, play basketball and do piano. Hockey is over... but enough calories to keep energy levels up is going to be crucial.
- $100 for 5 days for 4 people really isn't very much money. When I grocery shop, I rarely look at the prices, unless there seems to be a great deal (or something is obscenely expensive). We spend a lot of money on food in this house. But we also throw a lot away, so it will be interesting to see if this makes us better at using what we've got and not wasting food.
So ... the rules are that we can't accept free food from people (so don't make us any casseroles!), we can't spend more than $100 for the 5 days (have already scoped out some cheap wine!). We can access the community meals around town and at The Table, and we can use some pantry staples, but need to keep track of them (coffee apparently is a pantry staple ... THANK GOODNESS!)
So the challenge is two-fold here. The first is to stretch my dollar. That one I'm feeling ok about, but the second ... to walk a mile in someone else's shoes and really feel what it is like in reality to not meet that friend for coffee, or take the kids for ice cream, or grab a drink with friends, is the one where I think we will find that living off of $5 per day per person has implications that reach beyond what we put in our mouths.