#SNAPChallenge2013: The Dilemma of "Found Food"

Relax, kids: it hasn't gotten this serious. Yet.

I'm learning as I continue through this challenge that loopholes could, but don't necessarily, have to abound. I wrote earlier in the week about food being provided to me, but not bought for me. I stand by the decision I made there.

However, I realized there is another nebulous category of food: "found food". Not out of a dumpster, at least not for me, but other sorts of found food. For example, my students will occasionally bring me food, or someone will leave something at my house and I will have to decide if I want to allow that to count in the food that I'm eating. (For the sake of full disclosure, I will say that I have eaten food that has come to me in that fashion within the last several days.)

And here's a big one: with soon-to-expire food purchased before the challenge, what do I do there? To throw it away is patently unwise and contrary to the point of this challenge, so I won't do that. The same would apply for letting it go bad. But I've devised a third option, one that will help the fundraiser. A lot of these items can be baked with!

So I'm having a good old fashioned bake sale. In the coming week, I plan to bake several items to (a) use up pre-challenge items prior to my upcoming move, and (b) give me something to do to calm down while waiting for this apartment business to come to a resolution. The proceeds that I make will go toward the SNAP Challenge donation for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Lessening waste and stress while helping those in need? Sounds like a win to me :)

I'm doing this in hopes to raise awareness about food instability, and money for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Should you feel compelled to give to the latter, please click the link below! I thank you, as will those who benefit from the money that you give :)
http://www.crowdrise.com/SNAPchallenge0113/ 

Previous Posts:

Food Insecurity On Campus? Probably.
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/food-insecurity-on-campus-probably.html

Dining with the DSA
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-dining-with-dsa.html

Week 1 in Review:
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-stomach-sounds-and.html

Sugarlows
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-sugarlows.html

Transformers (Meals in Disguise)

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-transformers-meals-in.html

Crunching Some Numbers

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-crunching-some-numbers.html

Wiggle Room, and Life Getting in the Way

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-wiggle-room-and-life.html

Pondering Privilege

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/pondering-privilege-journey-toward-snap.html

The Pantry Problem

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013.html

HOW Will You Do It?
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013-how.html

Oh SNAP! Introducing SNAP Challenge 2013

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-snap-introducing-snap-challenge-2013.html

#SNAPChallenge2013: Food Insecurity On Your Campus? Probably.

Could one of these students be in need of food assistance? Would you know?

Historically, college campuses and the educational experience associated with them was a privilege only given to the affluent, or those with the resources to afford the considerable cost. But with strides in access have come students for whom college is more of a financial hardship. 

Thought Catalog published a humorous list of 30 Things You Experience When You're Broke that features many situations we consider to be hallmarks of the college experience. But for an increasing number of students, the dire straits of paying for college are more serious than Thought Catalog could have ever imagined. 

SNAP has provided a slight reprieve for more and more of those students over the past several years. In fact, the Washington Post reports that the state of Virginia went from disbursing $470,000 in SNAP assistance in 2007, to over $2.2 million roughly five years later. Stigma surrounding this form of assistance is lessening, and students at prestigious institutions such as Howard University are openly talking about SNAP and how it is helping them live through college.

What are colleges and universities doing to help with this problem? With many schools sustaining programs that have the goal of lessening hunger in the world and in the surrounding community (Loyola of Chicago's Hunger Week, the consortium of colleges involved with Universities Fighting World Hunger, University of Georgia's Campus Kitchen, and Emmanuel College's own Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week are programs that my attention has been drawn to), students are made to understand that food is not something that everyone comes by easily. However, a few campuses are going above and beyond to ensure that their own have a secure source of food. I plan to highlight a few here, and hopefully write in depth about other initiatives later in the month.

I first became interested in combating hunger on college campuses when I worked with Florida State University's Food Pantry. Located in the Dean of Students office, students can present a photo ID to obtain a bag of food whenever it is needed. Calls for frequently requested items are put out to students, faculty, and staff, and boxes are always available in campus offices to house donations. What's more, the director of the program solicits recipes from faculty and staff to help students build coherent meals from the items they pick up.

A similar program exists at the University of North Carolina- Greensboro called PATHS- Partners Assisting The Homeless Spartans. As with Florida State, the program is housed in the Dean of Students' office, and partners with campus offices and community partners to provide support to homeless or economically disadvantaged members of the campus community. This program goes beyond just offering food, also collecting toiletries and directing website visitors to other resources that could help them during times of hardship.

NPR covered the creation of the food pantry at the University of Georgia, started by students. More than 200 undergraduate and graduate students visited their pantry in its first month of operation. As is the case with many other pantries, only an ID and a signature on a waiver is required to partake in the supply of food available. Their pantry was started as a response to increasing poverty in 18-24 year olds, and is extending its reach into the community as well as the hardship on campus.

A fourth program of this type is the University of North Alabama's "Feeding the Pride" initiative. The bank was the brainchild of a recent alum of UNA, who saw a fellow student sifting through garbage to find something to eat. Unlike the model of the two previous programs, UNA has a sign-up system that presumably allows them to track students using their services. They recruit volunteer help and donations heavily, aiming to serve traditionally aged students who are struggling, as well as adult students with families.

As you can see, hunger and the need for food assistance isn't a problem that is staying away from our campuses. These are just a few efforts that are being undertaken by campuses nationwide; I hope to say more about a few others programs before this month is out.

I'm doing this in hopes to raise awareness about food instability, and money for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Should you feel compelled to give to the latter, please click the link below! I thank you, as will those who benefit from the money that you give :)
http://www.crowdrise.com/SNAPchallenge0113/ 

Previous Posts:

Dining with the DSA
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-dining-with-dsa.html

Week 1 in Review:
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-stomach-sounds-and.html

Sugarlows
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-sugarlows.html

Transformers (Meals in Disguise)

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-transformers-meals-in.html

Crunching Some Numbers

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-crunching-some-numbers.html

Wiggle Room, and Life Getting in the Way

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-wiggle-room-and-life.html

Pondering Privilege

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/pondering-privilege-journey-toward-snap.html

The Pantry Problem

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013.html

HOW Will You Do It?
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013-how.html

Oh SNAP! Introducing SNAP Challenge 2013

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-snap-introducing-snap-challenge-2013.html

#SNAPchallenge2013: Dining with the DSA

Nothing so fancy, but definitely as welcome.

A former graduate supervisor of mine found a book about student affairs written shortly after the turn of the century (I want to say 1909?) that discussed successful ways to lure students to events on campus. Even then, food was the most popular and foolproof method. I assure you, it's still true. 

What's more, it's the same for staff events. Over the past few days, Emmanuel has eased us back into the routine of a normal work week with staff bonding and professional development activities. And for us, just as with many student events, these have involved food.

 The question here is, what do to with provided food in the event of a challenge such as mine? I went back and forth about this for a while, if you can believe it, before I finally landed on the decision to partake as normal (well, normal for me, which means whatever is certifiably gluten-free). Why, when the original challenge as performed by Cory Booker deliberately excluded these things?

I'm not of the belief that doing a challenge such as this involves eschewing all normal behavior. Having dinner or breakfast provided by the DSA is a rare enough occurrence that I don't feel as though it's taking advantage of anything. Were I to have someone buy me lunch because I hadn't brought mine or didn't prepare anything- THAT would be a violation of the spirit of what I'm trying to do. What's more, I think that the decision to exclude work-provided meals from the challenge would imply that many in the position to use food assistance don't have those opportunities. And given the fact that 36% of households who receive SNAP benefits have at least one working person in the household, the likelihood that a meal or two may be provided by that employer is high.

So while I am far from dependent upon my workplace to "fill gaps" in my nutritional patterns for the month, I will take those opportunities when they (infrequently) arise.

I'm doing this in hopes to raise awareness about food instability, and money for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Should you feel compelled to give to the latter, please click the link below! I thank you, as will those who benefit from the money that you give :)
http://www.crowdrise.com/SNAPchallenge0113/ 

Previous Posts:

Week 1 in Review:
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-stomach-sounds-and.html

Sugarlows
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-sugarlows.html

Transformers (Meals in Disguise)

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-transformers-meals-in.html

Crunching Some Numbers

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-crunching-some-numbers.html

Wiggle Room, and Life Getting in the Way

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-wiggle-room-and-life.html

Pondering Privilege

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/pondering-privilege-journey-toward-snap.html

The Pantry Problem

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013.html

HOW Will You Do It?
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013-how.html

Oh SNAP! Introducing SNAP Challenge 2013

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-snap-introducing-snap-challenge-2013.html

Saying A Mouthful: On Job Search Processes

Sorry if I spray any crumbs. I've got a lot to say.

I'm taking a break from the (nearly) daily grind of documenting the SNAP challenge to do what I'd like to call "Saying a Mouthful", in which I use this venue as a space to respond to articles I read in a space that isn't confined to a character limit. These are my thoughts on these issues, for better or for worse. I hope that you get something from my ramblings- I welcome comments of agreement, or (and especially) of challenge.

Today's "Saying A Mouthful" is in response to Lou Adler's January 7th article, "Are Traditional Job Descriptions Anti-Talent and Anti-Diversity?". To sum up Adler's take on this question, he states that those in the position to hire use job descriptions as too rigid a means to filter out potentially qualified applicants, ones that don't fit within the confines of the requirements and education parameters that these documents set forth.

I agree that the system itself is too rigid, but to blame this rigidity on the description that applicants are given of the job is either incomplete, or incorrect. To make my point, I'd like to use some of Adler's own words:

"Emphasizing and screening on the person's ability to do this work would change the entire mix of candidates seen and the person ultimately hired. The point: if it’s determined through the assessment process that a candidate is fully capable and motivated to do this work, there’s no question the person has the perfect balance of skills and experiences required."

"So if you‘re a hiring manager, business leader or recruiter who wants to expand the quality and diversity of the people you consider for every job opening describe them in terms of successful performance."

What do these sentences have in common? They refer to the people involved, not the document that they used to attract applicants. My point is: no, traditional job descriptions aren't anti-talent and anti-diversity. But job search processes are. Descriptions are a guideline that allow potential employees to determine whether they believe they will be able to do what is asked of them. But descriptions don't make the call as to whether the company can work with these employees; people do. Descriptions don't go through applicants, poring over their experiences and references to try and make the call as to who will "fit"; people do. Descriptions don't narrow the pool of applicants to ones that we like, or are comfortable with, or remind us the most of ourselves; people do.

In a beautifully honest post about humor and cynicism in our work, Stacy Oliver expressed this thought far better than I ever could:

"We simply don’t extend the same kindness and openness to others in our field we do to our students. We love our students’ opinions and stories; we want our colleagues to share our mindset. We love our students’ individual contributions; we want our colleagues to approach our work in the same way we do."

I've felt this way about aspects of our field for a while now. From recruiting to the field, to how we hire into new roles, like generally begets like in the work that we do. We often recruit those that remind us of ourselves, we frequently hire those with experiences like ours. Students who challenge us are considerably less likely to get a "you should go into student affairs" nudge from us, and potential employees who have different experiences tend to be at a disadvantage when competing with those who have more traditional backgrounds. In a field that so often speaks of authenticity and encourages diversity of thoughts, we are faltering here, and need to own that.  Without owning that, the credibility of our encouragement of difference is threatened.

So what do we do? How can we better live the philosophies that we espouse, in this respect? Where does a transformation of these processes begin?

#SNAPchallenge2013: Stomach Sounds and Shaking It Up!

A graphic, provided by No Kid Hungry, illustrating educational perils of hunger.

Week 2 already? 2013 is flying by, as is this challenge, believe it or not. While I've posted a good amount about how I'm doing, a friend reminded me today that I'm saying less about how I'm feeling. Thank you for that :)

I've included the graphic to the left to literally illustrate one of the biggest pushes for me to support food instability: the consequences of having unstable food sources. Students who rely on reduced or free lunch programs at school, occasionally aren't eating at home on weekends or when there's no school (holidays, snow/hurricane days, etc.). And I learned when I was working with Second Harvest of the Big Bend a harrowing statistic: for students who don't have a stable diet over the weekend, top cognitive performance doesn't return until Wednesday of that week. Think of how many functional educational days those students are losing just by not having consistent access to food. That's why the backpack program at Second Harvest was so important to me when I worked with them, and that's why I worry far less about how I'm feeling over the course of this challenge. This is temporary, this is voluntary, and this is in no way as detrimental as what those kids are going through.

I will preface my statements by saying this: I am admittedly impossible when I'm hungry. Anyone who has seen me in a meeting at 12:15 when I was told we'd be done before lunch has seen this. I am regimented in scheduling time to eat, and am constantly grazing in between. I am lucky to nearly always have food nearby, and have some trouble when there isn't.

So to answer the questions posed of me:

Sorry for the blurriness of the capture, I'm not as good at it on a Mac yet.

Do you feel like you're eating enough?
Yes and no. Having lost a significant amount of weight in the last few years, and having participated in sports where eating disorders are common, I understand what I should be eating, and what amounts are appropriate and what amounts are too little. That being said, I have become very aware of the sounds of my stomach. (Sounds like a great opportunity to write a parody Maya Angelou poem about stomach sounds, but I respect Dr. Angelou far too much for that!) I'm trying to combat those feelings with some of the same strategies that I used to stave off hunger when losing weight:

• Eat slowly. I have a tendency, the origin of which I cannot determine, to eat as though my food will be taken from me. But because eating slowly allows your brain to determine when you're full, I'm taking my time to make sure that I don't beat my brain to the proverbial punch.
• Drink more water. More often than not, when I think I'm hungry, it's because I'm actually thirsty and have forgotten the difference. This is pretty common. Making sure I'm hydrated as I do this is helping me to understand that when I'm hungry, I'm hungry, and that's when I should eat.
• Make what you eat, count. I have a post planned for later in the challenge to talk about the quality of food permitted by the government to be purchased on food stamps. Lots of convenience foods are included in that, and I could buy them if I wanted. But because I don't want to process those quick foods early and then be on a hunt for more food, I'm opting to leave those off the menu for the most part. So what am I eating? Lots of protein, complex carbs, and lots of veggies. Those things last longer, and allow my food budget to stretch not just money-wise, but over the course of the week.

Are you going to bed hungry?
No, but that was an adjustment. Whereas I'm typically an early-bird eater (dinner before 6), I now move it later (closer to 9) so I don't have to worry about the long stretch until morning when I eat. Particularly over break, when I don't wake up until late morning, it is my natural clock or a sound in the hallway that wakes me, rather than my stomach.

Are you bored with your meals?
No, not really. I like to get creative with what I eat, and this challenge hasn't really changed that. Aside from the occasional craving for something not in the fridge (which is generally sparked by seeing something when I'm out, and not anything internal), I'm happy with what I'm eating and enjoy the challenge presented of making my favorite foods as affordable as possible.


And as for the planning...
I like to go in having a plan. Ask anyone who has seen me apply for a job, search for an apartment, or go on vacation. But I'm trying to use fewer resources at my disposal, in hopes of making this a more authentic experience. For week 2, I went in with an idea of what I want to eat this week (breakfast: peanut butter and banana bagels, lunch: either pasta salad or tuna salad with tomatoes, dinner: enchiladas), and making it work. Less of a list going in, less advance cost analysis, and more just going in and getting my shopping done. 

So as you can see, this is a challenge that is testing my standard operating procedure in a great many ways. But it is, as previously stated, a challenge. And like the saying goes, "if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." I look forward to the changes I'll see in myself, as it pertains to my thoughts about and treatment of food, by the end of the month. I hope you'll stay with me as I discover them!

Previous Posts:

Sugarlows
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-sugarlows.html

Transformers (Meals in Disguise)

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-transformers-meals-in.html

Crunching Some Numbers

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-crunching-some-numbers.html

Wiggle Room, and Life Getting in the Way

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-wiggle-room-and-life.html

Pondering Privilege

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/pondering-privilege-journey-toward-snap.html

The Pantry Problem

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013.html

HOW Will You Do It?
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013-how.html

Oh SNAP! Introducing SNAP Challenge 2013

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-snap-introducing-snap-challenge-2013.html

#SNAPchallenge2013: Sugarlows

I'm not one to make resolutions, as I think they're unrealistic and difficult to keep. But I did have one hope for myself for the coming year: to cut down on my sugar intake. For an otherwise healthy eater, I eat what is comparatively a considerable amount of sugar. And given that diabetes is a risk in my family, I want to try to head it off as aggressively as possible.

Gimme, Candyman. I want it.

The SNAP Challenge has helped that. Although I have the option of buying sweets and other junk food (a common concern about SNAP that I'll address in a future post), I am opting not to. Why? Well, one complaint that I hear from students and younger professional friends is that it's difficult to eat healthy because of cost. I understand that claim, but I am equally understanding of the fact that there are ways around what seems like considerable expense. I want to make this a healthy endeavor to prove that it CAN be a healthy endeavor.

But let me tell you, it has been hard. I spent about 4 hours of Saturday thinking about chocolate. Different kinds of chocolate, what I would buy if I broke and needed to get some, even with sorts of chocolate that I don't typically like or eat. I notice around the same time of day- late afternoon. It's going to be a hard habit to break, but I'm trying my very best.

What are your trouble foods that you'd miss if you had to get rid of them? Any creative tips on what I can replace my sweets with?

I'm doing this in hopes to raise awareness about food instability, and money for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Should you feel compelled to give to the latter, please click the link below! I thank you, as will those who benefit from the money that you give :)
http://www.crowdrise.com/SNAPchallenge0113/

Previous Posts:
Transformers (Meals in Disguise)
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-transformers-meals-in.html

Crunching Some Numbers
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-crunching-some-numbers.html

Wiggle Room, and Life Getting in the Way
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-wiggle-room-and-life.html

Pondering Privilege
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/pondering-privilege-journey-toward-snap.html

The Pantry Problem
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013.html

HOW Will You Do It?
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013-how.html

Oh SNAP! Introducing SNAP Challenge 2013
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-snap-introducing-snap-challenge-2013.html

#SNAPchallenge2013: Transformers (Meals in Disguise)

After a late start and harried day of apartment hunting, I came to the realization that I may not have enough prepared food to make it through the rest of the first week. But I strategized while I was out about how to create a culinary mash-up to get me through to Tuesday and the next shopping trip.

Here was my solution:

1 1/2 cups brown rice, cooked ($1.02)
1/2 bag black beans, cooked ($1.25)
1/2 can tomatoes ($0.70)
1/2 bag corn ($0.85)
TOTAL: $3.82 total, $0.42/serving

For the more observant mathematicians among you, you may have noticed that the total is divided into nine servings. Here's where the transformer part comes in. The leftovers from this meal are going to turn into enchiladas next week. Adding a can of refried beans, wrapping it up in corn tortillas and covering it with enchilada sauce and cheese will create a new meal for me. Using the leftovers from this week to carry me into the next is going to be essential for keeping food waste down and bulking up next week's meals in one swift move.

Here's to many more days of success, and allowing each day to (literally) build momentum to the end!

I'm doing this in hopes to raise awareness about food instability, and money for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Should you feel compelled to give to the latter, please click the link below! I thank you, as will those who benefit from the money that you give :)
http://www.crowdrise.com/SNAPchallenge0113/ 


I'm doing this in hopes to raise awareness about food instability, and money for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Should you feel compelled to give to the latter, please click the link below! I thank you, as will those who benefit from the money that you give :)
http://www.crowdrise.com/SNAPchallenge0113/

Previous Posts:

Crunching Some Numbers

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-crunching-some-numbers.html

Wiggle Room, and Life Getting in the Way

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2013/01/snapchallenge2013-wiggle-room-and-life.html

Pondering Privilege

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/pondering-privilege-journey-toward-snap.html

The Pantry Problem

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013.html

HOW Will You Do It?
http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-road-toward-snap-challenge-2013-how.html

Oh SNAP! Introducing SNAP Challenge 2013

http://life-firsts.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-snap-introducing-snap-challenge-2013.html