10 pounds of chicken leg quarters is $4.60, rice and beans ar cheap. Frozen veggies, which are nearly as good as fresh are less than $1 a pound.
Anyone who is willing to take the time and price check, and then (horrors) actually cook, can survive on $21 a week.
Grow and freeze your own veggies too.
You seem to expect people who can’t earn enough to feed themselves to be able to shop for and prepare food. Maybe “food” stamps should include the cost of preparation including paying someone to buy the food and open the cans and jars for the terminally helpless.
I just ran through the online grocery shopping service we use (Peapod) which is not the cheapest way to go.
For less than $21.00, we got 3lbs chicken, 12 eggs, onion, broccoli, kidney beans and red beans, rice, head of garlic, 1/2 gal milk, 1/2 lb cheese, carrots, green beans, spaghetti, tomato sauce.
Not gourmet, but adequate, and this is food stamps not a Vegas buffet. What do they expect?
I spent 3 1/2 year as as social worker. Many of those who struggled towards the end of the month spent their allotment on potato chips, soda, etc. Not all of them, but quite a few.
First, Food Stamps are to supplement an income, not replace it.
But second, you make a very good point. It’s less to do with not having enough money than it is with not knowing how (or not being willing to) make the right choices.
No, it’s not easy. But it’s also not supposed to be permanent.