Real Food Stamp Challenge week 2 (and Atkins!)
By Milehimama on Feb 8, 2010 in Uncategorized
As part of the Real Food Stamp Challenge, my goal is to live on our food stamp budget of $662 per month for 10 people (plus WIC).
We spent $60 this week, but I didn’t buy very much meat so I’m sure it will be higher next week!
Actually, I never made it to the store at all. I was going to go on Saturday but spent too much time at Ikea (they are redoing their rooms and that store was a MESS. And I totally struck out on what I intended to buy). Also, we all came down with a cold and no one felt like going anywhere.
Real foodies, a question: I get 10 boxes of cereal a month. Which is the best choice? Kix, Cheerios, or Frosted Mini Wheats? Which fits the best with my Real Food Manifesto? I do get Cream of Wheat but don’t cook every morning.
We got tons of bags of frozen veggies (not organic) to stock the freezer
2 boxes Kix (GMO corn AND the roll all over the floor. Lose-lose!), 4 gallons milk, 2 dozen eggs, 2 loafs WW bread from WIC.
And so until I hit the store after the dentist I’m not sure what we’re eating. Check back for updates.
Sunday: Chicken soup (with lots of veggies but no noodles, rice, or barley for my Atkins husband)
Monday: Bison stew in the crockpot (at the dentist, then the grocery store this afternoon)
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I’d go with Frosted Mini Wheats, as it contains something that visibly resembles wheat, rather than being super heated, turned into a mash, and extruded (like Kix and Cheerios). Cheerios would be my second choice, as it’s lower in sugar, especially if you can score the whole wheat variety.
Rachel | Feb 8, 2010 | Reply
I was thinking that I had read that Frosted Mini-Wheats were one of the best choices, but this wasn’t specifically from a ‘real food’ perspective.
Sheila | Feb 8, 2010 | Reply
I’m assuming you are stocked up on oatmeal, right?
I would go for the miniwheats, or…. what about real shredded wheat? NO sugar, crunchy and fun either in the giant pillows or the spoon size.
Kashi Go Lean is fairly low in sugar.
Sandwichmom | Feb 9, 2010 | Reply
OK, I looked at my little brochure and at the store. Weirdly, oatmeal is not an acceptable cereal choice. My choice of cold cereal is:
Cheerios, Kix, Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Frosted MiniWheats, Strawberry Frosted Miniwheats, Dora cereal, Honey Bunches of Oats, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, or Grape Nut flakes (but not GrapeNuts, weird.)
So, Strawberry MiniWheats are out (colors), as are Honey Bunches of Oats (BHT). Also, I think the nutritional value of Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Chex and Dora are questionable – not much fiber, too high of GI, and I’ve read a lot about puffed cereals being bad for you. Corn flakes and Corn Chex also, GMO corn. Kix is out, same reason, plus GMO corn, plus they roll (very annoying.)
Frosted MiniWheats has HFCS. Regular Miniwheats, my kids won’t eat.
Looks like we’re a Cheerios family now!
Milehimama | Feb 9, 2010 | Reply
I seriously have never had anything Kashi that I truly enjoyed. Their cereals have a weird texture, too. Some of their cereals are tolerable.
My husband really loves the Go Lean Crunch, though. I think it’s gross.
Milehimama | Feb 9, 2010 | Reply
The limited list of cereals are from WIC? I have never understood the hoops that mothers have to jump through to get just the right juice, or exactly the right number of eggs on their vouchers. That list seems so limited, and really not very healthy!
SandwichMom | Feb 10, 2010 | Reply
Oh jeez how I remember the WIC cereal dance! Not fun at all! I usually went with Kix or Cheerios, although I DID pick up a million of those little yellow balls ~ BLAH! I would guess Cheerios are the healthiest.
I got some coupons from Kashi and we tried all the kinds we could. We found that everyone REALLY liked Honey Sunshine (? I think) the puffed ones that remind me (looks-wise) of Captain Crunch. They might be worth trying, although it won’t help you with your WIC =(
Anne M. | Feb 11, 2010 | Reply
I got a free sample box of Kashi Honey Sunshine in the mail. It does look like Captain Crunch, but aaaagggghhh the taste. I hated it.
Milehimama | Feb 11, 2010 | Reply