Q: Do I have to do the Hunger Challenge on the exact dates?
A: No, feel free to be flexible on the timing. We do recommend that you try to do the Challenge for seven days, though. You’ll notice that the feeling gets very different around day four or five.
Q: Are there different limits for singles, couples and families?
A: Food stamp rules are a bit more complex in terms of the amount per person as the number of persons in the household increases. But for the purposes of the Hunger Challenge, we keep it simple at $4.50 per person per day. So, if there are two people in your home taking the Challenge you have a total of $9 per day for all your meals; if there are three people, you have a total of $13.50 per day, etc.
Q: If I only spend $2.50 per person one day, can I spend $6 the next day – or does it always have to be $4.50 per day?
A: You don’t have to spend the same amount every day – it just needs to total out to $30 per person per week.
Q: Can I do my entire week’s shopping all at once?
A: Yes, no problem! In fact, it would be nearly impossible if you didn’t!
Q: Can I buy something and only allocate a portion of it (and a portion of the cost) to the Hunger Challenge – half of a whole chicken, for example? Or part of a family pack of pork chops?
A: We’ll leave it up to you. In the past, some participants have done that and others have gone to the store with only $30 in their pockets.
Q: Are the things already in my kitchen off limits during the challenge? Or can I only use them if included in the total $4.50/day?
A: You can choose to use items in your kitchen if you cost them out. Some participants don’t do this, because that might not be an option for someone on a limited income (they might not be able to afford the capital outlay of a $5 jar of spices, for example). Other participants have shopped at stores that sell numerous products in bulk from bins and purchased the amount they’d use for the Hunger Challenge week. Basically, it’s up to you – but pre-Challenge leftovers or any items you have on hand should be factored into your costs.
Q: How do I calculate the cost of staples that I already had on hand?
A: If you want to use items on hand, the City of Chicago’s Operation Food Basket and the Bureau of Labor Statistics(see pages 107-110) are good resources for calculating the prices.
Q: What if food is brought into my office (for example, someone puts out snacks or lunch is served at a meeting)? What about free coffee at my work place?
A: Sorry! A person on SNAP likely wouldn’t have those opportunities. If people see you eating a lunch you packed from home, it’s a great opportunity to talk about the SNAP Hunger Challenge with them.
Q: What is the rule on free samples? Does that fall into the same category as free coffee at work, so I shouldn’t accept it?
A: If free samples are available someplace that a person on SNAP would have access, we say “Go for it!” But if you’re thinking of grazing someplace like Costco, where there’s a membership fee to enter, that’s probably not appropriate.
Q: What if someone offers to take me out for a meal? Can I go?
A: Not if you want to play fair. A person on SNAP probably wouldn’t have that opportunity.
Q: What if I’m invited to someone’s house for a meal?
A: If you want to stick strictly to the Challenge, take your own food – or suggest that you all plan the meal around a food stamp budget. It could be an interesting experience!
Q: What if one of my household members eats a meal out?
A: If one of your household members participating in the Challenge “goes rogue,” you should eliminate that meal’s worth of supplies from the usable options in your pantry and fridge.
Still have a question that's not answered here? Email us and we'll let you know what we think!