My $29 Food Stamp Challenge—and the Recipes (& Brouhaha) That Ensued
I guess this was all just a joke?
I’ve been on quite the rant about Gwyneth Paltrow on my social media sites. I figured I would just come full circle and repeat what I wrote on Facebook because I am very passionate about it.
Gwyneth Paltrow gave up on food stamp challenge | http://t.co/qwOuGhIxMc An F you dipshit. You get an F because you fail at being a human.
— Michelle Martinka (@martinkadelux) April 16, 2015
I will disclose that I am a registered democrat. I identify as a feminist, but, like us tattooed folk, we’re not all the same… it’s a big umbrella. I want to say I’m a #CommonWoman, but really… who the -uck wants to be common? And so, I’m not.
What I am is that elusive middle class. The one that fits in between $30,000 and 100,000 a year. That’s us. Some weeks we actually stash some cash, which is good, because we have no savings. No retirement. No 401K. My husband works for a small company, so we don’t even get health insurance through work… which means no HSA plan.
Most weeks, however, we just scrape by. We scrape by- but our kids get to eat. They get to play. Our oldest goes to 3 activities a week (we are cutting it to 2), and our youngest will follow in her footsteps. We get to make payments to lenders for cars we may someday own, and a house we may someday sell. We get to clip coupons, dream as we pour over vacation pamphlets, and snuggle into our home- which is heated in the winter and has fans for the summer.
We are privileged. And we know it.
We have been hungry. But we’ve never gone hungry.
But what happens when you are privileged and you don’t know it? What happens when it’s funny?
This is what $29 gets you at the grocery store—what families on SNAP (i.e. food stamps) have to live on for a week. pic.twitter.com/OZMPA3nxij — Gwyneth Paltrow (@GwynethPaltrow) April 9, 2015
And this makes me utterly disappointed.
I am a part of a political party that will rant and rave because of the 1%… and here they are. In full force. Gwynnie and her insane ideas about limes and cilantro and dry beans.
What person working their ass off for $7 an hour, living on $29 a week for food has the time to soak beans?!
Change needs to happen.
This challenge did nothing but shine light on the truth that Gwyneth Paltrow is not the common woman. She’s not in the least bit serious about making change. And she sure as hell is not in touch with the realities that lay at her privileged feet. Her gratefulness at being able to provide high-quality food for her kids is another indicator… she doesn’t get it. Some people can’t afford food. At all.
Lastly, because I am on a rant… after working 8-12 hours at a shift job, the LAST thing I want to do is poach an egg.
Wow, I didn’t realize she had given up on the challenge. I did think her purchases were odd choices – she didn’t have much strategy to extend ingredients for more meals.
She did not shop smart at all.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
It just shows how little she actually cooks. People who are frugal know what to buy and how to save to get the most for their money. I think her intention was to show how hard it is on people who live that life but she failed miserably at making it realistic.
Melissa Roy recently posted…Homeschooling is a Lifestyle Choice
She totally failed.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
Wow, yeah she’s pretty clueless. All I can do is count my blessings, give back to others when I can and realize I might not truely u deer stand the circumstances of others. As a child food stamps was how we lived. I had cold hotdogs and boxed off brand Mac and cheese more nights a week than I care to remember and it was a great night when we could afford fast food for a meal. My brother and I were through the roof happy. But not until I ran away from home did I ever do to a sit down resturant…lot even a Denny’s. It was a shock to me at 17 when I ate at one and thought how fancy is this? So I get it and I’m glad I don’t have to live that way anymore. But you never know when things can turn bad.
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Ugh, I apologize for my typos. On my phone!
Heather recently posted…When Your Child’s School is on Lockdown
You do what you have to- and you are a wonderful woman for all you endured and still have such positivity and understanding. I think a donation and a call for more help makes more sense than showing others your ignorance.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
Oh wow, I’m almost speechless! Her grocery snap makes me laugh – seriously? I’m surprised she didn’t just take one photo of a bottle of $29 water. wow ….
Tammi @ My Organized Chaos recently posted…Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat
Right? Just buy a case of Voss and call it a day.
I felt the SAME way when this came out. We too don’t have health insurance through my husbands small business, or savings unless it’s income tax coming in and the leftover goes in their until inevitably something in the house or car or child breaks down and needs it within 2 weeks. Showing us what she can buy for $29 as a challenge – not a lifestyle – does NOTHING for those that need the help. Those of us that live paycheck to paycheck sure as heck wouldn’t have limes and cilantro. Thank you for writing this!
Lisa recently posted…Celebrate Earth Day with Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom + Film Review
It’s hard to be the average American… don’t try to understand it, Gwyneth, try to make it less hard!
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
I had not heard about this challenge she was doing. I do know most people adapt and find some ways to make stretch even though its not enough.
Vera Sweeney recently posted…30% Off Gap Purchases With Code: Here Are My Top 5 Picks
It’s very hard… I think bringing awareness is great, but if she thought what she was buying was even remotely feasible, she is more out of touch than I care to imagine.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
This is the first I’ve heard about this challenge but I have to admit that I’m not a Gwyneth Paltrow fan so I don’t keep up with anything she does. It’s very difficult for the average person to live off of 29 a week but when you have to, you have to.
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Amen!
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
Amen to that! She comes from a wealthy family and doesn’t understand as much as she thinks she does. I have been on food stamps and it no picnic! I am happy to say we aren’t anymore, but we learned a lot while we were on there.
Jeanette recently posted…Simple Ways to Improve Your Health
I don’t think she has any idea. NONE.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
I haven’t followed this story but will give my two cents. I grew up with a mom who raised four girls on her own until my stepdad entered the picture. My biological father was a waste to humanity. He was a drunk, a womanizer, a cheat, a thief and a child molester. Thank God my mother divorced him when I was only 4. We lived on food stamps and bought our clothing from thrift stores or it was donated by Charity Newsies. My mom was forced to stretch food for her family as far as it goes and although some of it wasn’t all that tasty (such as the macaroni pasta mixed with diced tomatoes and sugar) she made sure we always had something to eat. Those celebrity women need to get a clue!
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They do… and if they don’t get it, that’s fine, but save your idiot attempt and DONATE!
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
This is the first time that I have heard of this challenge. I have never been a fan of this person and I don’t understand why she thinks that she identifies with the everyday, average person.
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No idea. I’ve never once even contemplated steaming my lady parts… that pushed me over the edge. This just rocked my core, however. This was more of a slap in the face, not an attempt at awareness.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
You know, we have been up and down on the income scale and I have to say that though I agree she doesn’t get it, I don’t think she has to. I mean, she has never been through any of it and just has no clue. So, who cares? You know. She is who she is and I have just come to laugh at her ignorance.
I laugh, yes… but she tried to get it, didn’t and still thinks she did great… and that’s what boggles my mind,
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
This shows where the world is going. The rich get richer and the poor work their butts off for very little.
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🙁
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
I am not a GP fan. She is just another out of touch celeb trying to show her ‘every woman’ side but really only forgetting to hide her crazy. She could use her name, fame and $$ to really make a difference. Motivate change, spark intelligent discussions… yet, she chooses to make a mockery and joke out of the struggles and real life others live. I saw her choice of items to purchase and could only roll my eyes. She consciously chose to not have her children take part in her little failed experiment too. Which just made me angry. Real people, real families, they don’t get that choice for their children. So much wrong with this…
Yes. So much yes.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
I agree with most of what you said,except the part about soaking beans. We stopped buying canned beans due to all the sodium in them, and it is so easy to just fill a jar before bedtime and let them soak while you sleep. Doesn’t take any extra time at all!
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I think you just changed my mind! I am going to try and remember to soak them… I just used my last can, so this is going to be an experiment for me!
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
Very interesting challenge. This would never work in my home there are 7 of us. $29 would not get us very far.
Mama to 5 BLessings recently posted…Super Saturday Giveaway Linky
Most people can’t make it work… the help people get is often more of an insult.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
I think that in her mind she was doing a good thing. There are a lot of people out there like that, unfortunately.
harriet recently posted…Check out this 2-Pack of SolarString100 Solar LED Lights
Her mind needs to rethink… in my opinion.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
Ironically, I wasn’t a GOOP fan until I heard her on Howard Stern. This just makes me think even more that she’s human now. She makes dumb mistakes and says stupid things just like me. I think I could live on $29 / week. But I probably wouldn’t have the discipline either to keep it up for a challenge. I think I would give in at some point just because I can be weak minded. Therefore, I can’t hold too much of a grudge against Ironman’s assistant. 😉
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Her challenge was for 7 days… and her attempt included 5 limes. She didn’t try. That’s an ignorant mistake, in my line of thinking.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
I had heard she was doing the challenge. I didn’t know she stopped. I understand why she stopped, but I think she’s not from the same reality so many of us are, to know what she was getting herself into.
I don’t know anyone from her kind of reality.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
I think she should have asked someone for a little help in what would be good choices as those wouldn’t work.
She could have hired someone to figure out how to make $29 truly work!
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
I saw this all over Facebook. She’s obviously clueless, but I’m glad people are talking about it.
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That IS a bonus!
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
I’m not a fan of her at all and when I heard about this, I just shook my head. She just has no clue.
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Not a darn one!
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A
I had heard she was doing the challenge and then I heard she had quit. I didn
t see what she choose to buy until now. And all I can say is wow
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Yep. Mind boggling!
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide recently posted…My Mother-in-Law, #52WeeksA4A