HMS students survive one week on $21, PB&J and Ramen noodles

Students in Applied Nutrition recently undertook a project to simulate the experience of someone receiving food stamps as a source of federal aid.

The class, taught by Dr. Brenda Marques, tried to subsist on $21 for one week; it is the average amount one person on food stamps might have to live on. Most of the students failed, giving up in the middle of the week because of hunger or other pressures.

"It was pretty horrible," said Clay Stephens, Kingwood senior. "All I really thought about was food, what was for dinner. It was not nearly adequate for someone to live on."

The class was required to do a major project and learn how to develop a management and marketing plan. Last year they generated a list of local foods available at the farmer's market.

"I ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly and Ramen," said Alison Clem, Fort Worth senior, who lasted all seven days. "I was interested to see if I could do it."

Many of the students ate peanut butter and soups and cereals as well as cheap items like beans and rice.

"There was no variety. It was just the same thing," said Chance Tabor, McKinney senior, who lasted five days.

All of the eight students interviewed agreed that the diet wasn't nearly enough for one person to live on and that their nutrition needs weren't adequately met.

"I work at the Rec Center, and I teach high intensity workouts (and) burn a lot of calories, so it was really hard," said Scott Berkowitz, Sugar Land senior.

Marques, associate professor of human sciences, also participated in the project. She participated for five days.

"It was totally inadequate in dairy products and calcium and very repetitious," she said. "As a nutrition teacher, I have always thought that low income diets predispose people to chronic illness, but now I see that it might also affect their short term illnesses as well, like colds or flu.

"There's a disparity between the nutritional suggestions the government gives and the possible foods low income families can buy."

The class will present their findings at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in the education auditorium. The presentation is open to everyone.

jbacker@thepinelog.com