Plan a month's menu on SNAP benefits.

Jumping off the discussion http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/977713 concerning the potential for government restrictions on what could be purchased with food stamps, I'd like to present an exercise.

Family of 3.
Two in public school, with free breakfasts and lunches.
One employed full time, 40h a week, at $10 an hour. $1733 a month. Rent and utilities costs between $0 and $600.

SNAP benefit: $126 a month.
from this calculator: http://www.ndhealth.gov/dhs/foodstamp...

Let's even say that there is a reliable fridge with a freezer, a microwave, stove, and oven available.

You need, then, about 22 breakfasts and lunches for one, plus 22 weeknight dinners and 4 weekends' worth of food- 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners.

Here's a related real-world 1-week challenge from Colorado:
http://www.hungerfreecolorado.org/sna...