Nicholas Milem

Mr. Gordon
LBST 2214
2/14/2015
Day
Monday

Week 1
B- Oatmeal and apple
L- Turkey Sandwich
D-Grilled Chicken and
Salad

Week 2
B- Cheerios
L-Chicken Salad
Sandwich
D- Hamburger steak w/
onions

Tuesday

B-Cheerios
L- Tuna Salad w/
Crackers
D-Hamburger Steak
With Grilled onions
B- Bagel w/ cream
cheese
L-Chicken Salad
Sandwich
D- Chicken Fajitas
B-Toast w/ Jam
L- Turkey Sandwich
D-Hamburger w/ Chips
B- Bacon and Eggs
L-BLT
D-Pinto Beans, Turnip
Greens, Cornbread

B- Bacon, Eggs, and

Grits
L- BLT
D- Grilled Chicken w/
salad
B-Toast w/ jam
L-Turkey Sandwich
D-Hamburger w/ Chips

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

B- Cornbread and milk

L-pinto beans w/ hot
chow-chow
D-Grilled Tilapia w/
baked potato
B- Oatmeal and Apple
L-Tuna Salad w/ crackers

B- Oatmeal w/ Banana
L-Tuna salad w/ crackers
D-Chicken Fajitas
B-Livermush and Eggs
L-Chicken Salad
Sandwich
D-Grilled Tilapia w/
baked potato
B-Cheerios
L- Turkey Sandwich
D-Grilled Chicken with
Salad
B-Livermush Biscuits
L-Livermush Sandwich

D- Grilled Chicken w/
salad

Grocery List
Grocery Store (Harris Teeter)
Hamburger Buns X1- 2.99
Bagels X1-4.49
Grits X1-1.49
Bacon X1-3.97
Cheerios X1-3.39
Oatmeal X1-2.99
Chili X1-1.99
Hot Chow-Chow X1-2.39
Turnip Greens X1- 1.89
Pinto Beans X1-1.29
Canned Chicken X3-2.91
Canned Tuna X3-2.97
Mustard X1-1.89

D-Canned Chili

Ketchup X1-1.39
Worcestershire Sauce X1-1.79
Ranch Dressing X1-1.27
Biscuits X1-1.19
Butter X1-3.99
Cream Cheese X1-1.97
Tilapia X1-5.29
Cornbread Mix X1- 2.29
Fajita Seasoning X2-1.70
Livermush X1-1.99
2 lb Ground Beef X1-7.98
Chicken Breasts X1-9.99
Bananas X1-.30
Potato X1-1.13
Tomatoes X2-5.24
Lime X2-1.00
Red Bell Peppers X2- 4.98

Celery X1-1.79
Red Onions X2-2.74
Baby Carrots- X1-2.29
Lettuce X2- 2.98
Total- 97.85
Convenience Store (Outtakes)
Apple X6-9.00
Turkey Pack X8-10.32
Loaf of Bread X2-8.58
Mayonnaise X1-5.25
Saltine Crackers X3-6.75
Salt and Pepper X1-2.55
Tortilla X1- 4.78
Shredded Cheese X1-5.75
Sour Cream X1- 4.29
Grape Jam X2- 7.18
Chips X3- 10.77

American cheese X2-8.78

Milk X2- 9.00
Eggs X2-5.58
Total-98.58
In total I was able to purchase all of my food items from their
respective stores, so I can support my intended menu for my two week
period. However once I began planning my menu and visiting the stores I
had to make necessary adjustments in order to fulfill the price boundaries
set for the project. One such instance is that I had initially planned to prepare
a steak and baked potato one night a week. However despite the high price
of steak, especially at Harris Teeter, I had to swap out the meat for another
option, resulting in my choice of Tilapia for two of my meals. I also included
some of the items I would need for preparing certain dishes, such as
seasoning for Fajitas and Worcestershire sauce for flavoring of the
hamburger steak.
My food choices derived from my own personal ability to prepare
dishes as well as dishes I prefer to eat. Such foods as grilled chicken, chicken
salad, and tuna salad are easily prepared and are good for many of meals.
Such items and dishes I have selected to be on my menu are also easily
preserved allowing them to be eaten as leftovers for multiple days. This
drastically brings down the cost of groceries overall due to my lack of need

to prepare another meal. These choices resulted in a lower costing menu

with not much diversity due to the effort spent on the longevity a meal can
be preserved and reserved. The prices of the items correlated with what is
expected when it comes to buying groceries from either a grocery store or a
convenience store. The amount of food I could purchase at a grocery store in
respect to a convenience store is much, much larger. Grocery stores also
have more variety as well as offering store brands of food to help keep my
food choices within budget. Convenience stores however normally do not
have a generic brand, in turn making you purchase name brand items that
have had the price increased due to the ability to be available at a
convenience store. The effect of the price difference may not make a
difference to a middle class citizen, but to a lower income citizen on SNAP
benefits located in a food desert the price change can be crippling to their
financial status.
The issue of transport can be a huge issue to one that is on SNAP
benefits. Typically a person who is qualified for the benefits receives a low
income, thus having reliable transportation a large burden on the individual.
Also without transportation, someone who is located in a food desert may
not have access to a grocery store where they can purchase the foods they
need at an affordable price. Such an imposition is a horrible burden for the
individual relying on SNAP benefit to acquire food, and requires the individual
to purchase their food at a convenience store at an increased price for less
quality. Work is also a notable challenge for someone who is using SNAP

benefits. A low income job may require the individual to work long hours,
often at night, not allowing the individual time to go to a grocery store which
is open during the day. There may not be a supermarket in the area of the
citizen driving them once again to purchase foods at a convenience location,
which are typically open later than an ordinary grocery store. Such social
determinants of health prove to be huge factors in determining the quantity,
quality, and overall price of the foods available on SNAP benefits.