By Andi Anderson
When Kevin Curry graduated from Harvard Business School during the 2008 recession, he struggled to find work and turned to SNAP — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — for help.
“I was embarrassed,” he says. “But the caseworker looked at my Harvard fleece and said, ‘Don’t be ashamed. This is a bridge from where you are to where you’re going.’” Her words changed his perspective. “People need help, and it doesn’t look like one type of person. SNAP is a resource for all of us.”
Today, Curry runs Fit Men Cook, a fitness and food community that promotes healthy, budget-friendly eating. With SNAP funding delays affecting families, he shared nine strategies for finding affordable food.
If you are a SNAP recipient, check if your state offers Double Up Food Bucks, which doubles the value of SNAP EBT dollars for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Call the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-647) for updated information on food pantries and meal sites.
Don’t hesitate to visit multiple pantries for variety. “I’m not saying you should stockpile groceries, but there is dignity in having choice and variety,” Curry says.
Parents can speak to school social workers about free breakfast, lunch, and after-school meal programs.
Use food-saving apps like Flashfood and Too Good to Go, where stores sell discounted items nearing expiration.
Curry encourages people to ask for grocery discounts. “Workers are people too. They know how it feels,” he says.
Shop when stores release deals — often midweek — or late in the day when items are discounted.
Build a low-cost grocery cart with staples like beans, lentils, rice, oats, pasta, and frozen vegetables.
Finally, get creative with ingredients. Curry once spent $16 on simple groceries and made baked potatoes, savory waffles, bean dip, and frittata. “It’s a fun way to cook — and it stretches the food,” he says.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fatcamera
Categories: Indiana, Rural Lifestyle