As a test, NKU economist 'goes on' food stamps for a year

Harrah, who is not actually receiving government benefits, adjusts her food budget to what a normal family of four received through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The program, eligible to low-families at or under 130 percent of federal poverty guidelines, helps stretch food budgets and buy healthy food.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the SNAP program, says the average monthly SNAP payment per recipient in 2013 was about $132.

Six months into her attempt, Harrah and her husband and two children are all taking part in the goal to complete one year on SNAP benefits.

Harrah told The Enquirer that there are some marked differences in the way she consumed food before, and how it has affected the way she thinks of poverty.

[...] we notice the cuts of meat, I might've bought four steaks, now I buy a roast and make a roast instead.

[...] there is a difference in voluntarily saying 'I'm going to live on a food stamp budget,' versus having no backup plan.

To maintain a healthy diet on a strict budget like this is much more time intensive.

There's a misconception that people on food stamps don't work full time and so there's not all of this extra time to take making food.