In the last few years, a number of political leaders have tried to live on a food stamps budget. Among others Newark Mayor and political heir-apparent Cory Booker and current and former governors of Colorado and Oregon. Some have done so to draw attention to the limitations of food stamps, others with the intent of proving that their benefit is sufficient. A number of writers have done so too, as have celebrity chefs and others. A number of people have asked me to do it as well, and I’ve always refused.
This isn’t because I don’t think I can – it is because frankly, I know for a fact that the reality of living on food stamps is rather different than making a week or a month long shift. To know this, all I have to do is ask some of my kids.