By Sarah Bloom
For three days, Jenny Sproul
spent only $2.83 per day on food. Why? She's
on the poverty diet-- trying to understand the financial difficulties
faced by many Virginians relying solely on food stamps.
The Poverty Diet started in Virginia as a challenge to
politicians making important welfare decisions. Could they live off of
their own policy? $2.83 was derived by averaging the amount of money
persons receiving food stamp benefits in Virginia would receive per day.
Since its origins, many citizens
throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia have chosen to participate in
the diet. Conveniently scheduled during Hunger Awareness week and
just days before Thanksgiving, the Poverty Diet is a very personal way
to realize one's blessings.
FULL STORY
What
was your biggest challenge on the poverty diet?
Was
it difficult to follow nutritional guidelines on such a tight budget?
Producer Sarah Bloom
responds to the issue of poverty on her video blog
How did the poverty diet get started?
A word about other Virginia poverty diet participants
Pod casts of Charlottesville feature citizens doing the Poverty Diet
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisors:
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd