This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For a man on a pinched food budget, state Rep. John Dougall was positively perky shopping for groceries Monday morning.
Taking up a challenge issued by anti-hunger activists, the Highland Republican has agreed to live for one week on a budget equal to the average food stamp benefit. That's $22.05 per person, or $1.05 per meal for three meals a day.
Dougall has even upped the stakes: "I'm testing the premise that you can't afford fresh fruits and veggies on food stamps," he said while loading his cart with lettuce, celery, bananas, broccoli and a 15-pound bag of potatoes.
About a dozen community leaders, including Utah's governor, have agreed to participate in the nationwide "Food Stamp Challenge," timed to coincide with congressional debate over reauthorizing the program. Advocates hope the exercise enlightens them to the sacrifices made by Americans on public assistance.
But Dougall's experience may not be what advocates had hoped.
He is confident he won't starve or sacrifice good nutrition. And he remains unapologetic about his stance on government aid to the poor.
"It's a travesty for the federal government to be in the welfare business," said Dougall, who believes control of social welfare programs should rest with cities, churches and nonprofit groups.
Utah's food insecurity rate - the number of people who complain of struggling to feed their families - is sixth-highest in the nation and growing. Meanwhile, only 60 percent of Utahns entitled to food stamps use them.
Local control might improve the participation rate and save taxpayer money, argues Dougall.
Nationally, advocates are pushing to boost the average working family's monthly benefits by $37.
"People tend to think public assistance carries really generous benefits. But anybody who has spent any time on those programs knows that's not true," said Gina Cornia at Utahn Against Hunger.
Dougall isn't convinced an increase is necessary.
For breakfast, he ate two eggs, a slice of toast and carefully measured portions of oatmeal, grapefruit and milk. He figures he spent 85 cents, leaving him with extra to spend on lunch: a peanut butter sandwich, orange juice, some celery, carrots and a banana.
The lawmaker's shopping companion, Salt Lake City Democrat Jennifer Seelig, is less optimistic.
"I've already spent $8.50 on oranges and apples," she said as she stooped to compare peanut butter prices. "No beer, no coffee, no ice cream. I'm going to be a cranky girl this week."
Seelig stuck to a stricter weekly budget. Dougall spent about $37 on Monday, supplementing his meals with staples at home, such as flour and milk. He intends to "charge" himself for the portions he consumes with the goal of sticking to a dollar-a-meal budget.
"That's cheating," chided Seelig, who contends strapped families can't afford to stock up on bulk items.
To see how Dougall and Seelig feel by week's end, visit http://www.foodstamp
challenge.org/