SNAP Challenge

Could you survive on $6 per day without going hungry?

We challenge you to live off of $6 per day for three days to gain perspective on what life is like for those on SNAP benefits. 

UNL's SNAP Challenge asks you to purchase food using only the amount of money you would be allotted from SNAP benefits daily and reflect on your experience. The most important component of this challenge is reflection, whether that is talking with friends or family, sharing your experience on social media using #unlSNAPchallenge, journaling about your experience, or completing the reflection form.  

According to the Food Research and Action Center's model, the SNAP Challenge provides an opportunity to experience a small fraction of the challenges people face while receiving SNAP benefits. Participants must make difficult food shopping choices on a limited budget of $6, the average daily allotment for a single person. While living on a SNAP budget for a few days does not come close to the challenges encountered by low-income people, it provides participants with a new perspective, greater understanding, and the knowledge to better advocate for the program. 

Challenge Guidelines

1. The SNAP Challenge lasts three days. Allocate $6 per day of the challenge. If multiple people in your household are participating, add $6 per person per day. 
2. All food purchased and eaten during your challenge must be included in the total spending, including dining out. 
3. During the challenge, you should try eating only the food you purchase. If you eat food that you already have at home or that was provided to you by others, you must account for it in your budget. 
4. Information on eligible and ineligible food items that can be purchased using SNAP benefits can be found here. 
5. Take note of your experiences during the challenge, whether that is a conversation with a friend or family member or sharing your experience on social media using #unlSNAPchallenge. The reflection form to submit after completing the 3 day challenge will be sent to your husker email after you register. 

Example Reflection Questions

1. What was the most difficult aspect of the challenge?
2. What was the most rewarding aspect of the challenge?
3. How did your views on food insecurity or SNAP change?
4. What did you eat each day? How did your diet differ from your everyday diet?
5. What choices or trade-offs did you have to make while purchasing food?
6. Where did you shop for food? Did this differ from where you usually shop?
7. How did the SNAP challenge impact you emotionally, mentally, or physically? How do you think this would impact you long term if you had to do this daily?
8. Did participation in the challenge limit your social interactions?
9. How much time did you put into meal planning, grocery shopping, and meal prep? 
10. Did your knowledge of SNAP benefits change or increase during this challenge?