Las Vegas Weekly

What Mayor Carolyn Goodman ate while living on food stamps for a week

Carolyn Goodman lived on Food Stamps for five days to raise awareness of the program that feeds hundreds of thousands of Southern Nevadans.

Photo: Kristen Peterson

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman wanted to shine some attention on the need for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps feed nearly 330,000 Southern Nevadans, and which needs its funding reauthorized by Congress this year.

So, Goodman spent last week surviving only on food stamps—$4.06 a day. It was part of a challenge issued by the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas to raise awareness of how important the program is for those it serves.

And here's how the Mayor spent her $20.30 over the five-day period from Monday to Friday:

1 box of Cheerios ($2.50)

1 gallon of Mountain Dairy milk ($2.99)

1 carton of eggs ($1.56)

1 jar of peanut butter ($1.75)

1 jar of grape jelly ($1.98)

1 loaf of wheat bread ($1)

1 can of albacore tuna ($2.79)

1 head of lettuce (50 cents)

2 cans of Campbell’s soup ($2)

1 box of Kraft macaroni and cheese ($1)

1 bottle of salad dressing ($1.59)

1 tomato (64 cents)

Tap water

And here’s how her diet broke down by day:

Monday

Breakfast: Cheerios with milk

Lunch: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with milk

Dinner: 3-egg omelet with tomato and toast

Tuesday

Breakfast: 2 eggs and toast with jelly

Lunch: Soup and lettuce with tomato and dressing

Dinner: Tuna sandwich with lettuce

Wednesday

Breakfast: Cheerios with milk

Lunch: PB&J sandwich with milk

Dinner: Kraft macaroni and cheese and lettuce with dressing

Thursday

Breakfast: 2 eggs and toast with jelly

Lunch: Soup with lettuce, tomato and dressing

Dinner: Tuna sandwich with lettuce

Friday

Breakfast: Cheerios with milk

Lunch: PB&J sandwich with milk

Dinner: 3-egg omelet with tomato and toast