Published: February 2, 2015
FoodBank Santa Barbara County CEO Erik Talkin is taking the Food Security Challenge to bring to light the difficulties of living on food stamps.
“For me in Santa Barbara County, it gives me $6.46 per day to live on. So that’s what I’m trying to do for a month,” he said.
Day one started with no food at all. He fasted to know what it’s like to go hungry.
Talkin said instead of losing weight over the next 30 days, he might actually gain some. People on a budget tend to go somewhere inexpensive and that often means unhealthy food.
“People are spending their money on empty calories, processed food. It’s not about starvation it’s about malnutrition through poor nutrition. That’s what I have to try and target. Can I get good food for my money?”
