This was a good story, but I'd like to see the nutritional values of the meals and how those stack up to the modified food pyramid. Also, this wouldn't work for everyone, but for people with a patio or yard (tiny or sprawling), it would be interesting to see how much further that budget could stretch if it was supplemented with a garden. I wish the government would focus more on helping people help themselves. Even when summer is over, a decent garden can yield enough veggies/herbs/fruits to can/freeze to help supplement the winter. What if you don't like to garden? Hell, I don't like to work 12 hours a day. But I do it to pay my bills. If you're not working, think about spending your time helping yourself. In fact, government -- I, as a taxpayer, would be willing to pay a surcharge if you gave a weekly food package to people (instead of stamps) stuffed with what they should have instead of what they want. In addition, there should be some sort of Habitat for Humanity aspect to any welfare the government offers. If you want that food, maybe you should have to staff the distribution place 4 hours a week -- or work in the community garden that supplies it. This country has gone the easy route -- giving money/apartments etc. without expecting anything in return. A quid pro quo would be good for everyone -- the taxpayer and the person receiving the benefits.

Interesting article.  I am disappointed they didn't show the actual recipes.  Just 1 sample from each.  :(

These meals are not well balanced and if I sent my kid to school with just a sandwich and nothing else, I would be turned into social services.  Get real folks.  Food for a family of four is costlier than people without families and who don't make $100000.00/ year.

These shopping lists illustrate it is impossible to achieve the minimum nutritional balance needed to maintain health. The first has too little protein, the second menu plan is better, but still short on calories and minimal servings of fruits and vegetables, the third, like the other two have an over-reliance on carbohydrates to meet the budget. A hunk of banana bread is hardly an adequate breakfast for a growing child and will certanly not sustain sommeone who does physical work for a living.

Let's see the caloric total for all and stack up the servings of fruits, vegetables and proteins against the USDA Food Program minimums. ..and let's include real prices. With tomatoes running $2 per lb and a gallon of milk averaging $3.50, the listed prices in these menus are already obsolete.

As far as couponing is concerned, they are rare to nonexistant for unprocessed foods, so tossing in a comment about possibly doing better using coupons was merely a stab at the thought that someone other than professionals might actually be able to make a budget this low, workable.

I think it would be more realistic to see a frugal menu plan that presumes you are starting wiht no food stored; nothing in your kitchen, pantry, fridge or freezer.