SNAP, food pantries, etc

Feasible ways to Lower Your Food Bill

Buy the store brand
Use everything that you buy before it goes bad
- - - Meal planning can help make sure your ingredients don't go bad
Buy frozen or canned (with reduced sodium)
- - - These store longer and do not have lowered nutritional content
Limit eating out
Buy in bulk if you can afford the upfront cost (the cost per serving is lower overall)
Bake your own goods if you have the time to do so
Cook in bulk and freeze or store in individual servings
Use eggs, beans, and chickpeas as a protein source over meat and if eating meat choose chicken or pork over beef or other meats
Look out for sales and coupons
Know your stores: certain stores have cheaper fresh food and others have cheaper canned goods. In Rolla, a good place for a grocery run would be Aldi.
Eat mindfully; knowing what you consume and what is satiating is important to prioritize in your food budget

Free Hot Meal Every Sunday at Christ Episcopal Church at 12 called Open Door
Keep an eye on your university email and join clubs -- many events provide food as an incentive for attending which can supplement what you have
1. 1. ex: sacred paths club includes a hot meal at every weekly meeting
  2. Tuesdays 9-11 Catholic Newman Center has free bagels/coffee/hot chocolate (in the lower level).
  3. Tuesdays 11:30-12:45: Methodists (Ignite) have a free lunch for college students.
  4. Wednesdays 11:30-13:00 BSU has a free lunch.

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being
As of December 2021, 41.5 million persons were participating in SNAP
SNAP benefits can be used to purchase all food products, not including: beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco; any nonfood items; vitamins and medicines; foods that will be eaten in the store; or hot foods

SNAP benefits vary from household to household, depending on the number of people within a household, the employment status of the recipient(s), the age and health of the recipient(s), etc.
For most healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 50 (without children), SNAP benefits are limited to a 3-month period, at which point the recipient will have to submit a renewal application.

Learn more about eligibility here
Get help on campus
- - - fill out this S&T form as a self referral and select the option for Basic Needs(food insecurity) as the reason for referral and your own information as the student being UCared
    - this will connect you with a care manager who can help you navigate the red tape and connect you with on campus resources