I first want to explain that I understand how stressful it is to talk and think about food. Trust me when I say I know because I am there too. I want to be completely honest. My family and I are not on SNAP, but we have been in the past, and my parents have taught me how to shop on a tight budget. 

1. Utilize the resources that you have in your town. For example, in my community, we have many different food pantries and a mobile food pantry. Where people line up for food. My family gets food from the mobile food pantry and the food pantry that I volunteer at. All of the volunteers at this food pantry have equal access to the stuff we give out (most of the volunteers that need the food like us, have a file set up just like our clients) because the person in charge understands that the volunteers are taking time out of their lives to help others. She doesn’t want to see her volunteers go hungry while they help others get food. 
2. Plan your meals around the food that you get from the food pantries. 
3. Plan a budget. Now this is hard to do right now. I understand this. But maybe instead of doing a monthly menu, create a weekly menu. 
4. Put together a menu. If you are like me and hate having the same exact things on your menu, then look at this and many other food blogs out there. I want this blog to be a resource for people. If you are given a large amount of a certain ingredient, I want you all to be able to search for that ingredient and be able to make it. 
5. Use the store’s apps and websites. Use cash back apps, rebates, and coupons. 
6. Look at the price per unit. Because yes, a 2 lb bag of flour is going to be cheaper than a 10 lb bag of flour. But in price per unit, it is going to be cheaper. If you have a container for the flour, then I would suggest getting the bigger one. For me, as a baker, I have a container in my pantry for the flour. I know I am going to buy flour every other month. 
7. Eat something before going to the grocery store, have a snack or something for later in the trip, and grab your water bottle. Also, wear comfy clothes and walking shoes.  Nobody likes shopping with a grumpy, hangry person. And nobody feels like doing the big food hauls when they are dehydrated. If you are anything like me, you have to have your comfort clothes and shoes when I am grocery shopping because if I don’t, I feel out of place and not in the right amount of focus. 
8. Don’t feel embarrassed for using what options are available to you. 
9. Try not to feel guilty when you are making something that is not so healthy. You deserve a cake on your birthday. You deserve a “snack” night for these kids when they made it threw the really hard week. You deserve to have whatever food you need to make it to the next day. 
10. Know that you are not alone in this time of chaos. I want to help as many people as I can make food for themselves and their families.