$5 a day

Or $35 a week. A Sacramentan on food stamps receives just about that amount. The aid is supplemental, in theory. But we all know that, between bills and gas and whatever, the money is crucial: It's often all that's left.

I've done the “food-stamp challenge” thing before, and I'll be partaking in it again this week, beginning on the 16th and going up until the day before Thanksgiving. Hunger coalitions statewide often promote these types of challenges, the goal being to remind us that food insecurity is very real, that the nutrition gap keeps growing.

I invite all my colleagues and readers to also live on a food budget of $5 a day from November 16 to 25. I'll be blogging about this challenge and interviewing hunger and nutrition advocates on our website, www.newsreview.com. I'll also be posting photos and costs of my meals, and commenting on food-insecurity issues, as well, on Twitter (@NickMiller916). Keep me accountable, please. But also join me.

Can you sustain a healthy diet on such little? Would you resort to dollar hamburgers or abundant and affordable processed foods? Will you ever see a head of broccoli or an apple in your kitchen during the 10 days because you can't afford fresh, natural foods?

Earlier this year, in April, online trolls ridiculed actress Gwyneth Paltrow for failing her personal food-stamp challenge after just four days. Her failure was pretty weak—but it's also easy to take shots at a celebrity. Let's see if you can make it longer than four.

Millions of Californians don't have a choice. These CalFresh recipients are mostly women, mostly Hispanic. And most have jobs. They don't stay on government aid for longer than five years, either. The least you could do is try to live in their fridges for 10 days.