Not being eligible for any government benefits and having had some very lean years, I don't need to visualize or assume a certain lifestyle, I just need to consult my own experience.
I invite you to try the SNAP challenge (http://site.foodshare.org/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_...) and see how long you can go on a $4/day allowance. I was lucky to get sufficient education about nutrition and cooking in school to be able to eat healthily on a budget like this when I've had to, sometimes for a few months at a time. But if you screw up and spoil a meal or some of the food goes bad, then tough luck, you don't get to eat anything.
I invite you to try the SNAP challenge (http://site.foodshare.org/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_...) and see how long you can go on a $4/day allowance. I was lucky to get sufficient education about nutrition and cooking in school to be able to eat healthily on a budget like this when I've had to, sometimes for a few months at a time. But if you screw up and spoil a meal or some of the food goes bad, then tough luck, you don't get to eat anything.