Peanut Butter, the Taste of Poverty

Ahhh peanut butter.  For many of us, it brings back memories of childhood.  Mama's PB&J's were packed with love and always better than her meatloaf.  But the truth is, peanut butter is cheap.  That may have been why mama, or whoever your childcare provider was, fed it to you.  My apologies in advance if this perspective bursts your "life is full of fluffy fairies and fun" bubble.   

I never used to mind peanut butter.  In my financially challenged state, I become creative in my peanut butter usage.  On a sandwich, you can add jam, jelly, banana, chocolate syrup etc.  It can be added to oatmeal, yogurt, muffins and smoothies.  Those are all fine, it's not until the end of the grocery budget that peanut butter begins to take on a new role.

Mary Poppins said that "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down."  And I am here to tell you that a spoonful of peanut butter makes the stomach growl of poverty go down (albeit, in NOT the most delightful way).  There may be a bit of a gag reflex, but not to worry, it'll pass.  This will at least give you the energy to get through your day, and we don't want to give those folks who criticize the poor for being lazy any fuel for their fire.

Want proof of what I can do with minimal funding and nutrition?  Look at the job titles I held while losing 35 lbs on the peanut butter poverty diet: 

Student Representative for Seattle Central’s Presidential Search Committee, 2010

President and Chair, Women in Science and Engineering, Seattle Central Community College, 2009-2010

            Student Leader, College Outreach and Recruitment Team, 2009-2010  

            Circulation Staff Member, Seattle Central Community College Library, 2008-2010

No, I am not recommending the peanut butter poverty diet to anyone.  I was not able to do good work in my community because of my dietary habits, rather I did this in spite of my nutritional intake.  But hey, can you imagine what I could achieve if I was adequately funded and consistently nourished??