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How Much Does A Food Bank Cost Per Person Per Meal?

We must first explain Sam Andy's Unit System of food banking so that the cost factor will be meaningful. Sam Andy uses two basic units and a third one containing extra protein and food adjuncts. Unit I is composed of foods from five food groups: the fruit group provides six cans, the grain group 40 cans, the protein group 33 cans, the vegetable group 15 cans, and the adjunct group two cans-making a total of 96 cans. Unit I is made up of basic foods to provide for the reference family for a period of approximately three months. Unit II draws from the same food groups with close to the same number of cans from each group, but the food items are not the same. It was designed to give variety, but it also provides enough servings of basic foods for a period of approximately three months.

Units I and II were designed for families who raise or keep on hand additional items such as sugar, honey, fats and oils, various meats, seasonings, etc. Unit III was introduced to supplement Units I and II, thus providing a good, nutritionally balanced six-month food storage program with additional calories and protein to meet the R.D.A. of the National Research Council. Along with being well balanced, the foods in these Units were specifically chosen to provide variety for use in most recipes. Unit III contains the "goodies" for Units I and II. It is gratifying to offer such exciting new products as butter powder, buttermilk powder, shortening powder, peanut butter powder, egg white and yolk solids, sour and sweet cream powders. Not only are Meals-as-Usual possible but even soufflés are easy. With these impressive new products appetite fatigue, even for children or senior citizens, is minimized.

Together Units I, II and III provide a nutritional and palatable program for the reference family for six months (182 days). The chart below shows the appropriate data for the reference family consisting of five members: the daily servings needed, the calorie allowances, and the protein requirements. The total average daily servings, the calories and protein furnished by these three units is compared with the totals needed. Where food nutrients are obtained from a good variety of foods, and where the servings, calories, and protein are sufficient, the rest of the nutrients are usually present. A review of the calorie (Kilocalorie) allowances set up by the Food and Nutrition Board shows a reduction of the RDA for energy. Further review of the criteria for calories shows that the margin of sufficiency is ample to allow a reduced intake (not over 1/3) and still maintain a reasonable diet for most, with perhaps only a slight weight reduction for others, even during an extended period of time. This chart indicates the length of time various individuals can eat using calories needed as the basis. Also, it shows how much longer the individual can eat if the caloric intake is reduced. This would, of course, reduce the per person per meal cost proportionately.


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The below chart shows that the number of servings, Kilocalories
and grams of protein are sufficient for the reference family.

AVAILABLE SERVINGS AND NUTRIENTS IN UNITS I, II and III

Unit Servings
(no.)
Calories
(K. Cal.)
Protein
(grams)
Unit I 5,596 569,298 27,385
Unit II 5,486 566,676 26,828
Unit III 5,694 605,893 12,276
TOTALS 16,776 1,741,867 66,489
Divide the totals of each column by 182 days and the total average daily yield id found: i.e., 92 servings; 9,570 Kilocalories; and 365 grams of protein.
*Number of servings for Unit III do not include sugar, salt and baking soda

RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCES 20-102

Reference Age (Years) Weight (lbs.) Servings (no.) Calories
(K. Cal.)
Protein (grams)
Father 35-55 150-170 14 2600 65
Mother 35-55 130-140 12 1850 55
Son 14-18 140-150 16 3000 60
Daughter 12-14 100-110 10 2300 50
Child 6-8 50-60 8 2000 35
Family's total daily needs 60 11,750 265
Total avg. daily yield from Units I, II & III 90 9,570 365
Unit I and Unit II furnish the basic food items. The addition of Unit III makes a balanced nutritional program. The cost per person per meal can be found by dividing the current cost of the units by the number of servings provided.

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To read this chart, use the number of members in your household and look at the section headed "Unit I." The first column will tell you approximately how many days the Unit will feed your family, the second column indicates the approximate number of months, and the third column indicates the appropriate number of years. Follow over to the next section to find the length of time Units I and II combined will last. Remember to consider the ages and sizes of your family members.
Chart showing amount of time units I, II
and III will feed household members with
both normal and reduced food intake
UNIT 1*

569,298 Calories Available

(K. Cal.)
UNIT 1 & 2*
COMBINED

1,135,974 Calories Available
(K. Cal.)
UNIT 1, 2 & 3
COMBINED

1,741,867 Calories Available
(K. Cal.)
HOUSEHOLD No. of
Members
AGE(s) Daily Calories
(K. Cal.)
Needed
No. of
Days
No. of Months No. of Years No. of
Days
No. of Months No. of Years No. of
Days
No. of
Months
No. of
Years
Single Male 1 55-75 2,400 221 7.3 .6 441 14.7 1.2 702 23.3 1.9
Single Female 1 55-75 1,700 312 10.4 .8 623 20.7 1.7 990 33.0 2.7
Couple 2 55-75 4,100 129 4.3 .3 258 8.6 .7 410 13.4 1.1
Food in-take reduced to 1,200 cal per person 2 55-75 2,400 221 7.3 .6 442 14.7 1.2 702 23.4 1.9
Food in-take reduced to 1,851 cal per person 2 55-75 3,700 --» --» --» --» --» --» 455 15.2 1.2
Family A 3 18-75 6,450 82 2.7 .2 164 5.4 .4 261 8.7 .7
Food in-take reduced to 1,200 cal per person 3 18-75 3,600 147 5.0 .4 294 9.8 .8 468 15.6 1.3
Food in-take reduced to 1,851 cal per person 3 18-75 5,500 --» --» --» --» --» --» 303 10.1 .8
Family B 5 6-55 11,750 45 1.5 .1 90 3.0 .2 143 4.7 .4
Food in-take reduced to 1,200 cal per person 5 6-55 6,000 88 3.0 .2 177 6.0 .5 281 9.3 .7
Food in-take reduced to 1,851 cal per person 5 6-55 9,200 --» --» --» --» --» --» 182 6.0 .5
Family C 8 3-55 17,850 29 1.0 .1 59 1.9 .1 94 3.1 .2
Food in-take reduced to 1,200 cal per person 8 3-55 9,600 55 1.8 .2 110 3.7 .3 175 5.8 .5
Food in-take reduced to 1,851 cal per person 8 3-55 14,800 --» --» --» --» --» --» 114 3.8 .3

*In order for Unit I or II or a combination of the two Units to provide the necessary
calories and fat for a balanced diet, they must be supplemented with the sugar,
shortening and other foods in Unit III.

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© 1994 Sam Andy Foods
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Copyright © 1998 Sam Andy Authorized Dealer