Last modified: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 1:05 AM EDT Lisa McGovern, left, pays for $41.70 worth of groceries Monday while her husband, U.S. Rep. James McGovern, looks on. (Submitted by Laura Hayes of The Hatcher Group) Congressman, wife experience life on food stamps firsthand BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Like a lot of Americans, the McGoverns went grocery shopping Monday for their weekly food supply. But unlike most, U.S. Rep. James McGovern and his wife, Lisa, limited themselves to $42 worth of food for the two of them. The groceries must last them seven days as they experiment with what it would be to live like the average food stamp recipient on $3 a day. James McGovern is trying to bring attention to the lack of funding for food stamps as Congress gets ready to reauthorize the Farm Bill, which includes the appropriations for nutrition. The minimum benefit of $10 a month has not been increased since the 1970s, he said. Even the average benefit of $21 per person a week is too low to adequately feed people, he said. "What we in Congress need to do is determine what is appropriate and necessary. We need a debate on our priorities," he said. So starting today, McGovern, his wife and four other members of Congress will feed themselves on $3 a day for a week. McGovern joked that his wife decided to join him in the experiment partly to lend support and partly to make sure he does not cheat. Shopping at the Safeway on 14th Street in Southeast Washington, D.C., was not easy, he said. To stretch his money, McGovern said he had to buy a lot of bulky food high in starch. His grocery list included a lot of beans, rice, and spaghetti. There is very little meat and "no snacks or goodies," he said. McGovern said he can image parents on food stamps being forced to say no to their children who asked for expensive snacks. One luxury he insisted on - much to the relief of his staff which feared bouts of grouchiness - is the $1.55 he spent for Safeway brand coffee. McGovern said shopping Monday taught him that a low-cost diet is not only less appetizing, it is less healthy. The hamburger he bought was higher in fat than the more expensive offerings. Canned vegetables are less expensive than fresh, and low-sodium, low-fat items cost too much, he said. McGovern has made fighting hunger a priority and is co-chairman of the hunger caucus in Congress. He advocates for nutrition programs both in the United States, and abroad. The congressman said he came to the issue after visiting so many charity food pantries in his district and realizing how widespread a problem hunger is. Unlike many of the great issues of the day, hunger is a problem that can be solved, he said. The resources are available, all it takes is political will, he said. Hunger, however, is also a low-profile issue. McGovern said he hopes his food-stamp diet will bring attention to it so that changes can be made in policies and funding.