Cory Booker’s Grocery Tab $27.98 in Food Stamp Challenge

Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker has prepared for a food stamp challenge with a grocery purchase of $27.98.

He and one of his Twitter followers each plan to live for a week on the monetary equivalent of food stamps or less.

The mayor's week starts Tuesday. The woman's began Sunday. Booker tweeted a picture of a receipt of the purchases he made Saturday at a Pathmark store in neighboring Irvington. The vegetarian mayor's grocery list included pink and black beans, corn and red delicious apples.

Booker declined requests Monday to be interviewed. He is using social media to provide updates.

Other city officials around the country have taken part in similar challenges, including Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter this past April.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)