FreshDirect Doesn’t Take Food Stamps?

Councilman, I’m pretty sure that Food Dynasty sells, you know, vegetables:

Forget calories and carbohydrates. The Eric Gioia diet involves only counting the cents.

The Queens Democratic councilman stocked up on Ramen noodles and cheap white bread in an effort to live like thousands of his constituents — on only $28 a week.

The stunt is his effort to find out what life’s really like on the average food stamp allotment for a single recipient.

“I usually shop at Whole Foods or online at FreshDirect,” he said, scanning a list of special offers while doing his weekly shopping at Woodside’s Food Dynasty.

“I don’t even look at the cost. I look for the brand I like, and I buy it.

“Now I can’t let myself think about what tastes good or what’s good for me. I’m thinking only about what it costs.”

That ruled out meat — save for three cans of bargain Chicken of the Sea tuna for $2.

. . .

Instead, he picked up white bread — 50% cheaper than healthier whole wheat — five boxes of pasta for $3 and a $1 jar of tomato sauce.

“I can’t even eat healthily,” said Gioia, whose bill came to $24.44. “I’ve found out that the cheapest food is also the unhealthiest.

“On a long-term diet like this, I’d be facing major health problems like diabetes or heart disease.”

For only a week, the main side effect is likely to be just a loss of appetite.

“It looks like I’ll be having toast for breakfast, tuna or peanut butter for lunch and pasta for dinner,” he said.

Gioia can blame Oregon Governor Theodore R. Kulongoski when he gets constipated . . .