I don't think the OP was on food stamps the whole year, but that he rationed and was frugal with them, and enough left over, to continue to purchase food with them, even after he stopped receiving assistance.
I make what most would consider to be an excellent income, and I am going to be on medical leave, paid by our Canadian Employment Insurance program for 14 of the 24 weeks I need off next year. I pay a boatload of taxes (just under $22,000 this month, between my regular and business taxes), not to mention that I've paid into our EI program for more than 10 years now. I have been saving like a fiend since September, just incase I need to be off longer, and the benefits won't extend past 14 weeks, unless I am permanently disabled.
I am leery of mentioning my use of the special medical leave program to others though, because I am seen as earning a good income. However, this special benefits program that I am a part of (where I pay twice the rate that anyone regularly employed does, because I am self-employed) is designed EXACTLY for my situation. I can never collect true unemployment benefits, just medical and parental/maternity, and compassionate leave (this is used if a close family member is about to die, and it only covers 2 weeks), and I am obligated to continue to pay into them for the rest of my employed life, since I am going to collect.
There are a lot of people in Canada who abuse the EI system, and we are in the middle of reforming it, which makes my situation even more contentious with some. However, most people that are seen as abusers of the system, are the ones that, year after year, work 2-3 months, make $100,000, and then collect unemployment for the rest of the year. I am not that person, and I sort of resent being lumped in with them. Oh well... :)