Food Checkout Day was on Wednesday and Governor Blunt encourages Missourians to donate to the less fortunate. Grocery stores donate food that doesn't get sold, like baked goods and bruised produce, to local food pantries. This is considered the day when the average person has made enough money from the first of the year to pay for a year's worth of food.

The average person spends $2,400, or 10 percent of their yearly income on food. But many can't afford that.

"We're dealing with people here who might not always have income or their income isn't enough to make it through the year at all," said Jessica Spanglehour of the Central Missouri Food Bank.

"Food Checkout Day comes earlier each year because food prices simply haven't gone up as fast as the cost of other things people buy, relative to housing, energy, or automobiles" said Ron Plain, an MU agricultural economist.

It takes the average American 116 days to earn enough to pay their federal, state and local taxes, 62 days to pay housing and household expenses, 52 days to cover health and medical expenses and 36 days for recreation, clothing and accessories.

Donations to local food pantries are tax deductible.