My Reply to Food Stamps-Supporting Bad Habits
You can buy frozen pizza and hot dogs for less then a dollar. But try to buy fresh vegetables and fruit and other healthy alternatives and you will have hardly anything to feed your family for the month. Maybe the government should lower the cost of healthy foods and raise the price of junk food. The same is true if you are on a diet, the cost to buy healthy fruits and vegetables is outrageous and many people just don't have the extra money to spare.
The government can teach us all they want how to eat and cook healthy but unless they intend on making changes in the pricing of healthy foods this will be a waste of time. And for the comment about the mother having acne on her face she could eat healthy food all the time and still have skin problems. People shouldn't judge others by their appearance nor should they assume their son would never have the chance at healthy meals. Maybe they do eat healthy meals and they were at the store to pick up some munchies for the weekend.
Is the system flawed in the way they do things? Sure, but if they go and make it impossible to buy anything not considered healthy then a lot of families are going to be hungry by the end of the month. If the government doesn't do something in lowering the cost of healthy foods, or providing those on food stamps more money a month to buy these healthy alternatives. People who are forced to only spend a certain amount a month on food have to make that last .If that means buying raviolis and hot dogs because they are cheaper then chicken or fish then that's the way it has to be. I don't know any mother that is willing to allow their family to be hungry so they can buy only healthy foods.
If our government is so concerned with the obesity rates rising then why don't they do something about lowering the costs of healthy foods? Making it easier for people on a low income to choose fresh fruits and vegetables over microwave meals. If the government was to make training mandatory or take away the benefits that would be hurting the child even more. The junk food companies know how to set their prices so people will buy their products .It is very sad that anyone has to choose healthy foods over ones that have little nutritional value. Sure everyone would like to provide the healthiest meals they can for their families but this isn't always a choice they can make.
If it came down to me buying only healthy products or buying microwave meals and frozen pizzas and such to feed my family for the month I am afraid I would have to choose the one that would allow my family to have enough food. While I definitely agree the government needs to do something to allow everyone the chance to eat healthy I don't agree this could be done by only teaching people how to cook better meals. Most people were taught in school about healthy foods and which are better for you. So I don't think it's a lack of knowledge I believe it's a lack of being able to afford the better food choices. Most people receiving food stamps barely make it buy now with having enough food to last a month. Taking away their ability to buy foods they can afford will make it that much harder. I don't think they should be filling their carts up with chips and soda, but all kids like to have some junk food once in awhile. Forbidding them to have it is not the way to go either. This will just make them have issues with food in the future. Next time you have a few extra minutes in the grocery store compare some prices of different healthy foods and some not so healthy and see which are more affordable to someone with a low income. There needs to be some changes to the way the food companies set their prices. This would allow for more people to benefit from healthy foods.
Published by Heather Shockney
Heather is the mom to a daughter with Autism, ADHD, ODD, Mood-D/O-NOS,obsessive compulsive tendencies, and sensory issues. We are a cyber-schooling family.She writes for a variety of online venues. If you ha... View profile
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- Take a walk around your local shopping store to compare prices.
- Healthy foods are usually more expensive.
- Families using food stamps have to buy food that will last the whole month.
- The government needs to regulate what companies can charge for healthy foods.
30 Comments
Post a CommentI think it is hilarious that all of the people against others receiving assistance have horrible spelling and lack basic writing skills. I'm quite surprised you have jobs actually...
For those who think all it takes is a job: all it takes is ONE medical test to change your entire life.
Look at the numbers of people who are living life to the fullest, go in for a routine check-up, just for the doctor to come back and say, "Sorry, but you've got..."
Who's paying for your college?
We've just gotten on food stamps, but we hope to be on it for 2 years, if we're blessed. We need it. We're medically disabled. My husband is getting worse. I don't WANT this life for us; it stinks! I went to college, and I wanted a GOOD life, like yours. I just hope nothing ever happens to you; how will you survive? Oh, that's right. You're in college. You are paying thousands of dollars a year all on your own, without help, right?
If you get food stamps for the past 2 or more yeaars consider yourself a louser. Get something cald a JOB. I am a full time college student and work to pay my bills so stop taking government moneY!
Fresh fruit and vegetables are perishable. If you live in an apartment, you can't grow them. Most people can't live off of fruit and vegetables alone. My children are not vegetarians. Soy products, nuts, grains and supplements are expensive anyway. I will admit that diets can be more balanced, but it costs more to do it. When I shop correctly and cook meals, I am spending about 540 a month on food,for a family of 4 and sometimes I cook more food for my 4 next door neighbors, who run out of food. I consider myself a good budgeter. My family and I ocassionally eat out. I find myself searching for coupons, like the coupon lady. Food stamp recipients are not the only unhealthy eaters. I have seen many people with carts full of junk, and they were not on food stamps. I checked...staying open minded.
More....Sometimes a persons situation may change for the worst. Some people must get out and work at 16, 17 and 18 and don't have help from mom and dad. If a person has a criminal record, then they are screwed in America. Some of us start out with advantages. The American dream is a 1950's concept. Everyone can't live the American Dream. Democracy is about every man for himself, and if the government did not step in to assist, the social problems would be off the charts: Higher crime, more homelessness, more mental health issues, more drug and alcohol problems....In a Democracy, the government balances, rather than destroys a society. Last note: People with college degrees are struggling to find work. If the industries keep leaving America, there will be more people in line behind food stamp recipients. An open mind encourages knowledge.
Many people who end up requesting assistance from the government have lost their jobs. Some people get injuries that put them at a disadvantage, and must fight just to get disability. At some point they were tax payers. Men and women who serve our country might need foodstamps. A person might die in the service of our country, and their spouses may be left at an economic disadvantage. Food stamps do not get a person through a whole month. The cost of food has sky rocketed, even at Walmart. If you can get coupons like the coupon lady, you might make it. The amount of food stamps depend on the size of the family. One of the requirements of food stamps is a person must be actively seeking work. A person may be able to get on their feet if they have a little help. Rent is not cheap in America, and not everyone is eligible for subsidized housing or make it to receive it. If a single person with a child makes 8 bucks an hour it would be difficult to pay 600 dollar rent, car note, insurance
and food stamps PERIOD... for those who are not in dire need is supporting the BAD HABIT for these lazy people to live off it the rest of their life! the american dream is lost. what happened to being proud of working for what you receive???
What a bunch of bull. I am a cashier in New York State. The majority of food stamp recipients are hispanic, that are illiterate and speak no english at all!!! They buy ribs, steak and potato chips. 20 oz pops and candy. They do not care to buy nutritional foods and why should they? It's free cash! I saw a 700 dollar transaction of garbage come through my line today and it made me sick. They didn't speak english, joked about their powdered sugar being cocaine and got upset when some items weren't covered and they had to pay cash instead of having it handed to them. NEW YORK STATE NEEDS TO WISE UP AND GIVE THE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT! NOT THESE LAZY SLOBS THAT SIT AROUND ALL DAY AND HAVE NO INTEREST IN WORKING. AND WHY SHOULD THEY??? EVERYTHING IS FREE FOR THEM. WTF???
This was a very uninformed responce to the original article. Let's be realistic here- the government isn't going to change the entire price structure of food. The responce that "junk food is cheaper" is an easy out, and one that's wrong. Frozen vegetables are healthy and only cost 99 cents per bag for generic. Frozen skillet meals containing veggies, meats and grains range from $3-$6 and can easily be expanded with a little extra rice or pasta. The possibilities of affordable healthy meals is endless. I do it everyday for a family of four. This is why people need better education when it comes to shopping, eating, and food prep.