This morning I read this article on CNN.com. The article discusses how NY is removing soda and sports drinks from the Food Stamps approved foods list because of the correlation between those types of drinks and obesity/diabetes. As I read the article I found myself nodding in agreement, thinking "those things aren't food, they provide no nutritional value and they aren't necessary." The idea that reducing the amount of taxpayer money spent on those types of products might reduce the amount of taxpayer money later spent on health care related obesity and diabetes seems logical and positive.
Then I read the comments. Many were applauding this measure and talking poorly of all the people they see in the grocery store buying expensive pre-packaged, super unhealthy foods with food stamps. Many commentators were angry at the mismanagement of what is supposed to be a helping hand yet seems to be a long term way of life. I totally agree. I see it all the time in Philly. The designer clothes, the fancy phones, the cigarettes and brand new cars...
Yet as I was reading, thinking "cut the program!" I thought about the children who are at least eating something, you hope, because of government assistance. If we cut off the parents, how does that affect the kids who don't have a choice? And that is where my heart breaks.
Let me be clear, in no way am I supporting the abuse of a state supported (read: our tax dollars) system for people who need it. But I dont know how to even begin thinking about ways to change the system. Education is sorely needed, but how do you break a cycle that has been accepted as a cultural norm? Cooking at home is SO much cheaper than eating at fast food restaurants (ie. last night we had lentil soup that is enough to feed all 3 of us for two nights for less than 5 dollars total). The non-brand name jeans at Kohls are way cheaper than the Juicy jeans and you're not going naked either way and seriously, just get off the bedazzled phone and pay attention to your kids. It is so heart breaking and I dont know how to begin to be a positive force for change.
I dont want this to be an us vs. them post. I believe anyone could need a helping hand at some point in their lives... we certainly did when I found out I was pregnant and both of use were still in school. Trying times can happen to anyone at any time and thank God there are systems in place to help in those situations. It is a culture of entitlement and materialism that needs an overhaul, but where do we start? Can we even make a difference? It is so overwhelming, yet I feel compelled to do something, anything.
Any ideas on how to follow Ghandi's example and "be the change you want to see in the world?"
1 comment:
this is SUCH an interesting topic. I haven't shopped at Shopper's in a long time, but I remember going there and looking in people's carts and seeing things like 8 frozen pizzas, a flat of ramen and those kool-aid type drinks that come in the little plastic barrel. It's awful, but the more limited your budget and the less "leisure time" you have for preparing food, combined with an absence of knowledge about what to do with whole ingredients equals a cart full of ramen.
There was a really great article in the post a year or so ago about the time cost of day to day activities for the average low income resident of DC. They talked about the time cost of commuting, doing laundry, grocery shopping and how the increase in time cost do each when you have to rely on public transportation and travel to another neighborhood just to get A store (let alone one with good selection/prices) spills over and reduces that amount of time you have to do anything else. So you have to work two jobs to put food on the table, you've then got to spend time on the METRO commuting to both jobs which means you don't really have time for preparing food or shopping for it. It's really just incredible.
The Capital Food Bank here has also done some marketing on their Chef-led programs at the Food Bank. A lot of the items available at the food bank require a bit of ingenuity to work with and a lot of people don't have that knowledge), so they have programs led by local chefs showing people how to use the items found in a typically food bank haul. I think about how much I struggle to work with more "whole ingredients" and prepare things from scratch and the amount of time I spend looking up recipes and researching to figure out how to prepare things--I can't imagine how it much be for people who has so much less in the way of time, money, and resources.
This did not answer your question about how to get involved at all, but I share your interest and frustration on this topic!
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