Angry Issues: Should Food Stamp Users Be Allowed To Purchase Fatty Foods?
Here’s an issue that really pushes my Angry Buttons!
I’ve been in the food market a few times now, standing behind an individual using food stamps to purchase their groceries. Sounds good right? Our tax dollars assisting a family that needs a helping hand is one of the things that makes our country great. But there’s a problem. A big one. Many times I’ve seen those same people using my tax dollars to buy baskets full of garbage food; cake, cookies, donuts, candy, etc.
So when I read a piece in the Huffington Post this week discussing this very issue it got me thinking – should the use of food stamps be regulated so that people can’t buy ‘bad’ foods?
It’s a difficult debate. On one hand, I’m all for helping my fellow citizen out, BUT, I’m not for helping them get to the front of the line for diabetes, cancer, obesity, and other health risks associated with eating highly processed, junk food. People can’t buy cigarettes or alcohol with food stamps, so why should we allow desserts?
There is no candy, cakes, or junk food portion of the food pyramid (now My Plate) and donuts, muffins and ice cream don’t belong to any particular food group. Personally, I view “treats” as a luxury, and without a doubt, they’re not a necessity. So should we be paying for desserts and fatty meals with taxpayer’s money?
Listen, I’m not that harsh. I think perhaps the best solution is to put a limit on how many ‘bad’ food items can be purchased. Perhaps we can use different stamps for various items, maybe color-code theme for fruits, veggies, meats, dairy, treats, etc and each month, a family or individual receives a certain quota for each group. That would surely be a smart way to regulate the use of food stamps. After all, it would be a shame if kids couldn’t ever enjoy some cookies and milk, or if mom and dad wanted an occasional treat. But in a nation where obesity is rampant, allowing people to fill up their shopping bags with sodas and sugary, fattening, unhealthy food sounds way off to me.
Adding to the argument is the fact that those near the poverty level are the ones most susceptible to obesity and the people who need the most help and guidance when it comes to diet.
I know there’s a ton of political red tape in this issue, but personally I think the old system is defunct. But what do you think? Should we be restricting what and how much people buy if they’re on assistance? Or do you think the program is good as it stands? Comment away…
| Print article | This entry was posted by Alfonso on September 30, 2011 at 4:27 pm, and is filed under ANGRY ISSUES, NEWS. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 1 year ago
Hmmm…tricky. On the surface, yes, such things are luxury items.
But on the other hand, I could argue that most of the food in certain grocery stores is all junk. For example, it is really, really difficult to find anything of quality in the discount grocery store down the street from me, a place that a lot of lesser fortunate people frequent. Full of processed or high preservatives stuff, microwavable dinners, junk, etc. And a lot of the junk can be purchased very inexpensively, so in some cases – even if it is a treat or snack – people are shopping more for bargains than luxuries. It’s just a shame that the good stuff can’t be subsidized for the poor in the same way a lot of the crap is.
I tell you one thing that needs to be dealt with sooner, and that’s when a food stamp user in line is yaking away on an iPhone or other expensive smart phone. If you can afford smartphones and their high monthly bills, you can definitely afford groceries.
about 1 year ago
I think people on food stamps should be educated about healthy eating choices and that there should be a limit on the amount of “crap” one is allowed to buy. On the other hand, it’s the crap (mac’n'cheese, ding dongs, hamburger helper, etc) that are most affordable.
I can’t blame some people for spending less for the double the amount of food. Until we can make healthier food more affordable, I don’t necessarily think it’s right to regulate what kinds of foods can and cannot be bought with foodstamps.
about 1 year ago
Just because they are on food stamps doesn’t mean that they are not educated on healthy food choices. I think all parents should be educated on healthy food choices. As a mother of five, I feel that I have educated myself through research, but as stated the less healthy the food the least expensive…which is what most people in America have to worry about. This economy is making it very difficult to make any healthy choices even down to medical care!!
about 1 year ago
Maybe bringing in some type of food education and cooking from scratch classes offered not just to those on some kind of social support, but open to everyone? The other issue can be that people see their money go further buying premade crap over fresh fruit and veg?
Growing up, we didn’t have tons of extra money, and my mum made everything from scratch; to this day I don’t eat much in the way of premade meals, especially canned foods.
about 1 year ago
I totally agree with the color-coding option. That would be an ideal situation; now if only the government would think of these smart ideas, right?
about 1 year ago
Yep, sometimes a simple idea to fix a problem get’s lost in bs red tape.
about 1 year ago
Clarification Why do MANY people with food stamps buy MOSTLY crap that I cant even afford to spend my money on and Im not even on food stamps?! .Sure many people use food stamps wisely and I commend those people for being responsible.
about 1 year ago
I completely agree. They can have regulations on wic,so why can’t they implement something simular for food stamps. Foodstamps are meant to help ends meet not support you for a lifetime.Imagine if everyone on welfare had to go organic!
about 1 year ago
I think that is a great idea. I had written a post on taxing ‘bad’ food items a little while back and took some flack for it b/c of the red tape but in my mind something needs to be done and it needs to be done now.
Enough tip-toeing around this topic and let’s attack it head on. People are pissed off about rising health care costs but those same people are eating McDonald’s and desserts all day long. There are those that complain about having to pay for two seats on an airline but are doing so while holding a triple cheeseburger.
People you cannot have your cake and eat it too, but you sure are trying.
Great post.
about 1 year ago
we don’t have food stamps where I live but I know and see lots of unemployed people who spend the money they get from the state (which really isn’t much) on cigarettes! and then complain about not having enough money for food. that makes me really angry!
I also think it would be a good idea to limit the amount of crap foods that people can get for food stamps, plus educating the public more (although I think the situation is much better in Europe than in the USA – or am I wrong?).
however, when you think it to the end the real problem are the supermarkets themselves. there should be regulations on how much junk food a supermarket is allowed to sell…. which is probably impossible
about 1 year ago
It’s hard to regulate everything, but I see people walking out of the store with carts filled with soda pop and twinkies all of the time. I think that they need to regulate foods that have absolutely NO nutritional value. I don’t know about all states, but in ours a family of 4 can get nearly $800.00 in food stamps. I fed my family of 8 on less than that. There are many people that, because of the economy, are needing to use food stamps. But the majority of those on food stamps are there because they want to be. And they don’t care what is healthy. They usually have their medical taken care of too, so when they become so sick because of their poor choices, they can run to the emergency room. I am not saying that everyone on food stamps fit this category, but there is a large majority that do. I am currently trying to become a lobbyist for Health and Welfare in our state and would love to hear your ideas.
about 1 year ago
My Husband and i were on assistance for a short while, we have 5 children. When i bought organic food, fruit and veg the people in line and at the store remarked that i should not be allowed to buy “snob” food if i was using assistance, but i shopped at the farmers market store and bought local cause hey they should get those dollars not big chain stores. so i think the real problem is culture, we have grown into a society with out independent thought…
about 7 months ago
Shame on all you people saying such negative things about people on food stamp’s. Being poor does not mean you are immoral, lazy or stupid, it means you don’t have much money. You find the stupid, lazy and immoral in all classes. SHAME ON YOU.
I think people should walk a mile in peoples shoes before judging them. I have never been on food stamps, but have family members that are. None have ever said they wanted to grow up to be on food stamps and their current situation is all they ever ever dreamed of.
To the topic, I think that it would be great if we could get EVERYONE to eat better, but its more of a systemic issue than one simply of personal choice.
Its tough to buy healthy food when there is none around. if like me you live in a nice middle class neighborhood, its hard to imagine this, but spend time in poor “intercity” neighborhoods…there are no grocery stores, so you are forced to shop at convenience stores, with a limited selection. You say, drive to a store, but what if you do not have transportation? Imagine taking groceries for a family of four on the bus?
Also, when you are on a limited budget you limit the amount of perishables you buy, which means buying packaged crap that has a long shelf life. The way people have traditionally made these foods palatable is to add fat, salt and sugar.
Also, where do people get an education on eating healthy? I learned about the food pyramid but most of what I have learned has been on my own. It’s hard to think about such things when you are struggling to make ends meet.
Our entire society has to change what it eats and that’s going to take more than making poor people buy better food than most Americans do.