I firmly believe that lobbying interests and the money they are associated with have been a huge contributor to the failing dietary health of this country. It is lobbying that influenced the bass-ackwards federal governing system of USDA and FDA to wrong its citizens with allowing so much subsidized corn as well as other sub-standard food products to become commonplace and accepted in processed food. This system approved and promoted sugar-laden, decreased nutritional-value breakfast cereals and other mainstays of a pop-culture diet to seem like healthy alternatives to real food. And don’t even get me started on GMOs and their prominence in the U. S. diet. All regulated by our USDA and promoted in conjunction with the FDA.
Well lobbying interests are at it again and this time the National Restaurant Association is behind the Yum! Brands of restaurants (Taco Bell, KFC, Long John Silvers, and Pizza Hut) who are trying to get in on the entitlement program known as FOOD STAMPS. Yep, if this goes through then those on food stamps will be able to buy this
This is where I may seem like a jerk in wanting to put my foot down and not allow people on food stamps to buy whatever they want, they are grown people who have the freedom to make their own choices. However this is where my concern comes in. Food stamps are an entitlement program meant to ameliorate poverty, and sadly poverty in this country is associated with a sub-standard healthy lifestyle. This was not always the case.
Poverty in the U. S. now is not the same as poverty in the U. S. 30 years ago. The big difference is that people do not know how to cook food from scratch anymore. I can preach until I am blue in the face that if you are really poor then you can make a healthy feast out of beans of rice. However if I were to put a bag of dried beans and a bag of rice down in front of most people they would have ZERO idea what to do with it.
I firmly blame the USDA and lobbying interests for making this lack of cooking knowledge a way of life in America. For many Americans regardless of socio-economic level cooking Noodle-Roni is cooking from scratch. That is just a travesty.
While I do not want those on food stamps to regularly eat Double Downs I have no idea if reliance on pre-packaged processed foods are even better if they do not know how to cook.
The only bright spot in this current scenario is that the National Association of Convenience Stores (another lobbying group) opposes Taco Bell and these other restaurants from getting into the food stamp game since they are already in. Sadly, what is the lesser of the two evils? Thank you 7-Eleven?
No matter how you look at it, this IS an environmental justice issue where a construct has been placed on poorer communities who are struggling with obesity-related illnesses like diabetes. These poorer communities are all part of our greater communities. We should be caring about their health and well-being.
*This opinion piece was written in response to this article from the USA Today Money section Restaurants want a piece of food stamp pie
I’m in agreement with you. While I’m a firm believer in our freedoms, and I strongly disagree with the idea of having a “fat tax”, food stamps are for food and basic necessities. At least that’s the way they SHOULD be. Why not limit it to produce, meat, some basic boxed foods and cut out fast food, snack food, etc.
I have on many occasion witnessed someone buying gobs of snack foods on food stamps because (and i quote) “We have leftover on our food stamp card.”
Basically it goes back to the “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach the man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.” Too bad these programs don’t actually help with teaching these people to cook but also to BUDGET! What about coupons too? Teach them to really stretch the dollar! I have no problems with programs like Food Stamps but I believe it should be more involved then waiting for your funds to be put into your account every month.
At last some ratiolniaty in our little debate.
You’re absolutely right Kia – there should be some sort of educational system in place, a course on food prep and nutrition that attendance at is mandatory in order to obtain your food stamps. Here in Canada,our unemployment system is MUCH different. When I was unemployed, a condition of collecting employment insurance from the government was to attend a 3 day counselling course that worked with me to improve my interview skills, resume and network with other people. Another part of that was to develop self-confidence. That program helped me to apply for my current position which is a FAR better position than the one I was laid off from. I had to attend this program during my 2 week waiting period for my employment insurance. Programs such as, and a basic food knowledge course would be beneficial to the Food Stamps recipients I would assume.
BTW – could you post a favorite rice & beans recipe? I grew up in a meat & potatoes household & must admit I don’t have a lot of cooking skill either (but I do possess a strong desire to learn).