Food stamp users risk weight gain: study (in absurdity)

Reuters ^ | 8/18/09 | No one would own up to it

[SoCalPol]

and check out what school made the study.

Put this story up at your check out counter

[Domandred]

If you want to eat on a food stamp budget you have to go for a lot of high carb foods. Carbs = sugar. Sugar = weight gain.

Low carb food (meats, chicken, cheese, etc) will almost guarantee blowing a food stamp budget.

Yes I’ve been on food stamps before when my last job got outsourced to India, and got off them the soonest possible. 3 months eating bad food because that’s all I could afford and still make my rent/utilities.

This study is no surprise to me at all.

[sthguard]

“Make a course in budgeting and another in cooking requirements to receive them, and for crying out loud eliminate the majority of prepackaged frozen meals.”

Uh huh, sure. And who would finance/run these courses, determining what is proper budgeting and proper cooking? The first duty of a government is to let its citizens have the freedom to fail.

[Grumpybutt]

While I don’t remember my SAT scores, I do remember the shame and guilt and embarrassment I felt when I had to go to the food stamp office and get help 15 years ago when my husband left me.

I also remember the kindness of the case worker who understood my shame and helped me.

I remember also the lady at the neighborhood center who helped me with daycare while I searched for a job - and how proud she was of me when, after a week of searching, I found a job and went right to work.

So let’s not generalize everyone who might need a little help sometimes.

Yes, there are plenty of abuses in the system, but SAT scores don’t have much to do with it.

Just because we’re Freepers, doesn’t mean we’re above difficult situations and difficult choices.

Thanks.

[Drew68]

There are a host of changes to the program that really should be made, no doubt about that. Return it to its origins of a hand UP, not a hand out. Make a course in budgeting and another in cooking requirements to receive them, and for crying out loud eliminate the majority of prepackaged frozen meals.

Being in the Navy, I know many junior sailors whose families qualify for WIC. It is a different program than food stamps where the recipients receive checks every month specifying exactly what they can buy and the emphasis is on providing healthy, nutritious meals. WIC is different in this regard from food stamps which can be used on anything except alcohol and tobacco. The problem, though, is the outrage that would undoubtedly occur if restrictions were placed on the types of foods that could be purchased with stamps. People would be screaming how the poor are denied simple pleasures like ice cream and Pepsi and forced to eat food they don't like.

[octobersky]

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

That’s not wear they are going with this. Give more money will be the mantra.

[Left2Right]

Yep, most of the people who use food stamps also spend a ton of money on alcohol and tobacco. Not that alcohol and tobacco are bad things, but when a person has their rent, food and medical care paid for and they get a welfare check to go with it, why change anything? So my tax dollars go to support laziness and addiction. Lovely effect!

Only in America does one see billboards warning about childhood obesity in the "poor" and rundown urban areas.

[cleveland gop]

See this thread strikes a lot of differing boiling points!!!

Tis true that many that get paid not to work aren’t exactly the most physically fit among us. Tis also true, and I’m living proof, that I need to shed some lbs. off my 6’4” frame and tame my addiction to Coca Cola.....

The difference is, and to me is not to insult anyone who is fat of course, it that most of us don’t have complete strangers paying for our livlihoods!!!

And the fact that OSU did the study doesn’t suprise me a little bit....

[shotdog]

Am I to believe my lying eyes?

[Left2Right]

"If you’ve stood behind someone at the supermarket who’s paying with food stamps, you know that they aren’t opting for fruits and vegetables. it’s snack foods, pop tarts, soda, white bread, peanut butter, jelly and an inordinate amount of sugary cereals."

"Such blanket generalizations are, or at least should be, beneath FReepers."

Well excuse me Little Miss Moral Enforcer. Maybe you spend some time in the big city and see that this is EXACTLY what these lazy bums spend their food stamps and money on. Ever been to an inner city supermarket (or at least one that hasn't been closed down due to theft and vandalism)? They tend to stock LOTS of junk food and alcohol.

[I Buried My Guns]

If you’ve stood behind someone at the supermarket who’s paying with food stamps, you know that they aren’t opting for fruits and vegetables. it’s snack foods, pop tarts, soda, white bread, peanut butter, jelly and an inordinate amount of sugary cereals.

Such blanket generalizations are, or at least should be, beneath FReepers.

When a person has lived their life long enough to discern patterns of behavior in the world around them and has observed a behavior repeatedly, they are allowed to make blanket comments like this.

Why?

Because it's true.

Perhaps you live in a town where there are no "ghetto fatties" and everybody eats arugula and tofu, but I live in the other world, where lazy, shiftless folks use my tax dollars to stuff themselves with junk food. I have seen it countless times, and if I ever see otherwise, I'll shout it from the rooftops.

[Bob]

Ever been to an inner city supermarket (or at least one that hasn't been closed down due to theft and vandalism)? They tend to stock LOTS of junk food and alcohol.

You'll also, in all likelihood, find someone hanging around the store who's always ready to swap cash for food stamps. (It's a thriving business in Oakland, CA.)

[Gabz]

And who would finance/run these courses, determining what is proper budgeting and proper cooking?

There are courses on these things at the local community college and even some high schools.

As was mentioned in another post, WIC determines exactly what is considered "nutritious" and is permissible.

There are a whole host of items that can and should be eliminated from the permissible list. Those savings alone would finance the classes. I'm not talking about full semester courses in Home Ec, but at least a few seminars.

The first duty of a government is to let its citizens have the freedom to fail.

I agree, however when it is the government that has contributed so much to the problem ........... then what do you do?

[4yearlurker]

I worked supermarkets for years,(one in Atlantic City,NJ) and 90% of the welfare bums were fat slobs. They ate food off the shelves as they walked the aisles and scammed the system anyway they could. I was working 6 days a week with a growing family and the welfare bums could fill two shopping carts per visit. I never could. I have no respect for career welfare bums that I have to help support.

[browardchad]

"We can't prove that the Food Stamp Program causes weight gain, but this study suggests a strong linkage..."

"...food stamp users who purchase fresh fruit and vegetables and other low-fat products could be given more benefits or receive discounts on these products..."

If they were spending their own, and not the taxpayers' money, it's their choice. Junk food!

However, since they are spending taxpayer money, then why isn't the all-knowing, all-caring government of health-consciousness, that we are hearing so much about lately, dictating that it has to be spent on nutritious food?

[Gabz]

The problem, though, is the outrage that would undoubtedly occur if restrictions were placed on the types of foods that could be purchased with stamps.

But there are restrictions. Wouldn't you rather see the mother who can't or won't cook (don't get me started on that) be able to purchase a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket deli counter, rather frozen fried chicken dinners for each of her kids?

People would be screaming how the poor are denied simple pleasures like ice cream and Pepsi and forced to eat food they don't like.

2 things on that, first of all Food stamps is supposed to be a supplement, not the entire food budget. Secondly, there would be no need to totally eliminate such "treats" but limit them. Just like the rotisserie chicken I mentioned above is not permitted by the computer, just put a limit on how much of that "stuff" is permitted per month. It can be done, and the technology is already in place.

[Texas resident]

Food stamps are just cash to be used at the grocery store. When my wife and I were starting out with young babies, no sleep, no money, I went to the store to get milk and eggs. Had to search the couch for extra coins to put together enough cash. In front of me was a mom with about 6 kids, buying a bunch of junk with food stamps. Then went out the parking lot and saw her get into a frikkin lexus while I was praying my 10 year old minivan would start. That was 15 years ago. This is just more bs vote buying money thrown around. As far as I can tell, no one has the guts to call the program what it actually is. It’s for the children dontcha know.

[KittenClaws]

Years ago, I lost my job, my husband wasn't making very much either. During this time I was on a tight, shoestring budget.

Standing in the supermarket one day, with my package of hamburger helper and a pound of ground meat - I stood behind a couple who were obviously preparing for a BBQ.

I held no ill will as I looked at the items thick cuts of T-Bones, german sausage, Cokes, Chips, dips, beer,charcoal I did daydream to myself how nice it would be to once again be able to afford some good BBQ.

Then, the food stamps came out to buy the food items, a wad of cash for the beer and charcoal..

As I walked to the parking lot towards my 12 year old vehicle, after paying cash for my hamburger helper, these people, whom my tax dollars were subsidizing, were still loading up their new astro-van full of food bought on food stamps.

[Left2Right]

"You'll also, in all likelihood, find someone hanging around the store who's always ready to swap cash for food stamps. (It's a thriving business in Oakland, CA.)

Yep, same here in New Mexico, especially around certain liquor stores!