Safe/unsafe food?

[frustratedearthmother]

I understand. I know that some people scam the system too. I even get that it's OUR tax dollars. Yes, it would be great if more would take the initiative to help themselves instead of waiting around for handouts. But, when this country starts REQUIRING folks to eat the way someone else wants them to eat then freedom is over. Just my opinion.

 

[NH Homesteader]

It bothers me that you can buy soda, candy , potato chips, with food stamps . Heck you can buy lobster with food stamps! Kind of absurd!

 

[Mini Horses]

"required" -- not that we CAN control but, I do feel that there should be an understanding that to obtain the help you must go thru one of the many programs available to TEACH them what they should know about eating, the effects, reducing MANY medical problems by reprogramming their habits. It is not only better for their health but actually reduces meds, in many cases... medical operations in many cases. Learn good health and try to practice it.

As to welfare, years (!!) back, they did require training for jobs for those able to work. There was free training, support for child care, etc. to assist. The assist reduced as they gained sufficiency. The goal being to get them self supporting.

Those are the things that I personally feel should be a part of long term financial assist. Not saying all are in this situation, some are not able to work. Those that are able should be ! Heck, I WORK!! It busts my butt to see what I see that is totally preventable and unnecessary & their lives being financially supported by tax dollars.

The welfare & food stamp rolls in this country are huge. HUGE. We should help those in need, just ferret out and make productive those that are "working the system".

Otherwise, Uncle Sam -- send ME a check

 

[Lazy Gardener]

REQUIRED? Still a free country, lol! People are free to eat poorly and make bad decisions... not saying it's smart - but nobody has the right to REQUIRE me to eat what they think I should eat or buy what they think I should buy... sorry... uh uh.. not happening.

Yes, it's a free country. And no one should be forced to eat a certain food. However, when it comes to MY money being used to provide $$$ for folks to buy foods which are void of nutritional content, I believe it's MY freedoms which are being trampled. Money taken out of my wallet to buy potato chips and soda for food stamp recipients. Plenty of reports of folks buying bottled water with food stamp funds, dumping it in the store parking lot so they can redeem the bottles to buy their cigarettes. Granted, these abuses are not so common. But the system is sick. If the food stamp program worked the same way the WIC program did (vouchers for x # of vegetables, x # of proteins, x # of carbohydrates, x # of dairy: in keeping with the healthy food pyramid) this would prevent 99% of the abuse. Sure, It's a free country. But when public assistance is being provided, the freedom to purchase high priced low nutrition junk food should not be placed above MY freedom to keep my money in my wallet so I can provide healthy food for my own family.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Granted - the system is not perfect. I work with kids who are the poorest of the poor. We have a lot of single parent families...we have one mother in our program who works 3 part-time jobs- all minimum wage and still needs food stamps. There are days when she works around the clock for over 24 hours. She's proud that she has 3 jobs and it would break her heart if she couldn't put a bag of chips in her kids lunch.

We have another mother who is going to school in her late 30's...in fact we just hired her as our student worker. Minimum wage and a maximum of 19 hours a week and thankfully has another job (also minimum wage). She married young, has 4 kids (set of twins ) and her husband was killed riding his bicycle to his minimum wage job. Hit and run...no insurance, no family here to help them. One of the saddest things I've ever seen. Her daughter who is in our program got a pair of socks for Christmas.

Even if these folks KNOW healthy food is better for them - healthy foods are expensive. Can they grow a tomato plant? Maybe, but can they afford to buy the pot and the dirt and the plant? A large majority of the families I work with live in govt assisted housing...no place for a garden. They would be better off buying the tomato because it's a sure thing. Growing a plant is a gamble for all of us and they can't afford to throw that money down the drain if the plant doesn't grow.

There are definitely folks who would be better off not buying the potato chips, the candy and the soda! Heck, I shouldn't be either but I love my diet root beer, lol. We buy candy for DH's low blood sugar episodes. There are times when a package of Smarties saved him from a low blood sugar crash.

I work very closely with some of these people who are on assistance. I see their struggle every single day. I see the teenage girl who was thrilled to get a pair of socks for Christmas.

We are all entitled to our own beliefs about this. And there surely are folks who "work" the system. But, there is another side of the story and I see it every day.

Stepping down from this soapbox and going to check on my goats!

 

[Britesea]

The best time to teach people how to garden, and to love gardening, is when they are children. I would like to see every school have a school garden that the children spend a bit of time in- being taught about how to coax food and flowers from the soil. The food harvested could then be incorporated into school lunches, or perhaps allow each child to bring home a portion of the harvest? Among other things, working in the soil produces a feeling of contentment and peace... something I would think the teachers would be glad to see!

 

[sumi]

The best time to teach people how to garden, and to love gardening, is when they are children. I would like to see every school have a school garden that the children spend a bit of time in- being taught about how to coax food and flowers from the soil. The food harvested could then be incorporated into school lunches, or perhaps allow each child to bring home a portion of the harvest? Among other things, working in the soil produces a feeling of contentment and peace... something I would think the teachers would be glad to see!

This is a wonderful idea!

 

[Lazy Gardener]

The HS in my district actually has a green house. There is a bee keeping course offered in the HS. The middle school has planted a small orchard. I don't know how well these additions to the curiculae are used. But, a greenhouse and/or garden could be used to teach: Math, Science, Social Studies, English, History, Art, Business Management, Home Ec., Add a small flock of chickens, and composting including vermicomposting, and the teaching opportunities become boundless.

 

[NH Homesteader]

We had a garden at the last school I worked at. They would make stone soup every year

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Soup

 

[Mini Horses]

And there surely are folks who "work" the system. But, there is another side of the story and I see it every day.

1000 X agree. I just wish we could weed out those who abuse and give more to these who try hard and need help!! Teach them the way. I don't mean everyone can grow but they can be taught choices. Not that a person should not eat chips or candy but, learn that is not the main choice for nutrition.

There must be a way to do this. We see it and want to make it better. Some just need it, others just waste it. That's my point, really -- funneling to help those who need. I am for that always.

The HS in my district actually has a green house. There is a bee keeping course offered in the HS. The middle school has planted a small orchard. I don't know how well these additions to the curiculae are used. But, a greenhouse and/or garden could be used to teach: Math, Science, Social Studies, English, History, Art, Business Management, Home Ec., Add a small flock of chickens, and composting including vermicomposting, and the teaching opportunities become boundless

Our schools do this, also. Rural areas and advanced tech. Our county made laptops available for every school child. The shops have built the coops, chicks donated, etc. The kids LEARN so much. They have gardens, planted and worked by the kids. Those who want can carry home produce. Amazingly the kids themselves seem to share on a "need" basis!! I love this part of teaching. They learn how, what, compassion and responsibility. Our county schools rock! They also have some of THE best ratings in the State.