Food Stamps & Junk food!

Jodi - posted on 06/22/2010

@ Jessica on the off topic question:

A food intolerance is due to an inability to fully process/digest a particular food, generally making the sufferer feel unwell. Symptoms are usually slow to develop and can take hours or days to appear.



An allergy is a rapid response by the body’s immune system to a particular food. So with an allergy, the immune system sees the food in question as an "invader" in the system and reacts accordingly. In extreme cases a food allergy can be life threatening. Symptoms are usually the same as other allergies (sneezing, watering eyes, hives, rashes, etc).



I know many people thing they are the same thing, but they aren't. It is related to the difference in the body's response to the food.

Jennifer - posted on 06/22/2010

Well said Laura!

Isobel - posted on 06/22/2010

Sarah, you're talking about children as if they stay infants...I dare you to take your 5 year old to work while you clean (good luck with that). I don't know if you are aware of this but some men leave their stay-at-home-wives when their kids are 3 and 5 and never pay a cent in child support. Of course these women will eventually find their footing and take care of themselves and their children (my mom did) but it takes time...assistance is there for a reason.

Jennifer - posted on 06/22/2010

@ Sarah, maybe you should go into politics, or social work??

Rosie - posted on 06/22/2010

if you were on medical assistance while pregnant would you like to have the state telling you what you could and couldn't do with your body while pregnant. what iif you had cancer and they told you what to do then? it's the same concept.

and i completely agree with sherris statement. you get x amount of dollars for food each month, when u run out that's it. it's not like it's an endless supply of twinkies and pop. they'd still get the same dollar amount whether they chose to spend it on crap or good food. it's not like you are paying extra for people to be able to eat some junk.

Jennifer - posted on 06/22/2010

Dang Sherri! You go girl!

@Sarah. Here in California, you also have to work, go to school, or volunteer a minimum of 32 hours a week, or all 3 combined if you want to receive Cash Aid. Also, no more than for 60 months in a life time. So, I doubt people who really need the assistance are buying luxury items. I myself am working my buns off and fretting on how to make it on my own. I'm divorced from a wealthy ex husband who refuses to pay child support, I live with my son on our own, in a tiny apartment, I work full time, I'm a pre-law student, an army veteran, and church member. Life isn't easy, who are any of us to judge any one else who don't know anyone's story. Rant to friends who have the same opinion as you. Sometimes people don't know how to cook, or they were raised eating junk food, so they know no better.

Sarah - posted on 06/22/2010

This is never going to change my mind, and obviously I'm not going to change anyone else's. IMO junk food and prepared foods are luxury items and food stamps should not cover them, I think it should work more like WIC.
I have no problem with people who need assistance getting that assistance, I certainly don't want to starve people. I do have a problem with people with lifetime, multi-generational assistance seekers . (Check out California's upside-down budget b/c of this problem!)
I think the system is flawed and that it needs provisions, not only because it promotes poor healthy (which means more costs in the long run b/c if you're on foodstamps, chances are you're getting medicaid too!) but also because we, as a nation, need to start making fiscal changes to get our deficit under control.
I adamantly believe in social programs for those who need it, I have dedicated my life to this- which is why i also get so upset about it, b/c I see the system being abused all the time. Public Assistance is supposed to be a hand up, not a hand out.

Sherri - posted on 06/22/2010

Because they will get the same amount if they purchase it all in junk or in healthy food or a combination of both. They get X amount a month to spend it on food of there choice. Once X amt of dollars is gone it is gone and they will have to figure out how to make ends meet from there. The same I imagine for you. You have X amount of money set aside each wk or month etc for food you spend it on the food you so choose each month. I don't even get enough money to feed my family for an entire month. It usually feeds us for 2-2 1/2wks so if I choose to spend the entire amt on twinkies I am going to be in a heap of trouble so I try and balance it out the best I can to make it stretch. But if they choose to eat twinkies every single day 3 x's a day who cares? They have a choice to buy cookies or fruit as do you with your money. I am sure you opt for the healthier option but if they don't that really should be there choice what they want to put into the bodies of there family not yours. You choose to put what you want in yours they have the same rights as long as the money is being spent on food I don't care what kind it is.

Jennifer - posted on 06/22/2010

@ Sarah, luxury items are NEVER bought with people who are on assistance UNLESS they are taking advantage of government assistance. You CAN NOT place everyone in that category. No one needs to explain to you what you can and can not buy with your own money ;) Think about it. You're a grown woman.

Sarah - posted on 06/22/2010

@ Suzette-"They just laid off a bunch of case workers in a lot of states due to the economy, hiring more for whatever reason isn't plausible."
Actually, a considerable number of social service jobs have been created in the last 2 years b/c of the recovery act funding- that is federal grant money, not sure about your state.
As for the social security argument- I don't know when you are retiring, but it's pretty much a given that social security won't be available after the baby boomers get done wiping it out. Not to mention that your eligible amounn of social security is decided by how much you have paid into the system.. So the longer you have worked, the more money you have made and the more taxes you have paid all increase your amount up to the maximum. Wouldn't that make for a lot of hungry people if we decided to do foodstamps the same way?
As for how simple it would be to come up with alternative food/nutrition plans, it;s actuially allready accomplished. so i guess it wouldn't be that difficult, except for actually implementing the plans that are allready in place.

@laura -"how on earth could you have done it with children? Considering you would then not be able to clean unless you paid for a babysitter (probably as much as the cleaning pays or more) AND you would need a bigger apartment, never mind diapers etc."

First- i made certain I didn't have children then bc I knew I couldn't afford them (and before everyone starts yelling, i know that lots of people accidently become pregnant and/or were self-sufficient before and have had a change in income) Secondly, why would I need a bigger apartment? And I use cloth diapers, so no, that is not an additionally cost to me either. And I'm not sure why I would need a babysitter to clean, I clean my house now and my daughter is here? The only additional cost would be formula, since I make all my baby food as well. And I don't/won't work for minimum wage.

For everyone else-
Everyone keeps saying it's not fair to complain about what people on food stamps purchase but no one has yet to explain to me how it is "fair" that I can't purchase luxury items b/c I don't qualify for assistance and I can't afford them, but my tax money goes to buy someone else luxury items.


http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/services.htm

Jennifer - posted on 06/22/2010

I also work, and pay into the system, AND receive food stamps AND cash aid. If you aren't in a situation such as my and many other mothers' predicament, please don't comment negatively on something you see, you can't judge a book by it's cover, and being a mother, one should know this.

Jessica - posted on 06/22/2010

@ Carley - Totally off topic but, what is the difference between an allergy and an intolerance? I have always heard them used relativly interchangably.

Isobel - posted on 06/22/2010

Oh wait, you would also need full time daycare so that you can go and make minimum wage all day...I guarantee that costs more than you make

Isobel - posted on 06/22/2010

Sarah, you say if was REALLY difficult when you were doing it alone...how on earth could you have done it with children? Considering you would then not be able to clean unless you paid for a babysitter (probably as much as the cleaning pays or more) AND you would need a bigger apartment, never mind diapers etc.

Don't look down on people who need help. Sometimes we all need it.

Jodi - posted on 06/22/2010

I'm going to be honest - I have never really looked at anyone's shopping cart anyway, LOL. It's not something I worry about - I just worry about what I am putting in my own :)

Jodi - posted on 06/22/2010

@ Suzette

"I think it is a misconception that healthy foods are more expensive. Maybe the initial price is, but wholegrain foods, fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins keep you fuller for longer, and you therefore need to eat less of them to keep the hunger at bay."
I think this is dependent on the person and their metabolism.

No, it is a nutritional fact. Yes, how much you eat depends on your metabolism, so some people DO burn more than others, but the fact that healthier foods release energy at a slower rate is a fact.

"Then maybe the families who need it won't spend their welfare on cigarettes, booze and drugs......so it could be worse!! Junk food isn't so bad when you think of it that way."
I don't know about where you are, but the only way someone can spend welfare money in the U.S. on booze, drugs, or cigarettes here is if they get Cash Assistance. (I noticed you said they don't have food stamps there, so do they have Cash assistance?)

I am in Australia and welfare assistance is given as cash.

Shannon - posted on 06/22/2010

We lucked out & found a 3 bedroom, 2 bath for only 550.00.... Granted it is a trailer & pretty dumpy, but for that price we couldn't pass it up.

Isobel - posted on 06/22/2010

Sorry, I mis-spoke, in Canada, Children's Aid can become involved if a boy and a girl share a room after the age of nine...you are right, it's not against the law...just severely frowned upon.

Suzette - posted on 06/22/2010

@Jodi,
"I think it is a misconception that healthy foods are more expensive. Maybe the initial price is, but wholegrain foods, fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins keep you fuller for longer, and you therefore need to eat less of them to keep the hunger at bay."
I think this is dependent on the person and their metabolism.

"Then maybe the families who need it won't spend their welfare on cigarettes, booze and drugs......so it could be worse!! Junk food isn't so bad when you think of it that way."
I don't know about where you are, but the only way someone can spend welfare money in the U.S. on booze, drugs, or cigarettes here is if they get Cash Assistance. (I noticed you said they don't have food stamps there, so do they have Cash assistance?)

"Also, on the one sandwich thing, do you snack again later? As I said, whole grains actually keep you fuller for longer, so you are less likely to want more to eat in a short time frame."
Actually, one sandwhich does keep me full and I don't snack later. Again, it's dependent on the person's metabolism. Though that was pre-pregnancy as well. Now I'm a snackaholic... both healthy and unhealthy. lol.

@Holly,
'One example is that some people use their whole food stamp balance to buy lots of baby formula and then they return the formula. Instead of putting the money back on the benefits card (it's like a credit card), the stores give cash back."

Wow, I think that's a state dependent thing. There are a lot of states that won't take that sort of thing back without a receipt and they won't give you cash back if it's a WIC/Welfare thing. They will give you a voucher instead, at least as far as I'm aware.

@Erin,
"I get irritated when ppl spend their EBT/foodstamps on sugary crap or on the same note, it pisses me off when they live it up and buy lobster/crab etc... Most of all, I get pissed off when I see someone buying a bunch of food on their EBT and then buy beer w/cash."
So people can't eat horrible, good, or use the money they've worked for to have a relaxing evening? I don't think it's right to presume that they're buying beer everytime they're at the store, or lobster/shrimp, or the sugary stuff either.

@Sarah,
"And as for more case workers, more of those are needed anyway! It would take a planning committee a few months to come up with a design for healthy eating that could be applied generally, with provisions for disability. Simple. It is not unfair or unAmerican to put provisions on money that is being given to you. I just don't want my taxes to buy your cart full of twinkies when I can't afford to buy them for my family."

They just laid off a bunch of case workers in a lot of states due to the economy, hiring more for whatever reason isn't plausible. And, it's not "simple" either. The money isn't being "given" either. Most people on food stamps have paid into that system in their lifetimes. That's like saying that social security is being "given" to people, not true. They've paid into that fund for years, can we tell them how they should spend it if we don't agree with what they're doing? No, it's not our right to do so. Just because we don't agree with what they're doing, it's really none of our business. You're also paying into social security, part of what you're paying into social security is going to someone else's check at this moment. You still don't have a right to tell them how to spend their money. If you ever have to go on government assistance (food stamps or medical) then it will be partially someone else's money as well as what you've paid in the past, but no one has the right to tell you how to spend it. ;)

I've been on assistance in the past, and I agree with Sherri, there are some rude people out there that give some dirty looks when it comes to using that assistance. Funny since I paid quite a bit of money into that system in order to use it if I ever needed to. And whatever was in my cart was my business and no one else's.

Sherri - posted on 06/22/2010

Having my husband get off of unemployment take a lower paying job and still needing to pay for the basics is just not possible. So yes we did take the food stamps. Do I think that I am not meeting my civic duty or taking advantage of the system no I don't. My husband is looking every week for a better paying job to get off us off of assistance but so far no luck. My husband only makes $2,000 approx a month. We have about $2,600 in bills a month and that is nothing extra that is just the basics. So each month we have to decide which bill will have to wait till the following month etc. So yes we take the food stamps to put food on our table and I have earned the right to do that as I please without getting judged for it.

Sarah - posted on 06/22/2010

Look, I understand that bit is hard- I had to move to be able to support myself (and no, i didn't have children) but i take great pride in the fact that I did it on my own. And I get upset when I hear how "impossible" it is- but I digress from the topic
Like I've said a million times before, i don't have a problem with provisions being made for special needs or the occasional crap food, but I still think it is unfair to the taxpayers when their money is being spent with no provisions. Or should I not be concerned about the national deficit? Also, everyone keeps talking about their rights, which is all well and good, but what about your civic duty- your responsibility to not take advantage of the system? You can't have one without the other!

Teresa - posted on 06/22/2010

You can't buy an empty, crap lot here for that price......

Sherri - posted on 06/22/2010

As far as cost of living goes. The information below is the the average cost of a house and to rent. It is insane.

Average home values in 03110, Bedford, NH. The average estimated value of a home in 03110, Bedford, NH was $326,598 in May 2010, down 0.01% from April 2010.

To rent where I live here are the statistics:
(Static May averages for the entire city of Bedford)

Average Prices for May

1 bedrm $1,088
2 bedrm $1,453
3 bedrom not enough information avail.

This is just to rent!!

Sherri - posted on 06/22/2010

Sarah if you can't afford food, how in heavens name are you going to afford cooking classes?

There is no law in the US that children can not share a room. Only time that is null and void is if you have a foster child or CPS are involved with your family somehow.

Plus my husband does work full time. We still get food stamps. We still pay into the system and I will put anything I want in my carriage and I honestly don't care. Seriously if you don't like that we buy soda everytime I go shopping (as my husband and I do not drink milk), junk for my husbands lunches, or some junk especially ice cream and freeze pops in the summer for the kids. TOO BAD!! Because it is my right. If you don't like it walk away or mutter under your breath either way I don't care. I buy mostly organic, fruit, yogurt etc however, you will almost always find juice, soda, chips, snack cakes and ice cream in my cart. I do have frozen meals on hand for those emergency nights when we are running here there and everywhere for the kids activities and I don't have time to cook too. So we will have either a frozen pizza, nuggets, or mac n cheese and hotdogs. Something I can throw together quickly we don't eat that way often but we do have it for those nights we need to.

Ramona - posted on 06/22/2010

That is true....cost of living is a HUGE consideration here....

Teresa - posted on 06/22/2010

Sarah, I live in THE cheapest place I can and it's $875/month w/out any assistance. That is for a tiny 2 bedroom apartment. When I was looking for a place to live I would've stuck me and my 3 kids in a studio ($700/month) if I could've fit my girls bunkbeds in the already furnished place.

You can't just make a blanket statement about your cost of living and apply it to everyone since it varies SO MUCH depending on where you live.

Isobel - posted on 06/22/2010

plus you'd have to add more than your rent to pay for daycare while you go to work...it's really never as simple as it seems.

Isobel - posted on 06/22/2010

Sarah, did you have children at the time? Because I know it is now illegal for my children to share a room, because my daughter is 9. An apartment in a ghetto of my city would cost 900 per month.

Jodi - posted on 06/22/2010

@ Carly



Celiac disease does NOT mean no whole grains. It means gluten-free grains, and these are also readily available in healthy foods. I could go to the store and purchase gluten free breads, pastas, etc, quite easily. You can also purchase gluten-free flours to be able to make your own breads, snacks, etc. If anything, because celiac disease is a digestive disorder, you should be MORE aware of taking care of your health.



I do agree that any sort of food intolerance or allergy (there is a difference between the two) can affect the types of things you can purchase, but it is never and excuse for not being able to purchase healthy foods.

Ramona - posted on 06/22/2010

I think she's more referring to people who buy candy bars and soda on food stamps, not people who chose options other than what is normally considered a healthy diet because of diet restraints.

Ramona - posted on 06/22/2010

Yeah I agree. I think the Food Stamp Program should be similar to WIC, which only allows certain healthy foods to be purchased. You should not be able to purchase soda and other high fat and sodium goods. Maybe, like, a package of cookies, but there's no reason for a cart full of junk. I think you're absolutely right.

Sarah - posted on 06/22/2010

For the entire time i was in college I lived on $860- my GI Bill.
I had my own apartment, paid all of my own bills and utilities and bought my own food. I had Zero extras- no cable, no phone, no junkfood. I subsidized my rent by $100/month by cleaning the apartment complex. I bought nothing for myself. Was it hard? Yes. Is it impossible? NO.

Teresa - posted on 06/22/2010

My ex-cousin-in-law and his family are on food stamps. He works 3 jobs.... Not lazy in the least. Unfortunately he co-owns a retail business that they can't get rid of that loses money every month. Co-owns another business that usually pays for the first business and a little of their bills. And does youth ministry for rent and (hopefully) to pay most of their other bills....

Jessica - posted on 06/22/2010

Additionally, it seems like there are significant misunderstandings about living in poverty. I am saddened by the attitude that families receiving food stamps are “to lazy to get a job.” Think about what the federal minimum wage is, $7.25/hour I believe. Assuming that an individual works 40 hours a week the most the individual could earn is $290/week or $1160/month gross income. Yes, people in poverty pay taxes as well so actual take home for the month is closer to $8-900 month depending on the number of exemptions. I challenge anyone to live on $900 a month, with or without children, without help. It is not a lack of work ethic it is a lack of income. For example, most of the enlisted families in the military qualify for food stamps. Are we saying that they are lazy? The Federal Poverty guideline for a family of 4 is $1837.50/month. That is the line at which the Federal Government says you are in poverty. It is also a level which Mollie Orchansky, the developer of the poverty guideline matrix, rejected as being to low. She felt that the level should be set at a higher market basket rate. The government rejected this for two reasons; First, the cost associated with subsidizing that many families would be astronomical. Second, there is a definitive loss of moral when you tell a family that thinks it is lower middle class that they are actually in poverty. Finally, the cost of social services, as I recall this includes food stamps, Medicaid, cash assistance etc., on the Federal Budget is less than 4%.

Last and more personal point, I feel that there is a level of arrogance that is unconscionable in assuming that you have the right to tell someone what they should be allowed to eat. With respect to the potential social and health costs of eating a poor diet. I should like to state that the process of being on personal assistance is humiliating enough from dealing with the, frequently, rather rude judgmental staff at Health and Welfare, who by the way generally carry a case load of over 600 families, to having provide proof of everything from what your bills are to how much you receive in earnings and gifts (yes, birthday money can be counted against you) and providing occasionally difficult documentation to obtain, such as original birth certificates to standing in line in front of someone who obviously disapproves of how you are spending “their money” to feed your family. No matter how well you think you are hiding it you aren’t. I got fewer dirty looks when I went to the store with a friend and my toddler to buy two cases of beer for a party the friend was having than I did using my food stamps to buy milk, cereal and bread.

Teresa - posted on 06/22/2010

'Funny' story: I was raised on whole wheat bread, so it's what I eat and what I choose to raise my kids on. My ex was raised on white, but got used to the wheat and didn't mind us having that since he knew it was better for the kids. Well.... his grandma came to visit when the girls were infants and basically accused me of accusing her of trying to poison her family because she raised them on white. Huh? Crazy woman......

Shannon - posted on 06/22/2010

The only bread we buy is the kind full of nuts & twigs!! The grainier the better for sure. I've never bought white bread. Gross! No nutritional value what so ever.

Carly - posted on 06/22/2010

Okay, so after reading many of these post I would like to say not everyone can eat the way you are recommending. My friends husband was recently diagnosed with Siliac Disease and can't eat grain at all; no wheat, no barley, no grains. Their son is lactose intolerant. Their daughter has severe food allergies to nuts, berries, onions and melons. They have to be extremely careful about what they buy. Without going and looking at the medical records of every person and every family you can't restrict what is and is not bought.

I would also like to point out that we like to look for sales and stock up when things are on sale, especially if you are on a limited income. I also will sometimes go shopping for an event and have people pay me money for their portion of the food.

You don't know everyones situation so don't just assume.

Joanna - posted on 06/22/2010

I eat all the time anyways, so I don't know about fullness, lol. I LOVE whole grain pasta though, that's all I use.

Jackie - posted on 06/22/2010

I def. have a problem with that. Not b/c I have a problem with junk food, I am far from the organic only mom and never will be...not b/c of money, i could afford it, i just don't want to go that route.

But IMO, if you can't afford a well balanced meal you shouldn't be getting junk. If you are going to rely on the system (i.e. the rest of us who work) then you should be required to eat healthy b/c if you get unhealthy it is again those of us who work who have to pay for your free health insurance too. When everything gets handed over to you for free you def. shouldn't have options like that. You should be forced to take good care of yourself.

My disclaimer is that yes I understand there is a VERY VERY small % of people on assistance who truly need it, don't abuse it, and actually try to get off of it. But in general I have a HUGE problem wtih it because 99.9% of the people are just too lazy to work and their job is finding new ways to screw the system and live off my hard earned money.

Lady - posted on 06/22/2010

Exactly Jodi that's what I was going to say - although you may still only eat one sandwich the whole grains have slow releasing energy so after half and hour/ an hour you will still feel ful but a white bread sandwich like sugar get processed quicker by the body so you will feel hungrier again a lot quicker - I deffinitly think it's a thng you grow up with - my kids won't eat white bread and will choose the sandwich option aswell - although the 11 year old might opt for a burger now and again lol!!
Again that's why education could be the answer and I think the UK way of doing it is quite good - only some of the food assistance has restrictions on it and can be spent on healthy foods, it seems like a good comprimise!

Jodi - posted on 06/22/2010

Also, on the one sandwich thing, do you snack again later? As I said, whole grains actually keep you fuller for longer, so you are less likely to want more to eat in a short time frame.

Jodi - posted on 06/22/2010

I think it is something you grow up with. I know a lot of people won't eat the whole grain stuff. I grew up with it. My kids have grown up with it. So as a result we actually like it better. I find white bread tastes like cardboard.



My 5 year old daughter will CHOOSE to have a ham and salad whole grain sandwich when we go out for lunch, no joke!! If we go shopping, I occasionally let the kids choose what they would like for lunch in the food court. They have choices including hot dogs, chicken and chips, burgers, etc, and she chooses the salad sandwich......



The older ones don't - they go for the junk, LOL. Just as well it is very occasional.

Joanna - posted on 06/21/2010

I can't make myself eat wheat, or even whole grain white bread. I've tried. I always have to get the classic Sara Lee white bread, it's the only kind that actually tastes good to me. And it usually has ridiculous stuff on it, like summer sausage, mayonaise, and doritos (don't forget, I'm pregnant, lol)... I can't even get veggies on my sandwiches.

Stephanie - posted on 06/21/2010

And oh yes --- How do you people eat that wheat bread crap??? I've bought the Sara Lee kind the stuff from the deli etc. and nope I can't do it. But I only eat one sandwich with white bread, unless I'm really hungry then I eat two!

Stephanie - posted on 06/21/2010

Honestly? I get just as flustered when I see someone with a cart full of junk food pay with the EBT card as I do when I see someone with a cart full of steaks, shrimp, organic etc. But personally, I think they shouldn't be much govt regulation on what you buy. I try to eat healthy (key word try) but your always going to find red meat, soda and chips in my house. Just like you will normally find salad and other fresh produce. I can be full and enjoy a healthy meal of water, salad and grilled chicken, but I love pasta night (and no it's not that icky whole wheat variety) with a soda. Just because you receive gov't assistance doesn't mean that you shouldn't be able to purchase "treats." And we probably shouldn't judge what people have in their carts the one time we see them shopping. After all I'm exclusively breastfeeding but I've walked out of Walmart with a can of Enfamil and several cases of beer!

Jodi - posted on 06/21/2010

Maybe the answer is that a certain percentage can be spent on discretionary items, and everything else is dictated. But there is always going to be someone who abuses any welfare system. Which is unfortunate because they ruin things for everyone else. It's like any laws - there are so many that have been created for the very small percentage of the population who screw it up for everyone else.

Teresa - posted on 06/21/2010

And I don't get why my extremely active and healthy 52 pound 8 year olds shouldn't be allowed to eat Hot Pockets, Lunchables, and KID snacks whenever I see fit simply because I can't pay for them myself when the government is allowing me enough money to buy ALL the food my family needs.... and have enough leftover that goes back into the system every 90 days....

The system IS flawed. I will never argue that, but regulating food is not the answer. I don't actually HAVE the answer.... I just know that that isn't it. ;)

Jodi - posted on 06/21/2010

I was almost going to say that public health costs would go down.....but I guess that's not a significant thing for you guys. I don'[t know how your health system works really, but here, spending at the front end (i.e. educating people) will save at the back end (i.e. preventable chronic diseases are reduced and therefore health spending will reduce).

Sarah - posted on 06/21/2010

@Teresa, yes the cost may Initially be the same or higher by offering classes on nutrition/cooking/budgeting but the long term goal would be to lower costs by educating people on making good decisions.
And as for more case workers, more of those are needed anyway! It would take a planning committee a few months to come up with a design for healthy eating that could be applied generally, with provisions for disability. Simple.
I think food stamps whould work the same as WIC, which is to say there are more restrictions on what you cannot buy. I'm not saying no junk food ever, I'm saying Less! It is not unfair or unAmerican to put provisions on money that is being given to you. Also, I have no problem with people buying canned/frozen whole foods. What irks me is people buying prepared crap foods- frozen dinners, snacks, HotPockets, Cheezit's, etc. I don't care what you want to eat, you can be 500lbs and eating straight bacon grease with salt for all I care, I just don't want my taxes to buy your cart full of twinkies when I can't afford to buy them for my family.

Melissa - posted on 06/21/2010

Healthy food is more expensive then junk food... When I was a teenager I had a bridgecard but there were only specific foods I could buy with it that were all healthy.. maybe its different in your state.