I had a conversation the other day with a friend that immigrated here from the UK. He made a comment that most American poor are stereotypically obese. He didn't understand how, if these people were so poor, they could get enough food to be obese. The key word there is stereotypically, but I did explain my thoughts on the subject.
Every time I go to the grocery store, I spend at least $50, and there are only two of us. This is when I plan a weekly menu, although I usually find I'd forgotten something throughout the week. I buy store-brand anything if possible. I check the ads before I write my list. We eat well, pretty balanced, at least. I would say that when I or Sean cook, it costs between $5-12 per person. We may or may not have leftovers for lunch the next day.
I could go to a fast food restaurant and order off the dollar menu. We could both get full with $3 each. That's quite a financial jump when you add up all of the money saved over time.
Of course, there is very little nutritional value in this food. It's almost all empty calories, excess fat, and loaded with sodium. It's so convenient though! No dishes to wash. No clean up, or very little even if you do take the food home.
Let's put this in perspective with a working poor family with, say 2 kids. Most families, if there are two parents, they both have to work. They do in this scenario. They get home from work to greet their two latch-key kids zoned out in front of the tv. It's dinner time. Both parents are exhausted, and they don't really have much time to spend with their kids once they check homework. The parents are just over the poverty level, so they can't get government assistance for food stamps or health insurance for the kids.
What do you think they'll do for dinner most of the time during the week? Even if they don't go by a fast food place with a dollar menu, the options are limited. They have the inexpensive packaged frozen family sized dinners, but have you read the nutrition label on them? Consistent consumption of empty calories could easily develop into obesity and diabetes, and when you figure in all of the other junk in meals like that, high cholesterol, high risk of heart disease, deficiencies, and several other possibilities. The best part is, most of the working poor can't afford health insurance or to go for check ups even if they have insurance.
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I am definitely a good example of this issue. Me and my boyfriend both work but don't make much. We barely pay rent on time along with other bills. Ever since we moved into our new home we both have been gaining weight, and why, because the heavier stuff are the cheapiest. Most of the time we buy food from dollar stores, which are no-name brand. I don't even bother to look at the nutrition label because I feel guilty. I have no choice though because it's the cheapest way to go. For lunch at work i either have to choose from the calorie heavy vending machine (where everything costs between 50 cents and a dollar) or a $6 salad from down the street. Of course I choose the vending machine if i want gas for my car, if i want dinner tonight at home or if i want to pay some bills on time. So, the story is true, poor people, or i should say people of low-income do become a little over-weight.
Jasmin Muniz
I stock up when certain things are on sale. Sometimes I can find boneless/skinless chicken breasts for under $2/pound. I always have peanut butter on hand if there isn't a good sale on meat. I look for the almost-expired salad mixes, fruits, and veggies or just buy cheap frozen stuff.
Cereal is great. The store brand or cheap bagged brands are now almost the same as the regular. I don't get the high sugar cereals, and I buy store-brand skim milk. It's pretty nutritious, and I have no problem with cereal for lunch or dinner.
I love the fruit bars and stuff like that, so when they're on sale, they make a great lunch. You can find pretzels cheap, and they make a great snack. That actually adds up to cheaper than a vending machine lunch.
It isn't easy to balance everything out, but it is possible. It does take time and energy, which is a big reason a lot of people just can't do it.
-Sonja :)
"Democracy works only when you vote. When you don't take the time to vote for the candidate you find the least offensive, you run the risk of electing the candidate you find the most offensive."
Dried beans are awesome too, but they require prep. You make such a good point about the time and money required to eat healthily. It absolutely blows my mind that a box of processed crap, made from several permutations of corn, that has been grown, harvested, processed in seven different plants, remanufactured into something edible, packaged, and shipped to a grocery store costs less than the same caloric value of actual corn that was grown, harvested and sold. WAY less money was involved in producing the corn that is sold as produce and yet it is way more expensive. It really is no wonder America has a weight problem.
I caught a great series on PBS last weekend. called "Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?" I think you'd like it a lot. Here's a link: http://www.pbs.org/unnaturalcauses/
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Also, simple carbs like bread, pasta, and cereal tend to be much cheaper than healthier things.
Something has to fill you up though. A plate of veggies (more expensive and takes more to get full) is better for me than a plate of pasta tossed with some broccoli. So I do serve bread or pasta with most of my meals because we are barely getting by. It's all about moderation anyway.
With time constraints for working parents, I can understand how the kids are getting fed JUNK. It doesn't mean it's right, but fast food commercials at all hours don't really help the situation. I think a big problem is that some people still believe fast food is just as healthy as making something at home. Well, with all the processed foods, sometimes it is. For the most part though, I think people just need to be educated about nutrition and be given some ideas. I make lasagna (skim milk, part-skim ricotta, part skim mozzarella, garlic, & spices) about twice a year. I make 3 pans of it. I take half of one pan out, and keep it in the fridge. I cut the rest up and store it in the freezer as individual servings. It's not the most healthy food, but better than pre-made processed or fast food.
-Sonja :)
"Democracy works only when you vote. When you don't take the time to vote for the candidate you find the least offensive, you run the risk of electing the candidate you find the most offensive."
America is horrible with it's food intake and prices of food. This problem really does need to be solved.