I and my children are on food stamps and I have a very hard time not ranting to anyone who will listen about the ridiculous yays and nays of food stamps!

Soda & Candy? Yes
multi-vitamins? No
Fast Food? Yes
Hot Prepared Chicken from the grocery store? No
In grocery store Starbucks Venti Java Chip Frap? You betcha!
CSA’s or Farmers Market? Almost Never!

Aaaargh! And the list goes on!

Wow, what a great comment! Thank you for taking the time to add to the conversation. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to try to help kids learn when they’ve been sent off to school with either no breakfast or a bowl of sugar-laden cereal and some soda pop. I loved your description of kids “vibrating on the carpet.”

My heart goes out the teachers like you who really care about kids and what they’re eating. I agree — I wish you had the time in your day (and kids who are well-nourished and ready to learn) to teach subjects other than “taking a test.” If you didn’t have to spend so much time dealing with the problem behavior caused by poor nutrition, you might have time for the arts, music and PE (I’m guessing I agree with your potential “rant” on that).

Thanks for your kind comments and insight into this topic.

By the way, here are a few kid-friendly educational links you might find interesting.

http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/lessons-recipes

http://spoonsacrossamerica.org/pg/6

http://www.nyaged.org/aitc/

http://www.sustainabilityed.org/

It’s a great challenge you’re doing and I often note that I am spending a lot of money on some foods, but we never will buy things like soda, packaged desserts and highly processed foods. A box of cereal these days is going for $5-$6–how much oatmeal, teff, brown rice cereal, eggs, or other healthier food stuffs can you buy for that amount! I know that a whole dozen of farm raised eggs here are about $6–shall we compare the nutrition content in farm raised eggs with Cocoa Crispies?!

I really enjoy reading your blog!

First off, happy Mother’s Day, although a couple of days late. I can only imagine how good your house smelled with that roast in your oven. Yes, it is a bit of a dilemma as to how to celebrate Mother’s Day without wearing yourself out. But we’re also lucky to be moms and still have our moms around. Mine always provides a dash of entertainment when we have a special dinner (she’s a bit much at times, though — a la Shirley MacLaine or Lucille Ball). Isn’t life grand?!

I couldn’t agree with you more on wanting to know where your food comes from! And beet vouchers? Sounds perfect!

Melissa

Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I always like your take on things and would love to read your article. Is it on your blog?

In the meantime, I’ll stop by and check out my favorite dog star!

Thanks for your comment. I agree and that’s why I added that information in my blog post. There are some folks who have very few options, I’d just like to make it easier for them to have some healthier choices.

Interesting post and appropriate for the UK as well. You just have to take a good look at the supermarket shelves to see where people are spending their money…. in my county cheap usually wins out regardless. We’re an agricultural part of the UK which produces plenty of excellent fruit, veg, meat and eggs… all the more depressing when you think half the locals haven’t a clue how to cook them or indeed what they are in some cases!

We live in a world where one salary or wage might not be enough to feed and pay for the average family. Both parents working, tired out at the end of a long day…. they reach for convenience and keep the kids quiet by giving them the calorie laden stuff.

Today is Mothers Day over here and I was reminded that getting up on a Sunday in order to put on a nice roast for my mother meant that as a mother myself, there would be very little rest for me. It takes time to prepare veg and meat and a dessert and no one else in the house really wants to take it on. It’s a type of mind set I think…. I’m the opposite, I like to know where my food comes from and how it’s made, cleanliness etc. There is certainly no shortage of tv shows detailing how to cook with quality produce. I’m a bit cynical but the people around here (not everyone of course but far too many) are more likely to be spending their low wages on expensive beer and cigarettes then wholesome homemade meals.

Bring on the vouchers for beets and spinach!

Cid

Welcome! What great insight you have on this subject. Thank you for sharing that.

It depends on what each state decides to do with appropriating funds. I was referring to CA and some of the restaurants available for EBT cards. It’s much more difficult in Colorado to even apply for assistance. I looked at the form and it was overwhelming. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to buy and make healthy food with limited opportunity. We do need to make good choices easier to access.

Keep up the good work on your new blog! What you’re doing is important.

Thanks!