We’ve talked a fair amount on this site regarding the seemingly paradoxical — but very real — co-existence of hunger and obesity among the poor. NPR had a great story on precisely that issue this morning.
The written report is here.
kids and food, in school and out
by Bettina Elias Siegel
We’ve talked a fair amount on this site regarding the seemingly paradoxical — but very real — co-existence of hunger and obesity among the poor. NPR had a great story on precisely that issue this morning.
The written report is here.
[…] today I circulated an NPR report on the co-existence of hunger and obesity among the poor. In that report, it was asked why a […]
NotCinderell says
This week at the Giant in Carlisle, PA (hometown of boy profiled in article) split chicken breasts are half price, whole chickens are 88 cents a pound, Italian sausage is $1.99 lb (yes, it’s high fat, but if you crack open a couple of cans of cannellini and tomatoes and serve it with sauteed onions and peppers and maybe some zucchini on pasta, a little goes a long way), Oscar Mayer deli turkey is buy one get one free, $4.69 for 2 lbs, butter is $2/lb, green beans are 99 cents a pound, baked beans are $1.25/can, shredded cheese is $3/lb, etc.
I don’t understand why $150 a week wouldn’t make ends meet for a family of five if they shopped sensibly and cooked from scratch. Okay, maybe they wouldn’t be able to afford organics, and maybe their vegetables would mostly be frozen, and maybe they’d buy a lot of generics, but they could get some really good wholesome food on that budget.
Karen says
I’ve been tracking my food budget for a few years. We eat meat once or twice a week, fresh fish from the market once a week, and we buy some organics, make most of our lunches. I’m seldom able to keep our monthly grocery expenses below $1000 and I’ve got a family of four, no teenagers. I think it would be very hard to feed a family like the one profiled for $600/month.
I was impressed that the mom had a garden and agreed with the reporter that the boy is like every other 8 year old when choosing chocolate over brussels sprouts. But the topic of that particular conversation was a snack, and I don’t know anyone except my 10 year old who’d reach for a brussels sprout snack. Where was the cheese or fruit or – hey, that would have been a good time for a glass of milk. Not a chocolate candy.
Mendy says
I think it’s all about education. People believe all the advertising out there and they don’t understand how to spend their grocery money wisely. We’ve got to support programs like Project Share and Operation Frontline that TEACH folks how to shop and cook and stretch their foodstamps or grocery budgets.