Should people only be allowed to purchase ingredients with food stamps?

Great Debates
141

Making a meal for your family does not make you a waitress. I worked construction for several years while I raised my daughter and I came home dog tired and stinky every night. We worked on dinner together twice a week to make dinners for the other days except for one where we ate out. You make time for your family’s needs. Nutrition is just as valid a need as helping with homework and it’s possible if you want it to be possible. Our kitchen was a stove, sink and fridge. There wasn’t a bit of space. We had no table; we shared a one bedroom apartment and ate on my mattress on the floor. We managed. And I don’t think I’m smarter or more industrious, I just wanted to do it. It was important to me.

I don’t mean to be rude but I am seeing a lot of excuses on this thread. People for the most part do not need to eat that pre-packaged junk food on a daily basis. It wouldn’t hurt if there was a limit, or if most obviously junky foods like cheese doodles and sodas were excluded much like tobacco and beer is excluded. They aren’t food. They have little to no nutritional value. I’m not talking about soups and noodles or canned meats and vegetables even though they aren’t so healthy, they’re better than cupcakes and more filling too.

142

Nobody has told me I have to work. I have to turn in a worksheet if I do find a job day labor is all I’ve found in about a year), but I haven’t been able to find any jobs lately. I’m in Tennessee.

I had no idea work would be a requirement. It’s a requirement for the welfare program, whatever they call it now. TANF last time I applied. I didn’t qualify.

143

When a lowly user of food stamps goes into a market, he should be directed to a bench ,where he will sit and wait, Then when a much more knowledgeable and worthwhile human being comes to the store, he can escort him through the market informing him of the proper food choices. The lowly user will of course become a better human being for the experience. We all know food stamp users are not as bright as those in better financial condition. A few may even learn to become members of decent society some day. It is just a win/win.

144

I am the same way. I already have an anxiety disorder. Going to the Dept. of Human Services just about kills me every time. I don’t even know why! Usually people are, if not kind, at least not judgmental. They’re usually very brisk and brief, but when I come out of the building I feel like I was slapped around and taunted for crying. My caseworker says next time I’ll only have a phone interview, but that freaks me out just as much.

I hope I won’t need them next time.

145

I wouldn’t go that far but a good nutrition program wouldn’t hurt. I sat through one at the health department recently and learned a few things. Mainly that I was waaaay off on portion sizes, especially for children. I disagreed with them on the amount of carbs they considered adequate but still, some people have no idea, no clue what they’re feeding their kids. I have seen this too many times and I was just as guilty when I was younger. My mama brought me up on Taco Bell and sandwiches so I didn’t know better.

146

I’m on foodstamps

And I work around 40 hours a week for an electronic store, which GAVE me a free smart phone, and I pay 20 dollars a month for unlimited everything (talk/text/web).

I have one small child.

I get no child support because the dad is a dick.

I just recently bought a <sarcasm> wonderful</sarcasm> mobile home.

My mom gave me her old Chrysler Pacifica.

Every time I go to the store, part of me feels guilty for having a sweet phone and a nice car. I wonder what people think when they see me buying stuff with my EBT card (which is a wonderul BRIGHT orange, and extremely obvious), and then watch me climb into my car and drive off.

My usual weekly grocery list consists of fruits, veggies, chicken, all that good stuff. I DO also buy some cookies and/or ice cream. I have a 3 year old who likes cookies and ice cream. Because I’m in a fucked up situation and position in life, does that mean my son doesn’t deserve cookies and ice cream?

I never learned how to cook. My parents never thought it prudent to teach me, and I never had interest in learning. By the time I got to highschool (where they offered home-economics), it was 1992. They dropped the home-ec and shop classes (iirc because of budget woes).

I have spent countless hours with a cook book in front of me or browsing websites about cooking, and I DONT GET IT. I always add the ingredients at the wrong time, or in the wrong amounts, or cook too long or too short. Even if I follow the directions EXACTLY, I fuck it up.

It’s like how some people are bad at math. Or spelling. I’m bad at cooking.

I can cook “easy” dishes. I can bake chicken in cream of mushroom soup. I can sizzle a steak. I can brown hamburger. Make eggs. Bacon.

That’s about it. I fail at everything else.

My son does get good/healthy food at home, even though it’s typically the same thing over and over (chicken/steak or pork chops/tacos). I think it’d be horrible if he never got cookies.

147

Nobody said they’d lock away the chips from the poor, it’s suggested that food stamps not cover them, much like they don’t cover toilet paper and soap.

148

Requirements do vary by state. As noted, Illinois residents have to “repay” the state via labor for their foodstamps. People in Indiana do not, but do have to document job search activities. Apparently your state has yet another set of rules.

So I will amend my statement: during the time I was on foodstamps the norm was a requirement to look for work a set number of hours per week in my state. Whether that rule is still in effect I actually don’t know - these programs do change sometimes. But from December 2009 through May 2010 that was the way it was.

149

You sound like me when I was younger. Same situation anyway. My mom didn’t cook; I stayed with my grandparents but I wasn’t supposed to bother my grandmother when she was cooking… and she didn’t cook that great anyway. I was a single working mom for 14 years, about half of it in construction. I am decidedly not the home ec. queen type, but I’ve learned a lot.

I’m going to sound callous, but no, your child doesn’t deserve cookies and ice cream. Food shouldn’t be given as something “deserved”. It shouldn’t be a reward. It’s fun to give your kids junk food sometimes I know. I love it. Like I said I make cookies sometimes. Often they come out burnt around the edges and misshapen. They don’t always taste like Oreos. I don’t feel like making them very often either because I’m not that great at it. I’m not a good cook, and I rely on the same spices and ingredients most of the time.

Nobody is denying your son treats. They (we?) are just saying food stamps should be about nutrition, not treats. While it’s hard to decide what’s really nutritious (Juicy Juice I’m talking about YOU!) it’s obvious pre-packaged cookies and chips are not. Even if they’re fortified.

That said, my daughter knows once a month to gather her change because that’s the one time she’s allowed M & Ms. It’s not a reward. She buys them herself with her allowance. It’s only a dollar a week but we find that dollar, even if it’s in change because I really *realllly *hope an allowance will help her get a better handle on her money than I had when I was young. I’m also teaching her how to cook and bake, even if it’s burnt-around-the-edges snickerdoodles. I just feel like it’s my responsibility to her.

150

Actually, it would make more sense to allow toilet paper and soap. Seriously - after you eat you gotta poop eventually, then you gotta clean up. Would it be that horrible to allot, say, $10-20/month/person for personal items like toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, menstrual necessities, etc.?

151

Oh I understand completely. I realize benefits must vary by state because in all these illegal immigration arguments people talk about how the ee-legals come here to get bennies. I know in my state it’s a hindrance, not a help to be here illegally. My SO’s income is counted but he doesn’t qualify for any assistance at at all. He’s not considered part of my case; his income is considered “house” income I receive from him.
Apparently this isn’t so in other states.

I don’t know what I’d do if I had to find full-time work. I’ve been trying for a long time.

152

[almost irrelevant hijack]

nuggz - Come hang out in some of the CS cooking threads. We’ll walk you through the basics of just about any recipe. Anybody can learn to cook if they have a patient teacher and a positive attitude. You meet the second, and we try to meet the first. [/arh]

153

That’s the truth!
And at my daughter’s new school (it’s a public charter school) they are required to have access to the internet. While yes, they do have it at the library, it’s usually packed, plus the requirement is for parents too, to get notes/ school information (they’re trying to go as paperless as possible) so I’d need access at least several times a week.
I was lucky because my oldest paid for our internet access and bought me this computer but now that she’s gone I am not sure what to do. The bill is tied in with the phone so I’m going to have to figure out a way to pay it. Somehow.

154

And a pan! :slight_smile:

It’s true. I’ve learned a lot here. Especially the joys of Bacon Salt.

155

We can also start you out on simple recipes. Nobody learns to cook by starting with complicated projects. We’ll take you from where you are (browning meat, scrambling eggs, etc.) and build on that.

In fact - start a thread something like “Please help me learn to cook better” in Cafe Society and tell us what you CAN do - we’ll work on things from there, one step at a time. There are things you can cook that are relatively goof-proof.

156

I don’t know if I agree with this, because being on food stamps IS making me change my food choices. Like I said, I have around 200 a month for breakfast, lunch and dinner (my child will take her food, whether she qualifies for free lunch or not). I can’t afford to buy junk food. I’m planning meals to make 50 dollars a week last. I’m not going to blow anything. I think if food choices were limited people would get by, but they wouldn’t have junk food as often. Making a cake from scratch is more trouble than buying a 12 pack of Twinkies. Have you looked at all the chemicals in those Twinkies, by the way? You don’t get all that when you make a cake at home.

It wouldn’t even be that hard to make the change. In the store the foods are divided up into what is covered and not. In the deli you can get delicious shaved turkey breast but you can’t buy hot fried chicken. You can’t get hot food at all. Is this unfair? After all, we poor people must not have stoves or hot plates or microwaves. Or pans. We should be entitled to eat too, right?

I feel like people are thinking when you’re poor you’re stupid. That you can’t figure out how to eat if someone doesn’t let you have every food available in the store.

157

Are you suggesting that group only includes food stamp users? Obesity is a national problem. Eating badly is a national problem. It is not just the poor who eat badly.

158

I have just returned from Wal-Mart, where I bought some pre-packaged guacamole. It cost $2. Avocados were 1 apiece, but I'd have needed 3 to make as much guacamole as is in this package. Yeah, that's anecdotal. Don't care. They also have .99 pizzas, ramen for $.14 per pack, and a variety of other cheap prepared foods. But a bag of frozen vegetables is $3 or $4. A bag of mixed fruit was $5.99. Sack of potatoes $4.98. Two boxes of frozen potatoes was $3.89. From where I stand, the math is pretty clear.

159

My statement was “the same time or more” so your response did not address what I actually said.

160

I keep seeing it mentioned, but what the hell IS bacon salt?