Food Stamps

paulaGetshealthy
paulaGetshealthy Posts: 464
in Chit-Chat
I noticed that a lot of people who are on food stamps buy a lot of junk food. Why? I mean, it's money that's free to them; shouldn't they use it for healthy food? And how come a lot of people who are on food stamps either overweight or obese? Just an observation, so don't overreact. I know not ALL people on food stamps are obese.

P.S. The other day I saw a couple buying tons of junk food - frozen pizzas, all kinds of unhealthy frozen dinners, sugary cereals, pop tarts, cream cheese, cinnamon rolls, chips, soda - in other words, all the food I wish I could eat. Anyway, they paid all that in food stamps, then they had a seperate transaction with beer and cigarettes and they paid that in cash. WTF?? They have enough money for that??
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Replies

  • Mickyboo1
    Mickyboo1 Posts: 67
    I used to work in a grocery store. You'd be amazed to see what people buy with food stamps. For instance... $200 in food and spend $50 + on booze and cigs.
  • jazzdspazz
    jazzdspazz Posts: 137 Member
    Poor people have more of a tendancy to be obease, because food that is bad for you, is cheaper, and less educated people tend to be poor people, and are less educated about nutrition, Google it!
  • mandasimba
    mandasimba Posts: 782 Member
    That sounds like the majority of shopping carts in the US no matter how they pay, hence our obesity problem :wink:

    They would also have to have a seperate transaction for alcohol and cigarettes as SNAP doesn't cover that. Addiction can be a powerful thing.
  • aa1440
    aa1440 Posts: 956 Member
    Poor people have more of a tendancy to be obease, because food that is bad for you, is cheaper, and less educated people tend to be poor people, and are less educated about nutrition, Google it!

    This is true.
  • paulaGetshealthy
    paulaGetshealthy Posts: 464
    I don't think you need much of an education to realize that chips, soda, and pizza for dinner will result in rapid weight-gain. But yeah, I agree that maybe healthier food is cheaper, but the money is free to them, so I don't think they do it for the fact that it's cheap. BUT who am I to judge. I used to be obese, and even though I wasn't on food stamps, I constantly made unhealthy choices because food made me happy. Maybe people on food stamps already have low self-esteem and are ashamed, so they stuff themselves just like I did?
  • crazygirl78
    crazygirl78 Posts: 15
    Wow, you must have really been stalking those poor people to have such a report on their grocery experience! Obviously they have issues you would not understand unless you have been there. They don't need you staring them down while they shop.
  • curlyclo
    curlyclo Posts: 243 Member
    But yeah, I agree that maybe healthier food is cheaper, but the money is free to them, so I don't think they do it for the fact that it's cheap.
    Healthy food costs more than unhealthy food and food stamps don't pay for alcohol & non-food items. And yes, the money is free to people who have food stamps, but $300-$400/month is not a lot for food for a family. Trying to get as much food for as cheap as possible is a real concern.
  • bregalad5
    bregalad5 Posts: 3,965 Member
    I used to work in a grocery store. You'd be amazed to see what people buy with food stamps. For instance... $200 in food and spend $50 + on booze and cigs.

    I've also worked in a grocery store. You can't buy booze and cigs with food stamps
  • onmywaytoskinny155
    onmywaytoskinny155 Posts: 228 Member
    I wish I had some food stamps right now. I could eat some pizza and chips.
  • JackKsavestheday
    JackKsavestheday Posts: 182 Member
    I wish I had some food stamps right now. I could eat some pizza and chips.

    hahaha! me too
  • paulaGetshealthy
    paulaGetshealthy Posts: 464
    I know that food stamps don't buy beer and cigarettes, but my point is if they have enough cash for beer and cigarettes, they shouldn't be getting food stamps. Those $50 they spent on booze & ciggys could go towards their food, instead.
  • krissagirl0709
    krissagirl0709 Posts: 291 Member
    Need to educate the importance of eating healthy...that is "meals" to them...until they see they are horrbly unhealthy from in I doubt it will change..I think some things just need to be eliminated like we shouldnt allow that money to go for basic junk like candy, chips, soda... we would probably see less medical problems insurance wise to then.. im not saying to occasional snack is bad but sometimes its alot more then occasional.
  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    I worked as a cashier for Wal-Mart for a few years ago. I agree, it is a bit disturbing to see a couple buy $200 in soda and frozen pizza with food stamps and then purchase a carton of cigarettes, electronics and other miscellaneous items with cash. Of course, during the year I worked there, I saw a lot of customers purchasing relatively healthy food with food stamps and using their cash for diapers, laundry detergent, etc.

    People with food stamps are no different than people without. There are plenty of people with higher incomes who only buy junk food.
  • audram420
    audram420 Posts: 838 Member
    I live on frozen dinners...oops! :noway:
  • kiminita
    kiminita Posts: 150 Member
    Poor people have more of a tendancy to be obease, because food that is bad for you, is cheaper, and less educated people tend to be poor people, and are less educated about nutrition, Google it!

    Thank you for this. I am a sociologist...and yes, it is VERY important to look at the social conditions from which people arise, and what they DO and DO NOT have access to. Beer and cigarettes are expensive, but EVERYONE has their own vice. Middle class people probably have their own vice that are RELATIVELY the same price. Anyway, these observations are YOUR observations, and cannot be generalized.
  • kiminita
    kiminita Posts: 150 Member
    I worked as a cashier for Wal-Mart for a few years ago. I agree, it is a bit disturbing to see a couple buy $200 in soda and frozen pizza with food stamps and then purchase a carton of cigarettes, electronics and other miscellaneous items with cash. Of course, during that year I worked there I saw a lot of customers purchasing relatively healthy food with food stamps and using their cash for diapers, laundry detergent, etc.

    People with food stamps are no different than people without. There are plenty of people with higher incomes who only buy junk food.


    Nice to see this type of response! Respect!
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    I used to work in a grocery store. You'd be amazed to see what people buy with food stamps. For instance... $200 in food and spend $50 + on booze and cigs.

    I've also worked in a grocery store. You can't buy booze and cigs with food stamps

    Ditto.

    I always knew who the food stamp customers were by the mountain of crap in the cart, sad to say. WIC at least had restrictions on items.

    P.S. Not saying this to be mean, but it was universally true when I worked in a grocery store in college.
  • curlyclo
    curlyclo Posts: 243 Member
    I know that food stamps don't buy beer and cigarettes, but my point is if they have enough cash for beer and cigarettes, they shouldn't be getting food stamps. Those $50 they spent on booze & ciggys could go towards their food, instead.

    I don't know... I think that's a really over-simplified view of people's lives and situations.
  • curlyclo
    curlyclo Posts: 243 Member
    I worked as a cashier for Wal-Mart for a few years ago. I agree, it is a bit disturbing to see a couple buy $200 in soda and frozen pizza with food stamps and then purchase a carton of cigarettes, electronics and other miscellaneous items with cash. Of course, during that year I worked there I saw a lot of customers purchasing relatively healthy food with food stamps and using their cash for diapers, laundry detergent, etc.

    People with food stamps are no different than people without. There are plenty of people with higher incomes who only buy junk food.


    Nice to see this type of response! Respect!

    Exactly.
  • CannibalisticVegetarian
    CannibalisticVegetarian Posts: 1,255 Member
    Poor people have more of a tendancy to be obease, because food that is bad for you, is cheaper, and less educated people tend to be poor people, and are less educated about nutrition, Google it!

    ^^^ What they said.
  • inskydiamonds
    inskydiamonds Posts: 2,519 Member
    1. Bad food is also cheaper food. If you're living on a tight budget, food stamps included, it's not always practicable to buy fresh produce and good cuts of meat.

    2. A lot of people who are poor also work A LOT, but the amount of money they make is still far too low to raise a family on. ****ty foods are also convenient foods. If you can just pop something in the microwave as opposed to cooking for an hour, I definitely understand.

    I haven't ever been on food stamps, but I gained roughly 70 pounds when I was poor because of the quality food I was eating and the fact that I worked until 9 o'clock every night and didn't want to be on my feet all day and have to come home and cook.
  • Mickyboo1
    Mickyboo1 Posts: 67
    I used to work in a grocery store. You'd be amazed to see what people buy with food stamps. For instance... $200 in food and spend $50 + on booze and cigs.

    I've also worked in a grocery store. You can't buy booze and cigs with food stamps

    I know you cant.
  • Mickyboo1
    Mickyboo1 Posts: 67
    I know that food stamps don't buy beer and cigarettes, but my point is if they have enough cash for beer and cigarettes, they shouldn't be getting food stamps. Those $50 they spent on booze & ciggys could go towards their food, instead.

    My point exactly.
  • 1234terri
    1234terri Posts: 217 Member
    I think you need to be careful about the huge generalizations going on here. You saw one couple with poor food choices, thus 'all' people on food stamps have low self esteem. I've done case work with people who were about to become homeless, were single moms with kids with disabilities, etc. There is an entire layer of people living in poverty, or almost poverty in the US. The Anglo, 'middle class' is typically unaware of those beyond our radar, and it's easy to judge. People fall through cracks in our culture for all kinds of reasons. They might be choosing food that sure, gives comfort, fills up a family quicker than lean, healthy meals, or is cheaper, thus they can buy more of.

    Plenty of folks pay cash for the same unhealthy, over processed foods; do you toss everyone into a bag of 'low self esteem'? I think a better attitude to have is to assume you don't know anything (really) about their personal story and not to make assumptions. This is a tough time for families, individuals and almost everyone in this country, economically.
  • kiminita
    kiminita Posts: 150 Member
    I used to work in a grocery store. You'd be amazed to see what people buy with food stamps. For instance... $200 in food and spend $50 + on booze and cigs.

    I've also worked in a grocery store. You can't buy booze and cigs with food stamps

    Ditto.




    I always knew who the food stamp customers were by the mountain of crap in the cart, sad to say. WIC at least had restrictions on items.

    P.S. Not saying this to be mean, but it was universally true when I worked in a grocery store in college.


    I don't understand how YOUR UNIQUE and INDIVIDUAL observation could be universal. Did you work in every part of the country in all different types of neighborhoods?
  • mmocarr
    mmocarr Posts: 108 Member
    Food is cultural. People learn how to eat from those around them. If those people are purchasing those items it is because it is what they know. just as we ate the way we did previously because it was familiar, comfortable, ect. Although it would be great if we had programs that educated people on ways to use food stamps to buy healthful foods to my knowledge there are none of those programs. Until I know what its like to feel the stress of feeding a family living below the poverty line I am not going to judge the fact that food choices are not their top priority.
  • Bmoney11239
    Bmoney11239 Posts: 31 Member
    in order for you to fully understand the mental state of a person that gets Public assistance you have to see what there hardship was or mental disorder. Not everyone on Food stamps is stupid or lazy, **** happends in life and everyone needs help from time to time. But when you are buying food, for 5-6 people you have to be concerned on the how much money you are spending on your items, one healthy dinner cost as much as 4 or 5 unhealthy ones. people survive on that stuff for years and some people have real problem that they cannot really work. So they have to rely on the govenrment. Now beer and ciggs are a completly different story, unless you have a real mental disorder or you are just ignorant from your teachings as a child, for some people they are not at fault. Try not to judge people for their actions and do research.
  • curlyclo
    curlyclo Posts: 243 Member
    I think you need to be careful about the huge generalizations going on here. You saw one couple with poor food choices, thus 'all' people on food stamps have low self esteem. I've done case work with people who were about to become homeless, were single moms with kids with disabilities, etc. There is an entire layer of people living in poverty, or almost poverty in the US. The Anglo, 'middle class' is typically unaware of those beyond our radar, and it's easy to judge. People fall through cracks in our culture for all kinds of reasons. They might be choosing food that sure, gives comfort, fills up a family quicker than lean, healthy meals, or is cheaper, thus they can buy more of.

    Plenty of folks pay cash for the same unhealthy, over processed foods; do you toss everyone into a bag of 'low self esteem'? I think a better attitude to have is to assume you don't know anything (really) about their personal story and not to make assumptions. This is a tough time for families, individuals and almost everyone in this country, economically.

    Yes. This.
  • audram420
    audram420 Posts: 838 Member
    I'm not sure why this topic was even brought up...to cut down people that use food stamps and make bad choices. Maybe the OP should stand at the grocery store and educate these people instead of talking about them on a fitness website.
    Sorry...I just think it's a topic made to start contraversy.
  • kiminita
    kiminita Posts: 150 Member
    in order for you to fully understand the mental state of a person that gets Public assistance you have to see what there hardship was or mental disorder. Not everyone on Food stamps is stupid or lazy, **** happends in life and everyone needs help from time to time. But when you are buying food, for 5-6 people you have to be concerned on the how much money you are spending on your items, one healthy dinner cost as much as 4 or 5 unhealthy ones. people survive on that stuff for years and some people have real problem that they cannot really work. So they have to rely on the govenrment. Now beer and ciggs are a completly different story, unless you have a real mental disorder or you are just ignorant from your teachings as a child, for some people they are not at fault. Try not to judge people for their actions and do research.


    Yup.
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