Current Events > Why do most people on food stamps buy junk food?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Soda, candies, potato chips, etc. I can understand buying a few of them every other week but not constantly.
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Because it's cheap.

Except it costs a lot in the long run (beetus)

Because health food like Subway isn't allowed with food stamps

Because poor people generally are lazy and mentally weak. Healthy food is cheap af they just cant control their disgusting eating urges.

Because they're $1.
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Unhealthy food is cheap and easy to make. Healthy food is not.
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iClockwork posted...

Because poor people generally are lazy and mentally weak. Healthy food is cheap af they just cant control their disgusting eating urges.

Healthy food tends to cost more than less healthy options. 85/15 hamburger is cheaper than 93/7 for instance. TV dinners are cheaper than buying the ingredients for the same meals, etc.

Theres tons of other examples out there too.
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It's not that healthy food is expensive, if you are smart it just isn't, it's that junk food is one of the few 'pleasures' poor people can afford.

Sabram posted...

Healthy food tends to cost more than less healthy options. 85/15 hamburger is cheaper than 93/7 for instance. TV dinners are cheaper than buying the ingredients for the same meals, etc.

Bag of frozen mixed vegetables and skinless chicken breast are CHEAP AS FUCK and will last a week.

Don't pretend the 30yr old lady in the mobility scooter with 3 rats trailing her is only getting hamburger and TV Dinners. Shes getting candy and beef jerky and giant bags of chips with Frosted flakes and chocolate milk with donuts for breakfast.

knutjob posted...

It's not that healthy food is expensive, if you are smart it just isn't, it's that junk food is one of the few 'pleasures' poor people can afford.

Maybe they should find pleasure in a little bit of self respect and a better job.

if it makes anyone feel any better, trumps setting up to hit 3 million off the food stamp rolls soon.
should be tightening income requirements imo (based on the state they reside in).
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kingdrake2 posted...

if it makes anyone feel any better, trumps setting up to hit 3 million off the food stamp rolls soon.

byron posted...

iClockwork posted...

Maybe they should find pleasure in a little bit of self respect and a better job.

Woah I think you just cured poverty. "just get a better job" How has nobody else thought of this?

people should be going for better jobs anyway. frees up fast food places for teenagers.
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Pasta and rice isn't expensive at all. And they're calorically dense so you don't need to be eating a shit ton of food.
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It's not that much and longterm its much more expensive if you factor in the health costs of eating unhealthy. Buying chicken, veggies and milk will be much cheaper and feed more people than frozen meals and bagged snacks. But people are lazy and want instant gratification for their fat and sugar addiction. Another reason why universal healthcare would go bankrupt super fast in Amerifat land.
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Do you have a citation for your claim, TC?

iClockwork posted...

Sabram posted...

Healthy food tends to cost more than less healthy options. 85/15 hamburger is cheaper than 93/7 for instance. TV dinners are cheaper than buying the ingredients for the same meals, etc.

Bag of frozen mixed vegetables and skinless chicken breast are CHEAP AS FUCK and will last a week.

Don't pretend the 30yr old lady in the mobility scooter with 3 rats trailing her is only getting hamburger and TV Dinners. Shes getting candy and beef jerky and giant bags of chips with Frosted flakes and chocolate milk with donuts for breakfast.

knutjob posted...

It's not that healthy food is expensive, if you are smart it just isn't, it's that junk food is one of the few 'pleasures' poor people can afford.

Maybe they should find pleasure in a little bit of self respect and a better job.

Then they wouldn't be on food stamps and this topic wouldn't apply to them

Junk food is expensive as shit. I don't know how people miss that sometimes.

Some of the best and most filling meals you can make are poverty foods.

The issue is people don't, don't know how, or don't want to, cook.

I don't mean this in a bad way. Or diminishing the struggle.
I'm just saying, there are real deals on things that go a long way, and will actually fill you up properly.
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SiO4 posted...

Junk food is expensive as shit.

Literally nobody believes you except cockwork.
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ledbowman posted...

SiO4 posted...

Junk food is expensive as shit.

Literally nobody believes you except cockwork.

Not even sure where you are going with that.
But for what you get, junk food is expensive.
Paying for empty calories is not money well spent.
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ledbowman posted...

SiO4 posted...

Junk food is expensive as shit.

Literally nobody believes you except cockwork.

It is rather more expensive under a cost/benefit analysis.

Said analysis ignores if they have the capacity to do z.

"Cook rice!"
"In what?"
"ADD BEAN"
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I've changed my view on this subject. I used to think that those people are just stupid and ignorant about how to spend their food money, but now I think there's a bit more to it.

Yes, healthier food can be cheaper, but not initially. Like you actually have to spend a fair bit of money to get a decent pantry going to make a variety of meals. Recipes will say "make this for less than $5", ignoring the fact that you probably need to go out and spend $50 on pantry items to begin with. And yes, those items will last a long time, but I wonder if it's a bit high minded to think that kind of upfront cost is feasible for everyone.

Secondly, I learned about food deserts in America. Apparently you guys have entire neighbourhoods where the best vegetables you can get are half-rotting crap from a gas station that is priced ridiculously high. And taking a trip out to the nearest walmart or costco is again not feasible for everyone.
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pinky0926 posted...

Secondly, I learned about food deserts in America. Apparently you guys have entire neighbourhoods where the best vegetables you can get are half-rotting crap from a gas station that is priced ridiculously high. And taking a trip out to the nearest walmart or costco is again not feasible for everyone.

Ya, definitely. I'm not trying to be, that guy. At all.
I guess I'm just saying, a packet of hot pockets is a snack and not a meal.

But it is all part and parcel to some my of the issue this country has.
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pinky0926 posted...

I've changed my view on this subject. I used to think that those people are just stupid and ignorant about how to spend their food money, but now I think there's a bit more to it.

Yes, healthier food can be cheaper, but not initially. Like you actually have to spend a fair bit of money to get a decent pantry going to make a variety of meals. Recipes will say "make this for less than $5", ignoring the fact that you probably need to go out and spend $50 on pantry items to begin with. And yes, those items will last a long time, but I wonder if it's a bit high minded to think that kind of upfront cost is feasible for everyone.

Secondly, I learned about food deserts in America. Apparently you guys have entire neighbourhoods where the best vegetables you can get are half-rotting crap from a gas station that is priced ridiculously high. And taking a trip out to the nearest walmart or costco is again not feasible for everyone.

Salute. You've found the problem using research.

That's way more than the weeping shitposters ever tried.
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SiO4 posted...

I guess I'm just saying, a packet of hot pockets is a snake

Dodge.
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If you think poor people can't or won't cook I don't know what to say.
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Maybe they should find pleasure in a little bit of self respect and a better job.
if it makes anyone feel any better, trumps setting up to hit 3 million off the food stamp rolls soon.

Schrodinger's republican
- poor people should just get a better job, that way they won't be poor and will eat better
- we need to make it harder for the poorest people to eat better by restricting their income

Brilliant guys, absolutely brilliant
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ledbowman posted...

If you think poor people can't or won't cook I don't know what to say.

If you think poor people can't or won't stop this layer from flooding I don't know what to say.

they can't
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DrizztLink posted...

ledbowman posted...

If you think poor people can't or won't cook I don't know what to say.

If you think poor people can't or won't stop this layer from flooding I don't know what to say.

they can't

Well, they should have bought sandbags!

they couldn't

Well, they should just move!

Two and two.
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DrizztLink posted...

SiO4 posted...

I guess I'm just saying, a packet of hot pockets is a snake

Dodge.

You totally are miss reading what I am saying. And that's fine.
Junk food is convenient it is not inexpensive.
And in fact, and somewhat to what Pinky was saying.
It represents a regressive tax for those that have to depend on it from time to time.
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SiO4 posted...

DrizztLink posted...

SiO4 posted...

I guess I'm just saying, a packet of hot pockets is a snake

Dodge.

You totally are miss reading what I am saying. And that's fine.
Junk food is convenient it is not inexpensive.
And in fact, and somewhat to what Pinky was saying.
It represents a regressive tax for those that have to depend on it from time to time.

You missed a bad joke.

Also, that post almost had a good beat.

Sometimes I shitpost.
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A final point. Usually when people talk about cooking at home being healthier and cheaper, they're assuming that you have access to vegetables and some cheap protein. But if you don't have that, what are you really left with? Pasta and rice? I don't know if I'd call a pasta diet healthy by any stretch.
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pinky0926 posted...

A final point. Usually when people talk about cooking at home being healthier and cheaper, they're assuming that you have access to vegetables and some cheap protein. But if you don't have that, what are you really left with? Pasta and rice? I don't know if I'd call a pasta diet healthy by any stretch.

And cooking from home assumes you have all of the equipment needed to cook, which many poor people don't. If you live in a tiny shitty apartment where your oven is busted and you only have a couple of pots and pans it's going to be harder to cook.
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"If you're poor you should deny yourself 0.99 Chips Ahead. It's got sugar. Only peas for you"
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When i was struggling, i got all the same tired and unwelcome criticisms from the usual assortment of judgemental stone-throwers.

It always marvelled me how people assumed i could blow my money on takeaways and alcohol every day when one fast food meal or cheap six-pack would blow my entire weekly budget.

But you know, people like that rarely stick around to prove their point, they just make their accusations and move on assuming they were right.
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Sphyx posted...

When i was struggling, i got all the same tired and unwelcome criticisms from the usual assortment of judgemental stone-throwers.

It always marvelled me how people assumed i could blow my money on takeaways and alcohol every day when one fast food meal or cheap six-pack would blow my entire weekly budget.

But you know, people like that rarely stick around to prove their point, they just make their accusations and move on assuming they were right.

yeah i agree, how do you know what they're buying with their food stamps?
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DrizztLink posted...

SiO4 posted...

DrizztLink posted...

SiO4 posted...

I guess I'm just saying, a packet of hot pockets is a snake

Dodge.

You totally are miss reading what I am saying. And that's fine.
Junk food is convenient it is not inexpensive.
And in fact, and somewhat to what Pinky was saying.
It represents a regressive tax for those that have to depend on it from time to time.

You missed a bad joke.

Also, that post almost had a good beat.

Sometimes I shitpost.

Oh, oh I got ya.
I caught it and edited probably just before you posted that.

And also, Ya I try to make my stuff somewhat fun to read!

On the subject though, I get it.
I've actually been there. Not food stamps.
But I know, and I never forget my roots.
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ledbowman posted...

"If you're poor you should deny yourself 0.99 Chips Ahead. It's got sugar. Only peas for you"

Tell you what.

Live on a migrant's salary for one month.

Toss out all your food and keep nothing but your saucepan.

Try it.
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jumi posted...

Unhealthy food is cheap and easy to make. Healthy food is not.

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Is there a correlation between having less of an education about things like diet and nutrition and being on food stamps in the first place?

ArchiePeck posted...

Is there a correlation between having less of an education about things like diet and nutrition and being on food stamps in the first place?

Being a real armchair quarterback at this point, but it's probably pretty direct. If you got a better education you're more likely to have more money to begin with. Diet and nutrition is largely learned by picking up habits or through self education.

All the people I know who are making bank have clean diets, to the point of it verging on a little sad imo.

I used to coach kids tennis and you could see a stark difference between the poor kids and the rich kids in how they ate. Poor kids could eat whatever they wanted, and usually settled for sweets and bacon butties. The parents just didn't have or make the time or the inclination to invest in their diets.

Whereas you'd get these triple-barrelled name kids (Finlay Augustus McDonald, that sort of name), and their mother would be sitting there chastising them for the amount of calories in a cheese and ham toastie.

I'm not even exaggerating. I once witnessed a mother tell off her 10 year old daughter for enjoying such a meal because it would make her fat, followed by a lecture on calories. Future eating disorder for sure.
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Somehow Pinky always says it better than me.
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jumi posted...

Unhealthy food is cheap and easy to make. Healthy food is not.

That's not even close to being true
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SiO4 posted...

The issue is people don't, don't know how, or don't want to, cook

This is the real reason
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Dat_Cracka_Jax posted...

SiO4 posted...

The issue is people don't, don't know how, or don't want to, cook

This is the real reason

Because they never learned.
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Poor people tend to be dumb.

Dumb people make poor decisions.
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SK8T3R215 posted...

Poor people tend to be dumb.

Dumb people make poor decisions.

That.
And sheer laziness. They would rather feed their kids top ramen for dinner than cook something decent. Theres even programs that give them free vegetables and milk and shit to encourage healthy cooking. But they dont because they are lazy fucks. Hence, why they are on welfare to begin.
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DemonBuffet posted...

SK8T3R215 posted...

Poor people tend to be dumb.

Dumb people make poor decisions.

That.
And sheer laziness. They would rather feed their kids top ramen for dinner than cook something decent. Theres even programs that give them free vegetables and milk and shit to encourage healthy cooking. But they dont because they are lazy fucks. Hence, why they are on welfare to begin.

Your trolling is lazy tbh.
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DrizztLink posted...

Dat_Cracka_Jax posted...

SiO4 posted...

The issue is people don't, don't know how, or don't want to, cook

This is the real reason

Because they never learned.

No doubt. It's definitely a learned behavior.

I also figure some of it can be if a person works multiple jobs, the last thing they want to do it spend time cooking a meal.
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