Poor people can't afford healthy food

[Anonymous]

I grew up poor. My single mom made minimum wage her entire life as a personal support worker. She is from southern Africa and only has a 6th grade education. We ate very healthy food. What made it work was that she cooked from scratch and we ate the same food several days in a row.

She managed the cost of food by preparing simple healthy dishes (stews and cornmeal porridge, or stews and rice).

She managed the time it takes to shop and cook by cooking one or two big pots of stew per week, so there was not so much variety in what we ate. We didn't have a car, so we took the bus to the grocery store once a week.

She got paid every Thursday and on payday we would have a treat (maybe a pizza or burgers).

Anyway, she came from a different place and a different time, but that is how you can be poor and eat healthy.

[Anonymous]

So they CAN afford it you mean. I grew up with less money too and we ate healthy food that was homemade and not fancy. I’m not sure if your point.

[Anonymous]

Your mom sounds like a smart, strong person.

But not every food desert is the same. Some are huge. Not every city is the same - many have nearly non-existent bus service.

[Anonymous]

This is the OP. I am sorry I wasn't clear. My point was that I keep hearing that poor people can't afford to eat healthy, but it can be done. It just involves planning, and cooking, and accepting that you may eat the same meals several days in a row.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP. I am sorry I wasn't clear. My point was that I keep hearing that poor people can't afford to eat healthy, but it can be done. It just involves planning, and cooking, and accepting that you may eat the same meals several days in a row.

Not always. Thanks for your singular data point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up poor. My single mom made minimum wage her entire life as a personal support worker. She is from southern Africa and only has a 6th grade education. We ate very healthy food. What made it work was that she cooked from scratch and we ate the same food several days in a row.

She managed the cost of food by preparing simple healthy dishes (stews and cornmeal porridge, or stews and rice).

She managed the time it takes to shop and cook by cooking one or two big pots of stew per week, so there was not so much variety in what we ate. We didn't have a car, so we took the bus to the grocery store once a week.

She got paid every Thursday and on payday we would have a treat (maybe a pizza or burgers).

Anyway, she came from a different place and a different time, but that is how you can be poor and eat healthy.

So why don't you go to a store today, armed only with $300 in food stamps for one month for 4 people and see how you do. Feel free to come back and show us how you did it.

[Anonymous]

Of course it can be done.

[Anonymous]

Tell me what you and your siblings did while she meal prepped.

[Anonymous]

Poor people can become rich as well, so why didn't your mom do that?

The point is, OP, that of course some poor people can afford to eat healthy. Some overweight people can lose weight. Some dumb people can get smarter. All of these things are true.

But not ALL people who are X can do Y, for a variety of reasons. Your way of thinking is disgusting because it assumes that since your mom could do it (sample size of one), then all people in her situation can do it and therefore those who don't are lazy, stupid, unmotivated, fill in the blank with whatever you want.

For the record, I'm not poor nor have I ever been, but I don't judge people who aren't like me. Just because I managed to do X doesn't mean everyone can. I acknowledge that other people have barriers in their lives that prevent them from doing the "right" thing, such as eating healthy, and it's not my place to condemn them for not being "better" people. (I also acknowledge that such barriers did not exist or were removed for me and that is part of what has made my life easier).

It's interesting to me to see such judgment from people who had it hard - I know someone who came to the US at age six from Russia speaking no English and instead of empathizing with other immigrants she has zero tolerance for anyone who doesn't speak perfect English and hasn't assimilated into local culture. I would have expected an understanding of how hard it is to come from another country but instead she thinks everyone should do it the way she did.

Anyway, maybe check your judgment because it's not a good look.

[Anonymous]

total and absolute bs they can buy very healthy food with their food stamps, WIC, and their kids eat free at school (SBP and NSLP), food banks, pantries, TEFAP, SFSP tons AND TONS of programs FOR EVERYONE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up poor. My single mom made minimum wage her entire life as a personal support worker. She is from southern Africa and only has a 6th grade education. We ate very healthy food. What made it work was that she cooked from scratch and we ate the same food several days in a row.

She managed the cost of food by preparing simple healthy dishes (stews and cornmeal porridge, or stews and rice).

She managed the time it takes to shop and cook by cooking one or two big pots of stew per week, so there was not so much variety in what we ate. We didn't have a car, so we took the bus to the grocery store once a week.

She got paid every Thursday and on payday we would have a treat (maybe a pizza or burgers).

Anyway, she came from a different place and a different time, but that is how you can be poor and eat healthy.

So because your childhood memories are that your mom (barely) made it work, back then, everyone can make it work now?

Did you talk to your mom before posting this crap? Is she cool with being used as some kind of example for poorshaming others?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poor people can become rich as well, so why didn't your mom do that?

The point is, OP, that of course some poor people can afford to eat healthy. Some overweight people can lose weight. Some dumb people can get smarter. All of these things are true.

But not ALL people who are X can do Y, for a variety of reasons. Your way of thinking is disgusting because it assumes that since your mom could do it (sample size of one), then all people in her situation can do it and therefore those who don't are lazy, stupid, unmotivated, fill in the blank with whatever you want.

For the record, I'm not poor nor have I ever been, but I don't judge people who aren't like me. Just because I managed to do X doesn't mean everyone can. I acknowledge that other people have barriers in their lives that prevent them from doing the "right" thing, such as eating healthy, and it's not my place to condemn them for not being "better" people. (I also acknowledge that such barriers did not exist or were removed for me and that is part of what has made my life easier).

It's interesting to me to see such judgment from people who had it hard - I know someone who came to the US at age six from Russia speaking no English and instead of empathizing with other immigrants she has zero tolerance for anyone who doesn't speak perfect English and hasn't assimilated into local culture. I would have expected an understanding of how hard it is to come from another country but instead she thinks everyone should do it the way she did.

Anyway, maybe check your judgment because it's not a good look.

How is your nonjudgment helpful? Doesn’t matter what looks good in a situation like this. You may be nice but you’re useless and ineffective.

[Anonymous]

You seem to have little or no empathy OP. Why judge people so harshly? It sounds like your mom did what she could, but that food does not seem healthy. Have you been to a store lately? Fruits and vegetables are very expensive. The only thing that isn't is Trader Joes pasta and pasta sauce. It wouldn't be healthy to eat that for long. Also, since you're so judgey, why was your mom a single mom? Why no man in the picture? She could have afforded more for you with a man in the pic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poor people can become rich as well, so why didn't your mom do that?

The point is, OP, that of course some poor people can afford to eat healthy. Some overweight people can lose weight. Some dumb people can get smarter. All of these things are true.

But not ALL people who are X can do Y, for a variety of reasons. Your way of thinking is disgusting because it assumes that since your mom could do it (sample size of one), then all people in her situation can do it and therefore those who don't are lazy, stupid, unmotivated, fill in the blank with whatever you want.

For the record, I'm not poor nor have I ever been, but I don't judge people who aren't like me. Just because I managed to do X doesn't mean everyone can. I acknowledge that other people have barriers in their lives that prevent them from doing the "right" thing, such as eating healthy, and it's not my place to condemn them for not being "better" people. (I also acknowledge that such barriers did not exist or were removed for me and that is part of what has made my life easier).

It's interesting to me to see such judgment from people who had it hard - I know someone who came to the US at age six from Russia speaking no English and instead of empathizing with other immigrants she has zero tolerance for anyone who doesn't speak perfect English and hasn't assimilated into local culture. I would have expected an understanding of how hard it is to come from another country but instead she thinks everyone should do it the way she did.


Anyway, maybe check your judgment because it's not a good look.

End thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up poor. My single mom made minimum wage her entire life as a personal support worker. She is from southern Africa and only has a 6th grade education. We ate very healthy food. What made it work was that she cooked from scratch and we ate the same food several days in a row.

She managed the cost of food by preparing simple healthy dishes (stews and cornmeal porridge, or stews and rice).

She managed the time it takes to shop and cook by cooking one or two big pots of stew per week, so there was not so much variety in what we ate. We didn't have a car, so we took the bus to the grocery store once a week.

She got paid every Thursday and on payday we would have a treat (maybe a pizza or burgers).

Anyway, she came from a different place and a different time, but that is how you can be poor and eat healthy.

100% +1
That’s how I grew up too. Poor but healthy. We ate lots of left overs, lots of stews, rice and beans. We also didn’t have a car and walked home with a couple of grocery bags once or twice a week.