Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People who receive SNAP benefits should have to use a percentage on fresh fruits and veggies.
Awesome. When are you starting a program to GET in season fruits and vegetables, means to cook and store them, and cooking oils and herbs and spices to SNAP beneficiaries???
I am so serious, I’m a local community advocate and organizer not far from NOVA I work with some food justice folks once you have this program going we will absolutely jump in and help, advertise and get it moving to other localities!!
Great idea PP!
Not so sure. Could lead to more food waste like the school lunch programs. Kids are forced to take fresh fruit and vegetables in the cafeteria and we see a lot of it go straight into the trash.
I don't know for sure, but could this to due to children not being exposed to the fruits and veggies, therefore they don't want to eat it? Food education in science/health classes may benefit where children get to see and try different foods.
It could also be that it’s often not very good fruit. Red “Delicious “ apples have little flavor and often a mealy texture. Pears - same, and they’re often hard. Flavorless bananas —again. Oranges with little flavor that the youngest kids can’t peel. In contrast, the pineapple spears, fresh strawberries, ripe peaches, and kiwi are usually a hit. So are blackberries. And watermelons are an almost universal favorite— when they’re good ones. One issue is that the better tasting fruits are often the most expensive. The ones that get served with many school lunches are often chosen for durability and low prices rather than flavor. (Based on my experiences with kids in multiple programs, and school lunches in two cities.)
I think the farmer’s markets that give extra credit — like double dollars —for SNAP funds are a great idea. I think that requiring
someone to spend SNAP benefits in certain ways without being aware of an individual’s needs and resources is horribly patronizing at best. Instead of restricting the use of benefits — increase the availability of resources.