No surprise there, I think we've been talking about how poverty adversely affects people in relation to their diet for quite some time (for example,
here and
here), but I think this is the first time one of us (Adam) actually brought up an article that explicitly states how expensive it is for people to eat the way they're supposed to, according to the
2005 Dietary Guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. According to
this article from HealthDay:
One study shows that low-income Americans now would have to spend up to 70 percent of their food budget on fruits and vegetables to meet new national dietary guidelines for healthy eating.
And a second study found that in rural areas, convenience stores far outnumber supermarkets and grocery stores -- even though the latter carry a much wider choice of affordable, healthy foods.
I think that pretty much says it all. I recommend reading the article.
6 comments:
I don't suppose you have any recommendations for what we should do to lower the cost of healthy food, eh?
I haven't really thought it through, but I think I've heard the idea of a "junk food" (including fast food) tax before, which revenues could be used to discount the consumer price of fruits and vegetables for people at lower income levels. Kind of like a subsidy but not universal, because you don't need to help out people making over $100k a year. Of course as for how to get more vegetables sold in the countryside (where, ironically, they grow them), I'm at a bit of a loss. Tax breaks wouldn't help much because business taxes are typically already low. The problem is probably sales volume and the fact that a tomato can't really sit on the shelf for a week. Vegetables out there would have to be dirt cheap (or for some families simply given away) for people to buy any, much less the amount they're supposed to get.
I hope you can help me out. I am trying to get my health under control so starting to eat right is my first step. Do you know where I can purchase quality food online? (that is on the healthy side) I am starting to do all of my shopping online because of various reasons…so I am hoping you can help me out with a suggestion or two.
So far I have only tried Celebrity foods (which is outstanding by the way)
I am in desperate need to grow my list of quality services or stores, where I can buy my food from. Thank you and have a great day or night (depending on when you read this. LOL!
Wow, we appreciate the fact that you assume we know stuff! I'll have to get Xanthippas' opinion on whether offering suggestions raises any issues of legal liability, but we'll see what we can do.
Leo,
Could you send an email to us? That'll make it easier to make sure you get our response. I will say off the top of my head I have a few ideas, but I'd rather let you know via email. Thanks for stopping by!
Our email address is linked to at the top right of our page (beneath the banner).
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