Posted on 09/02/2014 2:08:58 PM PDT by lbryce
Nutritional disparities between America’s rich and poor are growing, despite efforts to provide higher-quality food to people who most need it. So says a large study just released from the Harvard School of Public Health that examined eating habits of 29,124 Americans over the past decade. Diet quality has improved among people of high socioeconomic status but deteriorated among those at the other end of the spectrum. The gap between the two groups doubled between 2000 and 2010. That will be costly for everyone.
The primary conclusion of the study is interesting, though, in that its focus is diet quality among the population as a whole. Without accounting for socioeconomic status, there has been, the study reads, “steady improvement.” People aren’t eating more vegetables, or less red or processed meat, and their salt intake increased—which the researchers call “disconcerting”—but Americans are eating more good things like whole fruit, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and polyunsaturated fats.
Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard and one of the study’s authors, led with the good news when we spoke by phone.
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
I understand what you’re saying, but the focus of this article is that “poor” people are increasingly eating “worse” than “rich” people. Is it hard to grow food from seed? Sometimes, yes. Does that mean that it’s impossible? No.
People have been growing plants for food for thousands of years. It can’t be that difficult, but it might require some planning and sweat. It’s much easier to stay on welfare and wait for taxes to go up, which doesn’t seem to take long these days.
Till some earth, plant seeds. Water. Weed. Water. That doesn’t take much education at all.
Good for you, Grandpa! And your grandchildren will learn how to eat healthy, delicious food prepared by someone who loves them. What a lasting gift you’re giving them!
Of course it is. Too bad.
You’re a mensch, and a terrific role model for your grandchildren. God bless you.
In my neck of the woods, the local news has been doing all these hyperventilating news stories lately about kids going hungry at school and various programs to feed them. The one thing they never discuss are the mommies and their boyfriends that sell their EBT food credits for 50 cents on the dollar to buy alcohol and drugs, which is rampant here.
It’s called “choice”.
So called “rich people” decide if they want to diet, or go vegan, vegetarian or whatever.
Poor minorities won’t eat cheaper healthier food. They want fast food.
Agreed.
We eat fanastically for cheap.
Probably less than 500 a month four people and a pet.
Budget includes non food items like paper products and cleaning products.
Learning to cook just about anything well can save truckloads of money
Too bad they don’t teach kids how to cook in school anymore.
Home Ec includes many very useful life skills
Cheap eats-fresh veggies and meat some dairy
Absolutely no processed food cook as much as possible from scratch even the tiniest tomato ptch garden can help a lot
We hate take out around here
Restaurants too
They make me mad because I can do it far better at home for a fraction of the cost
Just another outcome of the Obama economy. And really, aren’t all these people Democrats anyway?
I’m very sorry to hear of your troubles, miss marmelstein. I apologize if I seemed insensitive.
I honestly believe that all people need high quality food.
I start all seeds indoors. If I start them outdoors, forget it. Farming is not easy and it’s not always productive. Surely, all the literature - historical and fictional - tell us this is true. You must have the proper soil, sometimes you must nick the seed, you have to know the proper depth to place the seed - not necessarily difficult but takes reading the literature. Especially, if, like me, you are an essentially an urban person. Also, some people are born with a green thumb - I was not. And the most important thing: GOOD WEATHER.
I also think that the Obamas’ horrible, horrible example of expensive vacations filled with the most expensive food on the planet (truffles - like those dopes even knew what it was before they were given it in Washington - caviar, champagne, imported wine and, probably, very rare wine, locally-sourced food, etc.) have fed this narrative of rich/poor. Add in someone like Bloomberg and Harry Reid and undoubtedly, some Republicans, and it just exacerbates the divide.
Oh, not at all! You didn’t know my troubles! I only brought them up ‘cause I have learned a few lessons this year. I hope I never have to relearn them and I hope no one on this wonderful site ever has to go through hard economic times.
Everything since 2008 has gone wrong, and food prices are one. Imho, that's the plan of this administration. We desperately need to get a conservative into the White House.
I have a cousin who has never been on aid in her entire 65 years........until a year ago when her husband divorced her. She qualifies for food stamps now. I was visiting her recently and her exact words were.........I’ve never eaten so well in my entire life.
Yup! I do think things will improve once we get this fool out of the White House. Unless, of course, we get Elizabeth Warren, then we can all pack it in.
Not surprised. EBT amounts are quite generous and the free school breakfasts and lunches for youts are not deducted from the amounts given.
I don’t buy organic but with hubby and I both retired we eat every meal at home.....and we cook. Food is expensive....period.
Cabbage, carrots, squash and lettuce are beneath food stamp recipients. It's arugula or bust.
Lighten up, Francis. What I said was "Does anybody here think that people who are too stupid and lazy to get a job, will expend thought and energy on their food choices?"
Mr. T and I have gone through some hard times, and I think that we learned from them as well. Thank goodness he learned to cook at his Swedish grandmother’s knee, or I’m not sure how we would have fared.
Many times, during the first years of our marriage and at another time of hardship, we had 12 bean soup, with just a flavoring of inexpensive ham. Lately, we’ve eaten out only four or five times a year for the past four years, although once a week or so we order pizza or subs. Other than that, my husband is very careful to buy meat at good prices to freeze, and is very frugal. We rarely eat dessert.
We made an investment this year to purchase some containers that should last us for years. It’s not easy to grow our own vegetables and herbs, but we think it’s worth it, because the quality, freshness, cost and taste are superior to anything that we can find locally.
Take care, friend.
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