General Discussion

ohnoyoudidnt

(1,858 posts)

11. I think you might be on to a good idea.

Sat May 17, 2014, 09:39 PM

May 2014

There is some controversy as to how food stamps can be spent. Some say let them spend it on whatever they want and some say only healthy items like fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats.

If there was some discount for healthier items, that could make a difference. For example, if they want a bag of chips, the full price is taken from their card. If they want a bag of apples, they are given a 25% discount from the retail price on their card. This will encourage healthier eating while not forcing people to shop a certain way. A percentage discount on healthy foods could help, but there are too many problems with simply raising the allowance and saying you can only buy healthy foods.

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What I'd like to do to improve the food stamp program [View all] cali May 2014 OP

I would have to think that time is a big issue for many food stamp recipients dsc May 2014 #1

it is for many, but not for all, and you could hold these things at times that fit for people cali May 2014 #3

I think they should raise the Food Stamp allowance yeoman6987 May 2014 #2

I don't think I agree. First of all, most Americans and that includes food stamp recipients cali May 2014 #4

I know what you are saying yeoman6987 May 2014 #6

Many poor folk live in inner cities and rural areas .... etherealtruth May 2014 #8

I think you might be on to a good idea. ohnoyoudidnt May 2014 #11

Many people on food stamps gollygee May 2014 #25

"Don't tell ME what to do! I'll eat what I want to eat." FrodosPet May 2014 #70

SNAP worker since 2009 Puzzledtraveller May 2014 #5

I like your idea. Laelth May 2014 #56

I think it is very complicated etherealtruth May 2014 #7

I would love to hear from folks on Food Stamps yeoman6987 May 2014 #9

My thoughts come from working with "the poor" (first career/ not current one) etherealtruth May 2014 #10

DU is cruel to the poor? Tree-Hugger May 2014 #38

As I said Du can occaisionally be cruel to the poor etherealtruth May 2014 #59

I have been on food stamps for 2 and a half years. You're hearing from someone who cali May 2014 #15

Thank you! yeoman6987 May 2014 #22

thank you and right back at you. cali May 2014 #48

I was on them for 6 months while caretaking my mother a year and a half ago. There was an allotment adirondacker May 2014 #23

You bring up an interesting point yeoman6987 May 2014 #24

sounds like you really know what you're doing when it comes to shopping for food! cali May 2014 #49

I was on WIC coupons for a few years. noamnety May 2014 #33

I am on food stamps Tree-Hugger May 2014 #39

I live in a rural area and granted it's different here- cali May 2014 #14

Wonderful etherealtruth May 2014 #17

I like this idea. LWolf May 2014 #12

I like this idea a lot etherealtruth May 2014 #13

Exactly. LWolf May 2014 #16

This isn't practical. noamnety May 2014 #18

Sure it is. LWolf May 2014 #20

It's practical at some locations, and not at others. noamnety May 2014 #29

It's called remodeling. LWolf May 2014 #62

Remodeling to me implies rearranging an existing space. noamnety May 2014 #65

We renovated several years back. LWolf May 2014 #67

Who's nutrition information will we follow? Shandris May 2014 #19

I would follow a nutritional plan that included: LWolf May 2014 #21

Erm...there's a potential problem in the interaction of 1 and 3 Shandris May 2014 #26

Both. LWolf May 2014 #64

Ahhh, okay, I see the direction you're going now. Shandris May 2014 #68

The pizza? LWolf May 2014 #69

I largely agree with your list cali May 2014 #50

You're probably correct about the sugar. LWolf May 2014 #63

I hate to fall back on common sense, but.... cali May 2014 #40

Look, I know that has a nice ring to it, but... Shandris May 2014 #44

you are packing angels on the head of a pin and trying to set them to tap dancing cali May 2014 #45

I...what? Shandris May 2014 #51

So many of the ideas in this thread presuppose someone has available transportation Fumesucker May 2014 #27

Granted it's specifically tailored to my small town where we do have those things cali May 2014 #41

Everyone in your town has transportation? Fumesucker May 2014 #54

the vast majority of people do, yes. It's rural. and there are always people cali May 2014 #55

It's been my experience that there's always ~someone~ who gets left out of such things Fumesucker May 2014 #57

yes, there are people that get left out of things. cali May 2014 #60

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #66

Don't be so judgmental about people on food stamps. dem in texas May 2014 #28

Again, I'M ON FOODSTAMPS. cali May 2014 #46

Cooperative Extension Services already has all that information csziggy May 2014 #30

What you're suggesting could be informative PSAs, no need to target just the food stamp recipients. reformist2 May 2014 #31

A lot of people, poor or not, have no idea how to cook a meal from scratch Lydia Leftcoast May 2014 #32

Yeah, because people on food stamps have so much time to join cooking clubs. Beausoir May 2014 #34

I am on food stamps. and yes, I know a lot of people who could do this. cali May 2014 #42

I think this is unrealistic in many areas, in real terms. When I was in social services, pinto May 2014 #35

Sure, it wouldn't work everywhere, but I think it would work where I live. cali May 2014 #47

I wish they would give people meal vouchers at local diner type restaurants. Cleita May 2014 #36

They should be more specific, and should exclude some things SoCalDem May 2014 #37

btw, I'm not suggesting this be part of the SNAP program itself cali May 2014 #43

I think home ec. should be brought back for all students My Good Babushka May 2014 #52

so do I- an improved home ec- but this is not singling out the poor. cali May 2014 #53

I was speaking more to the people who advocate My Good Babushka May 2014 #58

agreed. I do not support the concept that people on food stamps shouldn't have cali May 2014 #61

Another food stamp user here. My gut says I am too proud to need the help but that kind of info jwirr May 2014 #71

I lived in my car for 3 months & steaming veggies was my last concern. U4ikLefty May 2014 #72

that is particularly rough cali May 2014 #73