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Watch As We Put Organics To The Food Stamps Test
Food For Thought
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Jennifer Grayson, The Huffington Post:
More than one in seven Americans is now on food stamps. That's a sobering statistic in and of itself, but it's even more worrisome when you consider the implications for our future health.
High caloric fast food is cheap and plentiful, and with many states allowing fast food establishments to accept food stamps, the dollar menu may seem, to some, the only option to keep hunger at bay. No wonder the rates of obesity -- particularly child obesity -- continue to climb, with some areas of the country seeing marked increases since the start of the recession.
Our economic health, too, is at risk: The US spends $147 billion a year treating obesity-related ailments. That's more than the current recession cost our economy in its first 12 months.
It doesn't have to be this way. That's why, when a reader wrote in to Eco Etiquette a few weeks back asking if it was possible to eat organic on a food stamp budget, I didn't hesitate. As I covered in my previous column, a healthy organic diet on public assistance is possible, but it does take a bit of know-how; like learning to cook, shopping for staples like dried beans and rice in bulk, and finding farmers markets that accept food stamps - like the ones run by Los Angeles' Model Neighborhood Program (which I feature, below).
All seemingly sound advice; but seeing, of course, is believing. That's why this week, I decided to put my tips to the test, attempting to put together an entire week's worth of well-balanced organic meals on a budget of just over $33 (the average weekly benefit for an American on food stamps).
Did I succeed? WATCH:
Organic on Food Stamps? from Jennifer Grayson on Vimeo.
Jennifer is The Huffington Post's Miss Eco Etiquette and founding editor of The Red, White, and Green. This post was originally featured on the Huffington Post. Follow Jennifer Grayson on Twitter.
Posted by Jenn on 04/02/2011 at 08:14 PM
I write a blog called Organic Cents and although I don’t address food stamps, the main focus of my blog is saving money on organic products. The biggest tip is to stock up on the basics which you can often get super cheap when combining coupons with sales and then finding some sort of co-op for your veggies. Often the supermarkets don’t carry enough variety of organic fruits and vegetables and the ones they do carry come from far away and are expensive. If there are any families out there that are on food stamps or a really tight budget and need help figuring out how to get healthy organic food for their family, check out my blog and email me!
Posted by Tanya Mack on 04/02/2011 at 12:53 PM
I make a stew similar to this (sausage & lentil) and it feeds my family for almost a whole week. =) I thought there were some great budgeting tips in there, and I think it’s totally do-able, if you’re willing to put in the effort to make it happen and resist impulse buys. (SALE! CLEARANCE! No thanks…)
Even if you’re not on food stamps, the challenge to make organic meals for the cost of conventional is still an issue, so I think this article & video has plenty of applications for everyone looking to eat well on a budget.
Thanks!!
Posted by Hanna McCown on 04/02/2011 at 06:29 AM
it does work, I do it for less and we don’t get assistance. Thanks for inspiring Jennifer. Only the best for my family. But you are right. We should all go back to learning how to cook and eat foods which are healthy. If you are trying to copy the unhealthy diet with healthy ingredients it won’t work. We really have to change the way we eat. I’m finding that the new flavors and textures are amazing and you would just have to listen to my adult children talking about eating at mom’s house to know a little what I’m talking about.
Posted by Kris on 04/02/2011 at 04:07 AM
I agree, She cooked that stew completely wrong…no nutrient left after 3 hr. What’s the point? Beans first, then saute the harder veggies and add them & the spinach & meat at the end.
Posted by Jamie on 04/01/2011 at 08:53 PM
My family of 6 is on food stamps. I shop at Whole Foods, almost exclusively for our meat, dairy and bulk grains. I can get all of my organic bulk grains for far less than I can get conventional generic brands at Walmart. I only buy grass fed dairy, and nitrate free lunchmeats and sausages. All it takes is a little bit of planning, and it’s not any more than I would otherwise need to spend planning for a family of 6. I think another important point to remember is the difference between a real portion size, and the portion size most Americans are used to seeing/eating. I think we tend to feel like we need to eat to the point of being stuffed “full”, when in reality, we can usually be completely satisfied eating as little as half of what we generally view as being a normal portion.
Really it’s just a question of making up your mind to eating healthily and putting in the work to do so.
Posted by Audrey 2 on 04/01/2011 at 05:31 PM
The website cookforgood.com has cheap, healthy, and organic recipes that are specifically designed to fit within a food stamp budget. The recipes are generally vegetarian, but still meet a person’s nutritional requirements for protein. The recipes are good, but sometimes fall on the bland side. Still, it can easily be perked up with a dash of spices.
Posted by Earth Becomes Me on 04/01/2011 at 03:48 PM
$33 may be a stretch, but I think Jennifer made her point very well - you can eat healthy on a budget! It does take creativity and some general kitchen know-how, but if it is important enough - you can eat healthy on a budget!!!
Posted by Dalas on 04/01/2011 at 01:27 PM
Food stamps for four people is a lot more than food stamps for one or two people. The maximum in Indiana for food stamps for three people is over $500 a month. In my experience, that is plenty to buy exclusively healthy/organic especially if you have a farmer’s market in your area where you can find cheap fresh produce.
Posted by audrey on 04/01/2011 at 12:44 PM
Certain veggies don’t need to be organic—see the EWG’s dirty dozen and clean fifteen lists. Knowledge of these cleaner foods can go a long way on a budget.
Posted by Melissa @ Dyno-mom on 04/01/2011 at 12:23 PM
It is not impossible to feed children nourishing an organic food that they enjoy on meager budget. I have a family of twelve (yep, ten children) and I feed our family for $900 a month, that is $30 a day for twelve people to eat! I have a series on my blog called “Joey Approves” that is all WAPF style foods approved by my teenager and I working on a series about feeding teens on the cheap. Below you will find a link to my post on how I budget for organic meat and veggies. Note: It means I have to cook. I don’t buy cereal, I cook a hot breakfast. I don’t buy bread, tortillas or crackers because I make them. Organic mixes, cereals and convience foods are a small fortune but organic grain, butter, milk and eggs are affordable.
http://dyno-mom.blogspot.com/2010/12/budget-bubble-busting-and-penny.html
Posted by Wenonah on 03/29/2011 at 05:25 AM
I wonder how many single people with no dependents are on food stamps compared with families. It seems like it may work for one, but it wouldn’t be enough to feed a family of more than that.
Posted by Julie on 03/28/2011 at 06:19 AM
I loved this, I always think about this stuff. I might actually try the stew. Great Ideas Jennifer!!
Posted by Tanya on 03/27/2011 at 06:05 AM
Well, looks too optimistic. And only good for summer season. I try to feed my family organic food as much as I can (and we are oh so on budget). But I’d not eat what she made, sorry. And my children??? it makes me laugh.
Looks too sloppy to me and! after 3 hours of cooking that dish’s lost all vitamins and goodness (that’s why we bought them at the first place). So if video made just for the video ...I understand.
In the real world I’d say it’s possible to buy milk, some! veggies and friuts, bread, rice in bulk, eggs, yogurt, pasta, pasta sause and creacker for my kids. But it’s impossible to keep up with meats, fish, cheese, james, butter, juices, dressings -and you add whatever you like to this list-and stay on $130 for four people.
So get real, ppl!
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Posted by Micah Risk on 04/06/2011 at 05:03 AM
Thank you for this great article and video. This information definitely needs to get out to the masses. People need to know that there are better options out there, even if you don’t have a lot of money. You made it look very simple and tasty. Thanks!!