A Department of Agriculture survey released last week showed that 17 million American households (14.6 percent) were “food insecure” at some point in 2008. That’s up from 13 million households (11.1 percent) in 2007. What’s even more troubling is that among households with children, the percentage that were food insecure was 21 percent. Being “food insecure” refers to reduced or disrupted food supplies due to a lack of money or other resources. Given the sharp increase in unemployment this year, the number of households facing food insecurity likely has continued to increase — which is why it is important to increase support, if possible, for such charities as the Kansas Food Bank and the Lord’s Diner.
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28 Comments
What’s this “food insecure” stuff? Apparently government speak for “Not enough food to feed the family this week.”
It would help to remove the sales tax from sales of food and school clothing.
But this morning’s Wichita Eagle is ruminating about adding sales taxes to formerly exempt sales in order to, perhaps, pay for more parking for the white elephant downtown Intrust arena and other pie-in-the-sky recreational venues.
You oppose the Intrust Arenea, “JWink?”
Why haven’t you mentioned it before?
This is inexcusable given the amount of food that is thrown away and otherwise wasted in this country.
One problem with food insecurity is the choice of food.
Instead of buying a sack of beans, people buy a more expensive per serving can of beans. It’s not that much of bother to soak some beans to prepare them for a meal.
Buy flour and other raw incredients to bake your products rather than purchase prepared products.
I rarely see people these days use coupons.
Generics are less expensive and just as good as brand names.
Reg I think you are on the right track here. We are seeing a generation of ‘kids’ who were raised on fast foods and many don’t know how to cook let alone how to buy smart.
I was raised in a large family by a mother who was a great cook. I didn’t know that everyones moms didn’t make bread daily. My idea of a great meal was a little sausage gravy and homemade biscuits. Depending on the chickens there might be an egg to go with that every morning.
All this to say that education might be a bigger part of feeding the masses than more give-a-way programs. We have extension departments that might be able to set up a cirriculum for this.
When I buy food for the food pantries I always buy with the idea in mind that the recipents probably don’t have the talent or ability to cook much. The pop top cans are great for kids left alone a lot. Mixes that only need water to be prepared. Fresh veggies that are longer lasting such as carrots. Apples last longer than other fruits.
We who are able should help as much as possible. The economy will come back but until that happens we have to step in and fill the gap.
American’s don’t know how to cook?
What good is public education then? Do schools no longer teach Health, Nutrition, and Cooking fundamentals?
America is FAT!!!!
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html
U.S. Obesity Trends
Trends by State 1985–2008
Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. BMI is calculated from a person’s weight and height and provides a reasonable indicator of body fatness and weight categories that may lead to health problems. Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
During the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. In 2008, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; six of these states (Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia ) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%.
The animated map below shows the United States obesity prevalence from 1985 through 2008.
(Animated Map is truly telling.)
One Big Cause for higher health care costs in America, is the higher need for health care here.
Obese people are far less healthy.
No National Health Care Bill is gonna change that, unless food rationing or health care rationing is used to cull the fat people.
Obesity Rates by Country
# 1 United States: 30.6%
# 2 Mexico: 24.2%
# 3 United Kingdom: 23%
# 4 Slovakia: 22.4%
# 5 Greece: 21.9%
# 6 Australia: 21.7%
# 7 New Zealand: 20.9%
# 8 Hungary: 18.8%
# 9 Luxembourg: 18.4%
# 10 Czech Republic: 14.8%
# 11 Canada: 14.3%
# 12 Spain: 13.1%
# 13 Ireland: 13%
# 14 Germany: 12.9%
= 15 Portugal: 12.8%
= 15 Finland: 12.8%
# 17 Iceland: 12.4%
# 18 Turkey: 12%
# 19 Belgium: 11.7%
# 20 Netherlands: 10%
# 21 Sweden: 9.7%
# 22 Denmark: 9.5%
# 23 France: 9.4%
# 24 Austria: 9.1%
# 25 Italy: 8.5%
# 26 Norway: 8.3%
# 27 Switzerland: 7.7%
= 28 Japan: 3.2%
= 28 Korea, South: 3.2%
Note:
1. There are twice as many fat Americans as fat Canadians.
2. There are three times as many fat Americans as fat French.
People can be over weight and under nourished.
In America, it’s easy. It is just another element of our deliberately wasteful and thoughtless culture.
Dire Diabetes Predictions Challenge Medicare Debates in Congress
28/11/2009
The number of aging baby boomers diagnosed with diabetes will nearly double in the next 25 years, says a new study, and spending on treatment may triple over the same period.
Today there are an estimated 23.7 million people living with diabetes with that number expected to balloon to 44.1 million in 2034, according to the study from the University of Chicago.
Spending on diabetes will rise from $113 billion to $336 billion — even if there is no increase in obesity rates, one of the biggest risk factors for the disorder.
Researchers emphasize that much of the cost will be driven by the aging baby boomer population. “Baby boomers,” the 77 million Americans born between 1946 and 1957, are rapidly approaching retirement age and also the age of onset of diabetes. As they become Medicare eligible, the number of those diagnosed with diabetes could rise from 8.2 million to 14.6 million, researchers predict.
With warnings that federal spending on diabetes treatment will skyrocket from $45 billion to $171 billion, researchers say now is the time to stress dietary and lifestyle changes.
“If we don’t change our diet and exercise habits or find new, more effective and less expensive ways to prevent and treat diabetes, we will find ourselves in a lot of trouble as a population,” said lead author Dr. Elbert Huang, assistant professor of medicine in a University of Chicago news release.
“Without significant changes in public or private strategies,” authors wrote, “this population and cost growth are expected to add a significant strain to an overburdened health care system.”
http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Disease/diabetes_congress_281120090537.html
Gotta Love this Brownlib topic about Starving Americans!
Say Brownlib, how many Americans have starved to death in the last 50 years? 100 years?
The Kansas Food Bank has done a wonderful job of harvesting food from the Wal-Marts of the world. Food that was once thrown out is now frozen and distributed to agencies to be passed out to the needy. We could not give out the food we do without that intervention by some caring people and their resources! The sad thing is, there are still grocery stores and markets out there that throw out their almost expired food and they refuse to give us access to that which would be a treasure in the right hands.
samkan
Posted November 29, 2009 at 11:33 am | Permalink
The sad thing is, there are still grocery stores and markets out there that throw out their almost expired food and they refuse to give us access to that which would be a treasure in the right hands.
—————————————–
Likely causes:
1. Government Regulation.
2. Afraid of Lawsuits.
I’m sure Obama will fix this. He fixes everything.
BlueJay
Posted November 29, 2009 at 10:53 am | Permalink
People can be over weight and under nourished.
In America, it’s easy. It is just another element of our deliberately wasteful and thoughtless culture.
—————————————-
Nope, more like poor dietary choices,like it or not it comes down to individual responsibility.
When the worst food is the cheapest, personal responsibility don’t enter into it.
With you it never does.
Nope, more like poor dietary choices,like it or not it comes down to individual responsibility.
Actually, our harried American lifestyles (we are the most productive for the least money) combine with the high prices of healthy food and the convenience of “quick” food (microwave lunches, etc.) to produce unhealthy choices (which, includes, by the way, “Healthy Choice”–loaded with sodium).
Of course, if you’re good with spices and have a cupboard full of handy dietary staples, one can eat cheaper, and avoid processed foods. If not, then it’s almost impossible to avoid them.
P.S. American obesity has in fact been exported, so to speak, to many developing countries. Spam trolls like JJ would have us believe that this means people are overfed. Wrong. They’re just eating fat-laden crap.
The state needs to dump sales tax on food. That would really help a lot.
Jim Jones advocates food rationing. Wow. I tell ya, cheap fast food is the problem, as well as processed carbs being cheap. The bad food is cheap.
I can go to Mcdonalds for lunch 5 days a week and get two cheeseburgers for 10 bucks- for the entire week. Or I can go to Dillons and buy cheese, mayo, bread, ham. Will feed me for a week and cost 15 dollars.
Pmom,
I agree it sure would help in stretching food budgets
politicalmama
Posted November 29, 2009 at 12:59 pm | Permalink
Jim Jones advocates food rationing.
——————————–
You lie again Pmom.
Whatsamatter, not enough action on your Progressive Puzzies Web site?
Rage
Posted November 29, 2009 at 12:39 pm | Permalink
P.S. American obesity has in fact been exported, so to speak, to many developing countries. Spam trolls like JJ would have us believe that this means people are overfed. Wrong. They’re just eating fat-laden crap.
====================================
Those fat people are starving!
Those fat people are starving!
Nutrionally speaking, that’s often correct. There are in fact fat people in developing countries who suffer from malnutrition.
Granted, unhealthy food is better than no food at all, which used to be the case for many such folks.
Perhaps more gubermint control of the stupid people will help. Perhaps the Obamacare bill in Congress which includes gubermint control of candy vendor machines will help the stupid people despite the expense.
Stupid people will continue to be stupid. JJ makes a point we sure have more fat people than any country on earth, despite this latest survey.
Regular is onto something. My wife and I have great jobs and very very good salaries, a military retirement check, health insurance for cheap, and working to a sound investment goal for retirement.
We still clip and use coupons.
But we stand in line behind many who do not. Can you use coupons w/food stamps? Maybe that should be a requirement?
Hey Dillons?
GOOD on you for marking stuff down just prior to the expire date. And it’s cool that some of your stores clearance out their hot deli rather than just throwing the food away. But marking stuff just half off? A pound of Tiger shrimp isn’t gonna sell at 13 bucks about to expire anymore than it is gonna sell at 26 “fresh” in most parts of this town. And one third off the cost of a pound of about to expire hamburger? You’re intention is good and eliminates waste. But your goal should be to throw NOTHING away.
Can you use coupons w/food stamps? Maybe that should be a requirement?
Yet more conservative “keeping government out of people’s lives.”