NBC: Gov. Abbott asks USDA to approve waiver banning junk food purchases with SNAP benefits

[DaisyDay]

This should prove to be very interesting because Congress is likely to become very involved because Coke and other companies will be lobbying (and spending) heavily to maintain the status quo. It is a good idea though. I have not been around food banks much but I am guessing few hand out soda pop and energy drinks. The school lunch program never allows such stuff either so why should SNAP be any different?

I'm surprised we don't have Coca Cola branded lettuce and kale. Although, Dole is a major fresh produce brand in my grocery (such an old fashioned word) store.

The school lunch programs used to allow such stuff as it was a money maker. I think that was stopped during the Obama administration.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

According to a report published by CNBC, USDA studies show that about 5% of SNAP benefits are spent on soda, and about 9% of SNAP spending goes toward “sweetened beverages,” which also include sports drinks, energy drinks, juices, and powder mixes.'

Let's go for common ground. Sweetened drinks, candy and potato chips plus their equivalent are out. Agreed?

To me, the soda and sugary drinks seem like the "lowest hanging fruit" (no pun intended) that people could absolutely do without.

Even if someone is in an area where the public water supply is sub-par, a case of bottled water is still cheaper than a 12-pack of coke...and soda has zero nutritional value.
(I bring up that last part because I've actually heard someone try to use that justification before "in some places the water is nasty" -- to which I've replied back that both health and cost wise, $6 for a case of 24 bottled waters is still better than $8 for a 12-pack of coca-cola)

 

[Oompa Loompa]

The school lunch programs used to allow such stuff as it was a money maker. I think that was stopped during the Obama administration

Yes. Many schools receive money for allowing vending machines full of junk food in the common areas. When Michelle Obama began her campaign to make school lunches healthier, many kids would just skip the cafeteria line and go for the vending machines. I think a fair compromise would be to copy Michelle's list of prohibited cafeteria foods and paste it into the list of foods not eligible for SNAP. Although, I would predict that all those poor and vulnerable single moms will be outraged.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

When Michelle Obama began her campaign to make school lunches healthier, many kids would just skip the cafeteria line and go for the vending machines.

Yep, I had read that before... there were also reports of a lot of healthy food getting thrown away because the kids simply didn't want it

School lunch fruits and veggies often tossed in trash, study finds

Federal guidelines require healthier school lunch items - but that doesn't mean kids are eating them

www.cbsnews.com

 

[iluvatar5150]

To me, the soda and sugary drinks seem like the "lowest hanging fruit" (no pun intended) that people could absolutely do without.

Even if someone is in an area where the public water supply is sub-par, a case of bottled water is still cheaper than a 12-pack of coke...and soda has zero nutritional value.
(I bring up that last part because I've actually heard someone try to use that justification before "in some places the water is nasty" -- to which I've replied back that both health and cost wise, $6 for a case of 24 bottled waters is still better than $8 for a 12-pack of coca-cola)

Water may very well be cheaper but who the heck is paying $8 for a 12-pack? Those things are on sale all the time.

On a related note - I went to a work party last week and, being the responsible adult that I am and not wanting to get plastered too early in the night, ordered a water after my second drink. I don’t know what they last cleaned their soda gun, but I have never seen water that brown or off-tasting outside of an episode of 60 Minutes. I had to drink more alcohol just to kill whatever cordyceps I ingested.

 

[Richard T]

To me, the soda and sugary drinks seem like the "lowest hanging fruit" (no pun intended) that people could absolutely do without.

Even if someone is in an area where the public water supply is sub-par, a case of bottled water is still cheaper than a 12-pack of coke...and soda has zero nutritional value.
(I bring up that last part because I've actually heard someone try to use that justification before "in some places the water is nasty" -- to which I've replied back that both health and cost wise, $6 for a case of 24 bottled waters is still better than $8 for a 12-pack of coca-cola)

It will save a ton on dental not too mention help with weight. I do like individual freedom but as many are sacrificing to help others receive Snap, some strings attached are OK.

 

[bèlla]

Frankly, I think the claims about being self-sufficient with one's own garden are largely overblown. A garden can certainly take the edge off, but I've yet to see anybody - even folks with acres of farmland and gardens - manage to completely replace their grocery store.

That’s rarely the goal for most and I’m in those circles. They grow the most expensive items, products they use frequently, or aim to cover their fruits and vegetables and get their dry goods elsewhere. It’s more than a garden. It’s reducing your dependency on resources others require by producing them yourself or buying things they don’t. Most people who live that life will never admit what they have openly. They downplay the extent of their resources and will never say how long it could last. You may see a garden but they could have years of food stored away and you’d never know and that’s often the case.

But we’re off-topic as you said. Thanks for sharing.

~bella

 

[bèlla]

It will save a ton on dental not too mention help with weight. I do like individual freedom but as many are sacrificing to help others receive Snap, some strings attached are OK.

I agree. Weston Price did a study on the dental impact of traditional diets you may like to peruse. I found him years ago and began doing the same and my health improved dramatically and I lost weight.

~bella

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Water may very well be cheaper but who the heck is paying $8 for a 12-pack? Those things are on sale all the time.

On a related note - I went to a work party last week and, being the responsible adult that I am and not wanting to get plastered too early in the night, ordered a water after my second drink. I don’t know what they last cleaned their soda gun, but I have never seen water that brown or off-tasting outside of an episode of 60 Minutes. I had to drink more alcohol just to kill whatever cordyceps I ingested.

I'm not sure of the sale prices, but just at a local Target near me

I don't ever really buy it apart from when people are coming over.

I think the last time I had Coke was in the form of it being a "mixer" for a rum & coke.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

I'm not sure of the sale prices, but just at a local Target near me

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I don't ever really buy it apart from when people are coming over.

I think the last time I had Coke was in the form of it being a "mixer" for a rum & coke.

If you shop at Target, you are getting ripped off.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

If you shop at Target, you are getting ripped off.

Possibly, but for me, paying an extra couple bucks is worth the trade-off to not have to fight the over-crowding in some of the other stores in the area lol

 

[iluvatar5150]

I'm not sure of the sale prices, but just at a local Target near me

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View attachment 365287

I don't ever really buy it apart from when people are coming over.

I think the last time I had Coke was in the form of it being a "mixer" for a rum & coke.

oh yeah, sticker prices are insane these days. But these things are on perpetual sale - they're always something like, buy 1, get a pallet for free.

Possibly, but for me, paying an extra couple bucks is worth the trade-off to not have to fight the over-crowding in some of the other stores in the area lol

Oh how I wish my local Target was not over-crowded. It's bad enough that the Wal-mart down the street is like a breath of fresh air.

 

[RDKirk]

Yep, I had read that before... there were also reports of a lot of healthy food getting thrown away because the kids simply didn't want it

School lunch fruits and veggies often tossed in trash, study finds

Federal guidelines require healthier school lunch items - but that doesn't mean kids are eating them

www.cbsnews.com

Raised on fast food which is designed to be tasty...that's the right jab.

And then, the left hook, is that a lot of whole foods at the grocery store, particularly vegetables but also eggs and meats, are far less tasty than they once were.

 

[RDKirk]

Oh how I wish my local Target was not over-crowded. It's bad enough that the Wal-mart down the street is like a breath of fresh air.

I thought everyone was boycotting Target. And also Walmart and Amazon.

What...is the boycott not working?

 

[iluvatar5150]

I thought everyone was boycotting Target. And also Walmart and Amazon.

What...is the boycott not working?

If I take my reddit feed as gospel (lol), it's going swimmingly. But I'm apparently at the vanguard of leftyism, because I started boycotting Target waaaaay before they dumped their DEI program. It's easy to boycott something when it sucks.

It's the same reason I boycotted Walmart years ago, though my opinions on them have started to thaw now that I've seen their sales on Christmas lights after Dec 25.

Amazon, though, is gonna be tougher to kick. That "free" shipping is nice.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Oh how I wish my local Target was not over-crowded. It's bad enough that the Wal-mart down the street is like a breath of fresh air.

It's the inverse here...although, I suspect some of that is due to the nature of it being a more "rural" area, and I suspect many around here still avoid the Target for reasons pertaining to "perceptions" & political stuff, and not prices.

Since Target got branded as the "woke" big box store, they're not as crowded in the rural areas in red states anymore.

...which is fine by me, I can buy my stuff in peace & quiet

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Possibly, but for me, paying an extra couple bucks is worth the trade-off to not have to fight the over-crowding in some of the other stores in the area lol

That is fair. You just have to worry about the line of middle aged white women making you wait hours at the checkout line while they argue about prices and make returns.

 

[BCP1928]

It's the inverse here...although, I suspect some of that is due to the nature of it being a more "rural" area, and I suspect many around here still avoid the Target for reasons pertaining to "perceptions" & political stuff, and not prices.

Since Target got branded as the "woke" big box store, they're not as crowded in the rural areas in red states anymore.

...which is fine by me, I can buy my stuff in peace & quiet

Must have missed that one-- of course I don't go to Target much myself, but the one here in town still says Target on the sign, not Woke.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

That is fair. You just have to worry about the line of middle aged white women making you wait hours at the checkout line while they argue about prices and make returns.

Honestly, the Target by me is pretty chill

Unless you're there on a Saturday morning, you pretty much have the entire aisle to yourself no wait at the checkout.

As opposed to the local Walmart, where there's congestion in every aisle, an ever-present hint of BO, and people in sweatpants yelling at their children.

The one that's in the city about 12 miles away is even worse...supposedly (I wasn't personally there to see it), one of the infamous pictures on that "PeopleOfWalmart" website was taken at that one... it was the pic of the guy who was in the checkout line wearing a t-shirt tucked into his tiger print speedo.

 

[wing2000]

Even if someone is in an area where the public water supply is sub-par, a case of bottled water is still cheaper than a 12-pack of coke...and soda has zero nutritional value.
(I bring up that last part because I've actually heard someone try to use that justification before "in some places the water is nasty" -- to which I've replied back that both health and cost wise, $6 for a case of 24 bottled waters is still better than $8 for a 12-pack of coca-cola)

....or 35 cents for a gallon of water at the local water store.