If we accept that SNAP benefits pay for only certain items and it is a supplement to the working poor, then why can’t everyone judging the poor buying soda open their mind to the possibility that the money paying for the soda portion of that SNAP recipient’s grocery order is from their own pocket and all the ‘good food’ is from the SNAP benefit? And then mind your own business as to what someone else is choosing to eat and feed their family. The USDA study that began this conversation makes the very clear point that the study does NOT break out what items were purchased with SNAP benefits and what items were purchase with SNAP recipients ‘own’ cash. And the pertinent piece of information from this study and every other USDA study regarding eating habits of Americans is that no matter what socio economic level someone is living at, Americans (in general) spend about 20% of their food budget on crap.
When we were on SNAP (it was just called food stamps at that time)…there were lots of items we had to pay for in cash, though I wouldn’t have called any of them luxuries. Soap, toilet paper, laundry detergent, deodorant, garbage bags…all of that had to come out of pocket. As did spices and other such add ons (vanilla extract, etc) that actually make home made food tasty. We were never ‘living large’ on the benefits we received, though my mother did deal with judgey fellow shoppers who questioned why/how her children looked well groomed and cared for if we as a family needed to use government benefits. I guess many of those same “pull yourself up by the bootstrap” folks didn’t like to not being able to tell who was using benefits and who wasn’t just ‘by sight’. All those garage sales my mother spent her free time at (and resale shops along with her sewing machine) to make sure we had good quality clothing was clearly us not really needing assistance in the first place.
I truly don’t understand the philosophy some seem to have whereby if one makes enough money not to need SNAP benefits - one can buy and consumer whatever crappy food one desires and one can also buy ‘expensive’ good food without judgement (steak, seafood, organic fruits and veggies). But if you are poor…if you have less and are under more stress day in and day out - you need to ‘show’ people how morally good (or bad) you are by the food choices you make. Food choices aren’t morally good or bad. And most poor people are actually making rational, “best under bad circumstances” choices day in and day out. The number of people who seem to believe that poverty SHOULD condemn those living under it to eat a diet consisting of oatmeal, eggs, rice and beans and green veggies (kale is the only one I’ve seen thrown out in this conversation, so I guess it needs to be a highly prepared green veg to be palatable), while those with money should be able to eat whatever they would like whenever they like seem cruel to my mind. I love eggs, hate oatmeal. If I was poor, I shouldn’t be forced to eat oatmeal if there are many many other options available in order to make some stranger feel better knowing no poor person might have any special pleasure when it comes to eating.
I have been extremely lucky in my life. I have had access to opportunities, resources and experiences many won’t have. I don’t look at this as somehow proof that I was more deserving than those who didn’t get what I have. For all those questioning why poor people often make what look like less optimal choices in their life - i would highly suggest reading the reams of research done on this very topic. There is lots of research out there if this is a true area of interest. And all the research shows that poverty (and the stress and trauma related to the condition of poverty) has a horrible impact of the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of those afflicted by it.
I would just remind many of this thread that many SNAP recipients are children. Children to whom many seem to want to say to, “Since you were stupid enough to be born to poor parents, you should never have a candy bar, or a birthday cake, or a can of soda. You and your family need to prove your worth (no intrinsic worth for the poor!) by eating healthy cheap food everyday because only those lucky enough to have extra money deserve treats. You need to learn early and often that your very existence should be punished so you know exactly how little we as a society value you.”
If you are really a proponent of ‘good choices’, how about tackling the bad choices 99% of America is making - the vast majority of whom aren’t on SNAP, and if you can’t change the habits of those with the least number of barriers to change - why would anyone want to concentrate on those whose lives are the hardest and least flexible? So much of this is clearly punitive, no matter what those who say concern is their only motive would like to believe.