20% of food stamps spent on soda & junk food.

[TITAN308]

Over all, the report found, SNAP households spent about 40 cents of every dollar at the grocery store on “basic items” like meat, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs and bread. Another 40 cents of every dollar was spent on “cereal, prepared foods, dairy products, rice and beans.” Lastly, 20 cents of each dollar was spent on a broad category of junk foods that included “sweetened beverages, desserts, salty snacks, candy and sugar.”

SNAP households spent 9.3 percent of their grocery budgets on soft drinks alone. That was slightly higher than the 7.1 percent figure for households that do not receive food stamps..

The U.S.D.A. concluded that both food stamp recipients and other households generally made similar purchases.

But several public health experts said the findings were deeply troubling.

David Ludwig, the director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, said the purpose of SNAP was to protect the health and well-being of the nation, not to ensure that poor households had ample access to sugary drinks.

Source Article

Take what you will from the article I suppose.

[Wyrt]

Food deserts.

[Raskayz]

Food in the us is addictive shit loaded with sugar

Not surprising

But i guess what you want us to do is bash those people until they don't have any joy in life for their sin of being poor

[Gemini Soul]

Maybe if the healthy stuff was cheaper than the non-healthy stuff those with SNAP where every penny matters would buy it instead.

[PC2]

Sugar is the cheapest macro-nutrient, next to saturated and trans-fat. They should eat healthier but we can't blame them from a financial perspective. A high protein diet is good but also costs a bit more.

[Darsithis]

Healthy food is more expensive.

Two, who the hell cares? It is that important to regulate what people in poverty eat? Is it going to prevent them from having a job if they buy a soda?

[TITAN308]

A high protein diet is good but also costs a bit more.

I personally believe it is more complicated that than and it gets into portion size.

Yes more healthy food can be expensive, but its somewhat counter-productive when people are overeating that food as well.

Some people eat enough food in one sitting that could be rationed out into 3 separate meals.

[Deleted]

SNAP households spent 9.3 percent of their grocery budgets on soft drinks alone. That was slightly higher than the 7.1 percent figure for households that do not receive food stamps.

Dumb people buy more junk food than smarter people. No surprise there.

[schwarzkopf]

Maybe if the healthy stuff was cheaper than the non-healthy stuff those with SNAP where every penny matters would buy it instead.

When you can buy pizza or McMeals etc so damn cheap and make it last - healthy meals become a luxury many can't afford.

[zorkuus]

Junk food is cheaper. More news at 11.

[TITAN308]

Healthy food is more expensive.

Two, who the hell cares? It is that important to regulate what people in poverty eat? Is it going to prevent them from having a job if they buy a soda?

Well some Doctors care I guess based on the article?

[the game]

Doesn't bother me. It's not anybodies business what someone buys with the money they were alotted in food stamps. You have a right to disagree with it but that's as far as it should go.

[Deleted]

Healthy food is more expensive.

Not when it comes to drinks. Tap water costs almost nothing. Tea costs very little compared to soda. Heat up some water, make tea -> stay healthier and save money.

[Adam Jensen]

Healthy food is more expensive.

Two, who the hell cares? It is that important to regulate what people in poverty eat? Is it going to prevent them from having a job if they buy a soda?

Party of small government wants to regulate what you eat, who you marry, whether you carry a baby to term, what contraceptives you use and what god you worship.

[Jtbrig7390]

Not when it comes to drinks. Tap water costs almost nothing. Tea costs very little compared to soda. Heat up some water, make tea -> stay healthier and save money.

That really works when you need a sugar rush to get ready for ur 2nd job or to go to ur first job.

Ontopic: Junk/unhealthy food is way more cheaper.......

[alzoron]

Dumb people buy more junk food than smarter people. No surprise there.

According to the article:

The U.S.D.A. concluded that both food stamp recipients and other households generally made similar purchases.

You're wrong. On average everyone buys pretty much the same the same stuff regardless of intelligence and income.

[Kraenen]

Not when it comes to drinks. Tap water costs almost nothing. Tea costs very little compared to soda. Heat up some water, make tea -> stay healthier and save money.

Or heck just buy a bag of rice, peanut butter, toast, a whole chicken (use all the parts, freeze), and some spinach. Cheap as hell for the calories/nutrients you get.

[Annoying]

Not surprising. The top food based on caloric intake for the entire US population is grain-based desserts, i.e. cookies, cake, doughnuts, pastries, etc. Bread is #2, chicken is #3, and soda is #4. And that's for the whole of the country.

Adding up all of the sugary/junk food crap on the list (which I'll link at the end), you end up with 20.54% of all US consumption being soda and junk food, so it's about right on average.

(source p25 - PDF WARNING)

[Kraenen]

According to the article:

You're wrong. On average everyone buys pretty much the same the same stuff regardless of intelligence and income.

That doesn't prove anything about intelligence (or being able to make smart choices and self-discipline), just being poor enough to be on food stamps vs not.

[TITAN308]

That really works need you need a sugar rush to get ready for ur 2nd job or to go to ur first job.

Ontopic: Junk/unhealthy food is way more cheaper.......

Coffee with no sugar takes what, 30 seconds to make? (just playing devils advocate)