Vegetarian Star

Jillian Michaels has written an editorial on how America can help those in poverty by making reforms to the food stamp program. You’ve already witnessed how purchasing vegan items on the grocery list might be one benefit to recipients as it may help dollars stretch.

Now Michaels is proposing changes to the program that insist those dollars be spent on more wholesome food. As usual, these types of opinions tread the fine line between Big Brother taking care of the unfortunate and destroying their freedom of choice. And unless the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP designs an overhaul that both encourages and makes it feasible to eat well on a vegetarian or vegan diet, all the banning of sodas and chips won’t do much for the country’s poor.

But Michaels makes some good points.

“The Farm Bill, which is up for renewal, needs to include language that will encourage corner stores in food deserts to swap beef jerky and Red Bull for high-nutrient fare such as frozen peas, fresh apples, black beans and oatmeal,” write Michaels.

“Under current rules, SNAP retailers are paid dollar-for-dollar for purchases of energy drinks, potato chips and processed meat. Stores have no incentive to stock shelves with healthful items.”

“If SNAP focused solely on simple basics like fresh fruits and vegetables, it would quickly help Americans trim their own waistlines and help fight health disparities in low-income neighborhoods. We would see huge cost savings short term and even bigger savings in reduced health care spending down the road. Unhealthy diets high in meat, cheese, processed foods and sugar put people on track to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other costly diseases.”

“SNAP recipients would still be able to purchase candy and soda, but they would have to use their own money.”

Read Michaels entire column here.

Photo: csztova/Creative Commons

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