Poor and hungry? Food stamps won't cut it.
Via Susie, one more way in which we screw the poor.
Food-stamp diet? It'll make ya sick
BY ADAM NICHOLS
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERHealthy eating on the food stamp diet was mission impossible - even for the Daily News' expert shopper.
Despite bargain hunting, St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan dietitian Tina Fuchs fell short on every vital food group when asked to buy a week's worth of food with only $28.
The nutritionist was challenged to see whether she could do better than Queens Councilman Eric Gioia, who has been living on the average food-stamp allotment for a single recipient for the past week.
And, though more nutritious than the Democrat's diet of Ramen noodles, cheese slices and white bread, she said her shopping cart would still lead to major long-term health problems.
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Fuchs' produce quota was lacking despite buying lettuce, grapefruit, broccoli, apples, tangerines, carrots and collard greens - many of which were on sale.
"We should be having five cups of fruit and vegetables a day," she said. "We have maybe two. I'm losing protection against chronic diseases."
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"Eating this diet long-term, I'd be concerned about heart disease, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis," she said.
The cart full of food actually sent her $2 above budget - and was still almost 1,000 calories a day under what an average person should eat.
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"By giving such a small food stamp allowance, we are effectively poisoning people by cutting them off from proper nourishment," said Gioia, whose diet ends today.
When last we were unemployed and poor, our foodstamp allowance for a family of six was $450 per month. That equals about $17/person/week, eleven dollars less than what the two New Yorkers above based their purchases.
