Comments on: To the Editor: Tribune article misrepresents poor people’s dietary choices http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/12/01/to-the-editor-tribune-article-misrepresents-poor-people%e2%80%99s-dietary-choices/ The Rock River Times - THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1993 Thu, 23 May 2013 21:13:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Sam Clark http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/12/01/to-the-editor-tribune-article-misrepresents-poor-people%e2%80%99s-dietary-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-1782 Sam Clark Fri, 24 Dec 2010 12:36:55 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=27822#comment-1782 ..and now we can strongly suspect that junk food and fast food are available to link card users [following the charges for improper use of link cards in the recent westside store closures]. The poor often use a completely different set of trade rules than many of the customers Valli Produce receives. [wink: Many customers of link card misuse are not as poor as some would assume!] ..and now we can strongly suspect that junk food and fast food are available to link card users [following the charges for improper use of link cards in the recent westside store closures].

The poor often use a completely different set of trade rules than many of the customers Valli Produce receives. [wink: Many customers of link card misuse are not as poor as some would assume!]

]]> By: angry girl http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/12/01/to-the-editor-tribune-article-misrepresents-poor-people%e2%80%99s-dietary-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-1725 angry girl Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:46:55 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=27822#comment-1725 I have to say, since I have become unemployed, in January, we've had to go to food pantries. Yes, I got emergency services through the LINK program, but have since been denied for reasons not explained to me. That is not my point. This is: we have had to survive on whatever is given to us at the food pantries we visit. No, we're not big on navy beans, but I still have 7 lbs of them and I'm not going to let them go to waste. I also have literally pounds of rice and spaghetti. Yes, meat has gone by the wayside. I get some, if affordable at the Aldi, because its cheaper there. I've never been to Valli Foods, so I really can't comment about that. I DO know that since I can't eat any junk food, because I simply cannot afford it, I have lost over 100 lbs. If I had a Link card, I'd probably buy meat, and maybe a frozen pizza or 2, but they would be "treats". I agree with Sam Clark when he says: "Good food choice outlets are not available in areas of poverty in the same abundance as poor food choices." They just aren't as readily available. If I've got a choice of taking a bus to the store, or walking to the closest fast food place, of course I'm going to stay close, it just make sense. I have to say, since I have become unemployed, in January, we’ve had to go to food pantries. Yes, I got emergency services through the LINK program, but have since been denied for reasons not explained to me. That is not my point. This is: we have had to survive on whatever is given to us at the food pantries we visit. No, we’re not big on navy beans, but I still have 7 lbs of them and I’m not going to let them go to waste. I also have literally pounds of rice and spaghetti. Yes, meat has gone by the wayside. I get some, if affordable at the Aldi, because its cheaper there. I’ve never been to Valli Foods, so I really can’t comment about that. I DO know that since I can’t eat any junk food, because I simply cannot afford it, I have lost over 100 lbs. If I had a Link card, I’d probably buy meat, and maybe a frozen pizza or 2, but they would be “treats”. I agree with Sam Clark when he says: “Good food choice outlets are not available in areas of poverty in the same abundance as poor food choices.” They just aren’t as readily available. If I’ve got a choice of taking a bus to the store, or walking to the closest fast food place, of course I’m going to stay close, it just make sense.

]]> By: Sam Clark http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/12/01/to-the-editor-tribune-article-misrepresents-poor-people%e2%80%99s-dietary-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-1708 Sam Clark Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:41:40 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=27822#comment-1708 @Nobama4Me Using Valli Foods as your source of healthful foods, measure the cost in travel, time, and manpower to shoulder home a week's groceries to a home west of Kilburn Avenue or south of Cedar street on a bus. Then measure the same to less than full service stores that exist in the destination areas. Does the food still cost the same? Travel to any of the stores in the target home areas and match the choices you have at Valli. Just try. If you cite WALMART at either location near these target areas, I again ask you to actually make the trip. Now start in any portion of the "home" area and buy something less than healthful, then compare the same costs in time, travel and manpower. You can repeat this experiment easily in other depressed areas of Rockford and achieve similar results. Good food choice outlets are not available in areas of poverty in the same abundance as poor food choices. If the poor food choices are so easily acquired, which foods do you think will comprise the diets of those with lesser incomes? @Nobama4Me

Using Valli Foods as your source of healthful foods, measure the cost in travel, time, and manpower to shoulder home a week’s groceries to a home west of Kilburn Avenue or south of Cedar street on a bus. Then measure the same to less than full service stores that exist in the destination areas. Does the food still cost the same?

Travel to any of the stores in the target home areas and match the choices you have at Valli.

Just try.

If you cite WALMART at either location near these target areas, I again ask you to actually make the trip.

Now start in any portion of the “home” area and buy something less than healthful, then compare the same costs in time, travel and manpower.

You can repeat this experiment easily in other depressed areas of Rockford and achieve similar results.

Good food choice outlets are not available in areas of poverty in the same abundance as poor food choices.

If the poor food choices are so easily acquired, which foods do you think will comprise the diets of those with lesser incomes?

]]> By: Nobama4Me http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/12/01/to-the-editor-tribune-article-misrepresents-poor-people%e2%80%99s-dietary-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-1690 Nobama4Me Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:31:52 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=27822#comment-1690 I have seen planty of LINK card users at the grocery store with the check out belt piled high with frozen pizzas, etc. I do donate to pantries. My family has made food for and volunteered to serve at Rockford Rescue Mission. I have seen planty of LINK card users at the grocery store with the check out belt piled high with frozen pizzas, etc. I do donate to pantries. My family has made food for and volunteered to serve at Rockford Rescue Mission.

]]> By: Kitty http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/12/01/to-the-editor-tribune-article-misrepresents-poor-people%e2%80%99s-dietary-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-1669 Kitty Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:43:28 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=27822#comment-1669 Nobama4Me, please let me educate you on the plight of the truly poor. They can NOT afford foods at Valli. They do not buy frozen or prepared foods too expensive. They make a lot of pasta (all varieties) as those meals go a long way with few dollars to spend. Meat usually goes by the wayside as it is expensive. Produce does NOT fill a hungry child's belly. Since you believe you eat too much, how about you donate those excess dollars you spend to overeat and give healthy foods to a food pantry. Oh by the way, have you ever gotten food from a food pantry---not healthy or nutritious at all but will fill a hungry stomach or two for a few days. Nobama4Me, please let me educate you on the plight of the truly poor. They can NOT afford foods at Valli. They do not buy frozen or prepared foods too expensive. They make a lot of pasta (all varieties) as those meals go a long way with few dollars to spend. Meat usually goes by the wayside as it is expensive. Produce does NOT fill a hungry child’s belly. Since you believe you eat too much, how about you donate those excess dollars you spend to overeat and give healthy foods to a food pantry. Oh by the way, have you ever gotten food from a food pantry—not healthy or nutritious at all but will fill a hungry stomach or two for a few days.

]]> By: Nobama4Me http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/12/01/to-the-editor-tribune-article-misrepresents-poor-people%e2%80%99s-dietary-choices/comment-page-1/#comment-1645 Nobama4Me Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:03:46 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=27822#comment-1645 Poor people are not forced to eat junk food and things that are bad for them. Food is cheap in this country compared to anywhere else in the world. Too cheap, I say. To the point that all of us eat way more than we need to sustain health. Try shopping at Valli Produce for fresh, healthy produce. It is very reasonable, cheaper than frozen, prepared foods, and much healthier. People are just too lazy and ignorant to make nutritious, healthy means, and like to eat way more than they need. I count myself in those that eat too much, but I eat several fresh fruit per day, and rarely eat prepared foods. Poor people are not forced to eat junk food and things that are bad for them. Food is cheap in this country compared to anywhere else in the world. Too cheap, I say. To the point that all of us eat way more than we need to sustain health. Try shopping at Valli Produce for fresh, healthy produce. It is very reasonable, cheaper than frozen, prepared foods, and much healthier. People are just too lazy and ignorant to make nutritious, healthy means, and like to eat way more than they need. I count myself in those that eat too much, but I eat several fresh fruit per day, and rarely eat prepared foods.

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