In the Shopping Cart of a Food Stamp Household: Lots of Soda

[opal]

Yep.

And contrary to pop culture, meat products don't make a person fat, carbs do.

exception.. if someone eats a lot of high fat pork and beef that ate mostly grain (GMO corn/soy) it's getting carbs the long way around
also in that scenario.. those same products will raise blood sugar - I saw it happen
My husband had the flu a few years back.. first thing he wanted when he could eat was a porterhouse.. his blood sugar went from 91 to 289 on just steak
it was not grass fed

 

[donnay]

Yep.

I've worked with many foodbanks- one of the problems is that many big stores are not allowed to give their unsold food items to the foodbanks any more. They have to throw away 1000s of pounds of food, rather than donating it.

We definitely need .gov out of the welfare business.

Exactly! No one should ask government for any breaks. because that is when they dictate.

It's a sin the amount of food that is wasted while people are starving.

 

[tod evans]

Yep.

I've worked with many foodbanks- one of the problems is that many big stores are not allowed to give their unsold food items to the foodbanks any more. They have to throw away 1000s of pounds of food, rather than donating it.

We definitely need .gov out of the welfare business.

Our locally owned grocery stores donate outdated non-perishables to local charities and have local hog farmers who pick-up outdated bread-n-produce every night.

Wal-Mart and their ilk don't do that....

 

[phill4paul]

The report compared SNAP households and non-SNAP households. While those who used food stamps bought slightly more junk food and fewer vegetables, both SNAP and non-SNAP households bought ample amounts of sweetened drinks, candy, ice cream and potato chips. Among non-SNAP households, for example, soft drinks ranked second on the list of food purchases, behind milk.

Well, there is a difference here, Einstien. Non-SNAP households have what is called "discretionary income" that they may spend on what they want not necessarily that which they need. SNAP should only cover that which is necessary for survival.

 

[phill4paul]

Our locally owned grocery stores donate outdated non-perishables to local charities and have local hog farmers who pick-up outdated bread-n-produce every night.

Wal-Mart and their ilk don't do that....

It all depends where you live and what the government will allow.

 

[CPUd]

 

[Zippyjuan]

Info on Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits: http://www.cbpp.org/research/a-quick-guide-to-snap-eligibility-and-benefits

Its gross monthly income — that is, its income before any of the program’s deductions are applied — generally must be at or below 130 percent of the poverty line. For a family of three, the poverty line used to calculate SNAP benefits in federal fiscal year 2017 is $1,680 a month. Thus, 130 percent of the poverty line for a three-person family is $2,184 a month, or about $26,200 a year. The poverty level is higher for bigger families and lower for smaller families.[3]

Its net income, or income after deductions are applied, must be at or below the poverty line.

Its assets must fall below certain limits: households without an elderly or disabled member must have assets of $2,250 or less, and households with an elderly or disabled member must have assets of $3,250 or less.

Table 1 shows the maximum SNAP benefit levels in fiscal year 2017 for households of different sizes. Take as an example a family of three: if that family had no income, it would receive the maximum benefit of $511 per month; if it had $600 in net monthly income, it would receive the maximum benefit ($511) minus 30 percent of its net income (30 percent of $600 is $180), or $331. On average, SNAP households currently receive about $255 a month. The average SNAP benefit per person is about $126 per month, which works out to about $1.40 per person per meal.

Now if we take that average benefit of $126 a month per person and go by the figure in the OP:

The findings show that the No. 1 purchases by SNAP households are soft drinks, which accounted for 5 percent of the dollars they spent on food.

That would be $6.30 a month on average per person going to sodas.

 

[timosman]

Yep.

And contrary to pop culture, meat products don't make a person fat, carbs do.

Thank you for saying that, professor.

 

[phill4paul]

Info on Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits: http://www.cbpp.org/research/a-quick-guide-to-snap-eligibility-and-benefits

The average SNAP benefit per person is about $126 per month, which works out to about $1.40 per person per meal.

And that is why they should not be buying sodas.

 

[Zippyjuan]

They buy the cheapest soda or water they can find in cases, walk out to the parking lot, pour it out, then bring the returnables back in for the deposit money and use it to buy drugs. This is the real reason it's the most bought item.

Not going to get very high off the deposit on $6.30 of sodas. That is probably less than a dollar. In California, a bottle 24 ounces or less has a five cents deposit- ten cents for larger. A 24 pack of bottled water or soda? $1.20 in deposit.

 

[Zippyjuan]

Should there be freedom of choice?

 

[juleswin]

Years ago when my kids were small I would bring them out early on recycling day to pick up cans and bottles. In CT there is a 5 cent deposit. We would find very few cans or bottles in the recycling until we got to the Section 8 neighborhood. It was there that we scored pay dirt. Often times getting $20 worth of bottles in a half hour. People that pay for their chit value what they pay for more than those that get it for free.

Wow, sometime you guys made $20 in 30 minutes. That is 400 cans in 30 minutes or 13.3 cans a minute. Also were the cans neatly packed in separated bags for you guys to pick it? That is quite amazing. I tried collecting cans my self and got about $1.20c in 6 months of collecting my own and friends empty cans. Then I decided to dumpster dive and that was when I decided it was not worth my time. I say this because the cans were sandwiched between rotten food, dirty diapers, broken bottles etc and did I mention dirty diapers?

I think you might have come in the day after a big celebration to get that much of a loot. But just out of curiosity, what was the average amount made per day from can hunting? I talked to a few dumpster divers here in Nebraska and they made about $10 - 20 per day and that is only because over the bridge in Iowa they get a 15 cents fee per can instead of the 5 c you get when you turn it in in Nebraska.

Can hunting is really not worth anyone's time at 5 c per can. It is dangerous, it is very unreliable and there are better alternatives that are easier to perform and pay more. I wouldn't collect those cans even if I was on food stamps.

 

[phill4paul]

Should there be freedom of choice?

Like the choice to voluntarily contribute or not?

 

[Zippyjuan]

Are you prohibited from making a voluntary contribution?

 

[Schifference]

Wow, sometime you guys made $20 in 30 minutes. That is 400 cans in 30 minutes or 13.3 cans a minute. Also were the cans neatly packed in separated bags for you guys to pick it? That is quite amazing. I tried collecting cans my self and got about $1.20c in 6 months of collecting my own and friends empty cans. Then I decided to dumpster dive and that was when I decided it was not worth my time. I say this because the cans were sandwiched between rotten food, dirty diapers, broken bottles etc and did I mention dirty diapers?

I think you might have come in the day after a big celebration to get that much of a loot. But just out of curiosity, what was the average amount made per day from can hunting? I talked to a few dumpster divers here in Nebraska and they made about $10 - 20 per day and that is only because over the bridge in Iowa they get a 15 cents fee per can instead of the 5 c you get when you turn it in in Nebraska.

Can hunting is really not worth anyone's time at 5 c per can. It is dangerous, it is very unreliable and there are better alternatives that are easier to perform and pay more. I wouldn't collect those cans even if I was on food stamps.

As mentioned it was recycling day. They were already at the curb. Sometimes big bags or multiple bags of cans/bottles. There were 3 of us. That is only the collecting portion. Obviously sticking those dirty cans into a machine took time.

 

[phill4paul]

Are you prohibited from making a voluntary contribution?

Am I required to non-voluntarily contribute?

 

[FSP-Rebel]

Should there be freedom of choice?

Not with other peoples' money. They are at the behest of their liege that foots the bill so I would be generous and offer them a daily meal of rice and cabbage if they're not willing to work for themselves. Only the most severely disabled should be given a pass.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Of course they buy soda. What are they supposed to drink? Water? Like in the toilet?

 

[CPUd]

Not going to get very high off the deposit on $6.30 of sodas. That is probably less than a dollar. In California, a bottle 24 ounces or less has a five cents deposit- ten cents for larger. A 24 pack of bottled water or soda? $1.20 in deposit.

If you were a drug addict, the math on this would make more sense.

 

[phill4paul]

As mentioned it was recycling day. They were already at the curb. Sometimes big bags or multiple bags of cans/bottles. There were 3 of us. That is only the collecting portion. Obviously sticking those dirty cans into a machine took time.

That's against the law in my town. Cuts into the trash companies profits.