Fresh Perspectives: HPU Anthology of First Year Writing, Spring 2013

form of release. Subconsciously their minds take them back to the time they last felt satisfied, and food is associated with those memories because of the happy chemical release provided. Sugary food has become an affordable escape from the pressures a poor person goes through on a daily basis.

This sugar reward phenomenon is something that is not easy to part with, either. Socioeconomic status can be established as early as childhood, and “depression may well be a result of lower SES” (Beydoun 1084). With depressive symptoms starting at an early age and sugar being the go-to remedy throughout an entire lifetime, many poor people are increasing their body fat and their risk for numerous diseases with each passing day. Sugars have brought literal meaning to the term “comfort food.”

For anyone who doesn’t understand the implications of energy-dense foods on their bodies and who only experience the glimpse of temporary joy such food brings them, there is no urgency to change their eating habits. As explained, energy-dense foods are cheap (especially for the amount of energy they provide), they are easily accessible, and they provide a source of happiness in a wrapper. Without any other knowledge, an energy-dense diet can seem like the smartest way to go. This is why it is necessary for SNAP to establish a mandatory nutrition class on the consequences of a poor diet. SNAP participants need to have a place to learn about obesity or this will never be seen as an issue worth caring about. Obesity is more than a matter of some weight gain and appearance; obesity is the leading cause in many diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and many hormonal and metabolic imbalances. More problems like stroke, heart attacks, and reproductive issues can then stem from obesity-related illness (“Understanding Obesity”).

A mandatory class may seem like a forced or unfair obstacle for a person applying for their SNAP allowance, but it does not necessarily have to be. When applying for a scholarship for college, students need to attain good grades, fill out applications, get recommendation letters, and write essays. In some special cases students may even need to sign a contract with a company stating they will be employees of that company for a certain amount of years after college to fund their education. When applying for car insurance, members may have to watch safety videos and pass a test to receive any kind of discount. Because SNAP is supplying families with money for food, SNAP has the right to require a small course of action before the amount is released to the family. This may peeve some families, but overall it is not something that should deter individuals or families from participating in the program and receiving money for food. It would not be something that would hurt people, and it only has the potential to help.

Recently, the USDA started taking steps in the right direction. In October 2008 the Food Stamp Program gained the new title Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This was more than just a name change, though. The USDA wanted to make this government assistance program more about nutrition and helping people become healthy, rather than just passing out food for families to get by.

One of several changes made was an increase in funds for nutrition education and obesity prevention programs. When visiting the SNAP website, I found not only that SNAP has taken the initiative to study and survey the dietary habits of its participants; in addition, they have formed a lesson plan on nutrition that includes the importance of the food pyramid guidelines (Bishaw 1).

After the first set of changes, it is clear that SNAP is becoming more aware of its impact on the lives of the less fortunate. SNAP sees that in the past they may have encouraged poor habits, but now they want to make up for it by becoming a good influence, promoting nutritious foods and educating their - 54 -