Group 1 Food Stamps Issue Book by Alan Nightingale

Food Stamps March 2012

The connection between food stamps, unhealthy food, and obesity

Table of Contents Food Stamps - March 2012

Background History and Nature of the Problem … 1 Scope of the Issue … 1 Ramifications … 1

Interviews Interview With a Health and Welfare Secretary … 2 Interview with a WIC Department Employee of 16 years … 2 Interview With a Former Food Stamp Recipient … 2

Solutions Solution #1 … 3 Solution #2 … 3 Solution #3 … 3

Appendix Breana Arnell … 4 Brady Ballard … 4 Sheree Harper … 5 Alan Nightingale … 6 More information … 7

History and Nature of the Problem

Food stamp use has increased dramatically since 2008

By Sheree Harper The first Food Stamps program began May 16, 1939 and ended in the spring of 1943. The program was an experiment designed to connect those malnourished Americans with the surplus of food that farmers had. Participants in the program could purchase orange stamps that would equal what they would be spending on their groceries and for every $1 of orange stamps they would be given $.50 in blue stamps. The blue stamps could be used for specific food that was considered surplus. The program ended in 1943 with the explanation that “since the conditions that brought the program into being—unmarketable food surpluses and widespread unemployment—no longer existed.” In 1964 President Johnson asked Congress to pass the Food Stamps Act that would make food stamps a permanent program in the United States. The purpose of Food Stamps was to “strengthen the agricultural economy and provide improved levels of nutrition among low-income households.” From the original Food Stamps Act of 1964, food stamps has gone through many revisions all with the purpose of creating a better program in which to help low-income households. Today, the purpose of food stamps is the same but research is showing that many program participants are no longer undernourished, but rather many food stamps recipients are in the category of being overweight or obese. Where did the line get crossed from helping the undernourished to supporting those who are low-come and overweight? A recent issue, at the heart of food stamps, is the quality of food that is being bought. It is important to help those low-income people who need food assistance, but is the current program helping them or hurting them? Many people on food stamps are purchasing unhealthy food and this is aiding in the obesity epidemic that we are facing as a nation. The empty calories being consumed is a cause for greater problems in terms of their health as well as not leaving them any more nourished. The food stamps program is in need of another overhaul in which low-income participants can get the help that they need to buy healthy food for their families.

“We got a picture of a gorge, with farm surpluses on one cliff and under-nourished city folks with outstretched hands on the other. We set out to find a practical way to build a bridge across the chasm.” —Milo Perkins First Administrator of Food Stamps Program

Scope of the Issue By Brady Ballard The overall purpose of our study is to help Americans take care of its poor and needy. We have chosen the topic of food stamps because of the current economic hardships that are facing over 46 millions of Americans that benefit from food subsidies. Food stamps have been around since 1939 and the original idea was to provide temporary relief to those in need. Our concern is that program is now being abused. We are currently seeing it as a program to help those who have poor spending habits, poor diet, and poor nutritional education. A member of our team had interviewed an employee of the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), saying that women drive up in Cadillac Escalades to pick up their WIC checks. That is just poor financial management and the question then arises how come they are receiving government funding for food? Also a huge issue is people spending their food stamps on junk food such as candy, soda, and ice cream. A program that was meant to provide the essentials such as milk, bread, eggs, and cheese to needy families is being used to cut corners so families can have a nicer car or eat junk food. This is not the purpose of the program. Another rising concern is in connection with poor food selection comes obesity. There is a strong correlation between unhealthy eating and obesity. These are all serious issue that we as a group feel strongly about and feel that one solution is lack of education.

Ramifications By Breana Arnell Obesity rates in America are among the highest in the world with 74.5% of people being overweight or 1

obese. Out of the six major health problems created by unhealthy diets, five of them are caused by excess, salt, sugar and fat. The diets we are openly offering our food stamp recipients are foods that are major contributors to health problems. Nationally, 7% of all food stamp money goes to purchasing soda pop alone. This not only creates more medical visits but also impairs our original goal of providing basic needs to all Americans. It is hard to argue that food-stamp recipients are undeserving. About half of them are children, and another 8% are elderly. I feel that we are doing as much damage as good when we provide them with food items that are not on part of the Choose My Plate plan. While I feel it is our duty to help those in need, Psalms 132:15 says …” I will satisfy her poor with bread,” it did not say with Twinkies and root beer. Two states have already begun the steps to change the food stamp program. Texas has found that obesity related conditions, including diabetes and heart disease, already cost Texas businesses $9.5 billion a year in lost worker productivity and higher insurance. Health care costs for obese Texans are 42 percent higher than for normal-weight individuals. Rep. Susan King of Texas is pushing a bill to restrict the use of food stamps for foods high in salt, fat, sugar and refined grains. She said that, “Tax dollars meant to provide families with adequate nutrition should not subsidize the purchase of unhealthy food.” By giving so much, we are actually hurting families in the long run. There was a time when starvation was a major American health issue, but it now is obesity.

Interview With a Health and Welfare Secretary By Breana Arnell Because I have known and worked with her through foster care, she gave me her personal opinions and insights. She did ask me to not use her name because in her words “she is not allowed to have opinion.” Her opinion of the problem is that recipients are getting too much money. She said that the amount of food stamp money is very high. When asked what the maximum benefits my family would qualify for and she said a family my size (8) would get$1202 a month and a family of four could get up to $684. (That is $600 more than my family currently spends). Our area has a low cost of living. I asked her if she felt that Food stamps should allow junk food. She laughed and said, “Heck no. Well, maybe 10% of the budget.” One of her frustrations was listening to people in her church talk about the way they use they abuse their food stamps. They trade them, use them for valentine’s candy, and use them to build up their year supply. She also has felt like the people abuse the food stamps when they are buying junk food.

force them to learn how to cook and spend on a budget.

Interview with a WIC Department Employee of 16 Years

Interview With a Former Food Stamp Recipient By Breana Arnell His wife and two daughters that were under the age of 3 received $900 a month for food for 2 months.

By Breana Arnell He has strong feelings about the issue. First, that food stamps are being used to buy unhealthy and expensive items. Second, people that play the system and rely on government money so they can buy expensive cars are abusing the system. He thinks the WIC program is worthwhile because of the education and limitations on food purchases. Each recipient is required to attend nutrition classes. Also, the children are weighed and measured and have some blood work done. If the woman is breastfeeding, there is counseling and help offered. He loves that WIC offers specific foods that are healthy practical choices for families. He feels that running the food stamp program like the WIC program would be a better use of money and would require education classes. He admits that the change would be complicated. The drastic change would be a massive undertaking. He feels change needs to happen but does not have a clear way to accomplish that.

Her proposed solution to the problem is to cut recipients allotment in half. She feels that would

His opinion of the problem. Recipients receive way too much money. His family was able to buy nearly a year’s supply of food in those 2 months. They bought in food staples in bulk. When I asked him how he felt about cutting the food stamps in half and requiring healthy purchases, he said, “'Not only that but how about mandatory drug screenings.” He has heard that some places allow fast food and he said that should never be allowed His Solution to the problem is that recipients should be required to work for what they get. The food stamp program should be run like the Bishops Storehouse and the same foods offered to American’s that are offered to LDS Members. “Food stamps should be a hand up, not a hand out.”

What do you think about food stamp use?

Solution #1 By Breana Arnell Rework the current food stamps program to be based off of the items on the MyPlate.gov website The USDA provides Dietary Guidelines for all Americans. Some of the foods and beverages that provide the most empty calories for Americans are: cakes, cookies, donuts, sodas, energy drinks, KoolAid, hot dogs, bacon, and ribs. In some foods, like most candies and sodas, all the calories are empty calories. We propose that these items not be allowed to be purchased using food stamps. While doing the research on this issue, we realized that this would be a major undertaking so we have provided a few possible solutions from minor to extreme changes. 1. Eliminating pop from the food stamp list. 2. The Food Stamp program would run like the WIC program with nutrition classes being required to pick up your vouchers and then only certain items and amounts would be allowed. 3. Using the guidelines provided by ChooseMyPlate.gov food stamp items would have to be approved before being allowed to be purchased. While we realized that there is no easy answer, we do know that doing nothing is not a prudent option. In Psalms 146 5-6 it reads “Happy is he that...

executith judgment for the oppressed... Which giveth food to the hungry”. Let us all be a part of the movement to provide health promoting food to the oppressed.

could be given right back onto the card as an incentive to add more fresh food to their diets.

Solution #3

Solution #2

By Brady Ballard

By Sheree Harper

Provide an education program on healthy eating.

Give credit back to food stamp cards when fruits and vegetables are purchased.

A current educational program being done by Clemson University is similar to one we would like to model but on a larger scale. There are core areas in which we would like to focus our program. We need to address the areas of dietary quality, shopping behavior, financial management, and food safety.

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. A healthy diet, along with exercise, is what our nation needs to begin to combat the issues of obesity that we are facing. Food stamp recipients may be less likely to purchase fruits and vegetables because they tend to be more expensive. One of our solutions to combat the issue of obesity and food stamp users is to give a credit back when fruits and vegetables are purchased.

By doing this we can help people choose healthier foods to eat and feed their families, better prevent disease and malnutrition, obtain skills to shop on a budget and cook nutritious meals, and become aware of how to prepare and store food safely.

In Boston they have a program called “Bounty Bucks” which allows food stamp participants to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at many local farmers markets by doubling the amount of food stamps for their purchases. “Portable credit card readers at these markets allow shoppers to swipe their benefits cards to receive $20 in vouchers for every $10 in food stamps.”

We would like to make these courses mandatory as part of the requirements for obtaining food stamps. If needed progress should be tracked by reviewing receipts and spending habits. While doing this it is important to maintain optimism and hope and not condemn these participants for their poor habits, but support them in changing for the better.

Creating a program like the “Bounty Bucks” from Boston would help those using food stamps to better afford fresh fruits and vegetables. The credit

We feel that by doing these things we will be able to reduce the obesity rate and help the food stamp program return to its’ original purpose for which it was established years ago.

Breana Arnell Writer / Interviewer Biography My name is Breana Arnell and I am a mother of 7 and a student at BYUI. I have worked with Health and Welfare for 7 years as a foster parent and for the past 4 years I have taught the foster parent training classes. My husband works for the Health Department and his coworkers run the WIC program. I completed the interviews. I also researched our Christian obligation to help the poor, the nationwide health issues associated with poor diets and the costs that come along with providing unhealthy food by way of food stamps.

Why Food Stamps? We chose this issue because it was one that we all believed in, yet as began to dig into the problem and a possible solution, we realized how complex the issue really is.

Reflection The more research we did, the more we realized the enormity of the problem and at the same time the enormity of the solution. I have only come across one argument that is against our issue. Some feel it is wrong to give the government more control over what one can or can’t eat. Everything else I came across in debates supported our belief that we should not allow junk food to be purchased with food stamp money. The problem that stumped us was, how to regulate what you can and can’t buy and how do you label junk food. For instance, a Twix bar has flour in it and Kool-Aid has Vitamin C. My idea was to cut food stamps in half and not allow anything that is not on the government sponsored Choose MyPlate healthy eating guide. However, my idea would have been near impossible to regulate and possible spend all the money saved on administering the plan. I think it would be a start to not allow pop to be bought since pop accounts for 6% of all food stamp purchases, is an empty calorie item, and would not be too hard to regulate. I would love to see more done, but cutting out pop would be a start. I feel very strong that it is wrong in every aspect to be allowing so much unhealthy food to be bought. I feel we are harming our fellow citizens. There was time that malnutrition was a common nutrition issue but now obesity has taken its place Most would agree that it would absurd to purchase cigarettes with food stamps, yet we allow many other items that also contribute to chronic health problems be bought with tax payer dollars. If we really want to help out our poor, we need to do our part provide food that will nourish the mind and body. I got a copy of the food order sheets from my bishop that he gives to those in our ward who need food. I was surprised because that list is the same list that I would love to see implemented in our government sponsors food programs. Obviously our team was not the first to come up with this idea. We realize now that it is a very complex issue. We hope to inspire others to realize the problem and as a nation, work toward a solution.

Bibliography (1) United States Department of Agriculture “ChooseMyPlate.gov” web March 5, 2012 (http://www.choosemyplate.gov) (2) Lawmakers seek to crack down on junk food as obesity epidemic worsens” statesman.com web March 5, 2012 (http://www.statesman.com/news/texaspolitics/lawmakers-seek-to-crack-down-on-junk-food-1417440.html?printArticle=y (3) Debates: Policy Juggle.com Web March 5, 2012 (http://debates.juggle.com/should-government-increase-their-rolein-guiding-food-and-nutrition-selections) (4) “Food Stamps. The Struggle to Eat” July 14, 2011 The Economist web March 5, 2012. (http://www.economist.com/ node/18958475) (5) Streib, Lauren. "World's Fattest Countries." Forbes.com (2007). (6) Whaley, SE, Ritchie LD, Spector P, Gomez J. "Revised WIC package Improves Diets of WIC Families." Journal Nutritional Education Behavior (2012, Mar 8).

Brady Ballard Writer Biography My name is Brady Ballard and I am from Glendora, California. I am 24 years old and I currently live in Provo, Utah. I recently got married in January to Ashley Cone from Raleigh, North Carolina. I work 45+ hours a week as an operations manager. My wife and I will be moving to Tennessee in June as I work for FedEx in Memphis. I am an avid sports fan and I especially love surfing.

to deal with what we need are well thought out solutions to these issues.

Why Food Stamps? When selecting this issue I believe some people in our group had connections with employees who worked in social services and knew about the ever-increasing problem occurring with food stamps. We all through out several ideas during the brainstorming process but we ended up choosing the topic of food stamps I would say do to how it effects all of us whether we participate in the program or simply pay taxes and fund it.

Reflection As I dove into the research one thing quickly became apparent, this was a much more complex issue than I had anticipated. I had no clue how many details went into these welfare programs and how much money was being poured into them. I consider myself to be a businessman and have started several small businesses so I see this issue from financial eyes. I was shocked to see how much we are spending on food subsidies in America and how these precious tax dollars were being abused. Like I mentioned before, I am in favor of capitalism. We all work hard to earn a living but to see a individual’s hard earned money go to the government in taxes for a cause that should be just, and be abused really upsets me. I have realized while researching and thinking about this issue that it is a sensitive issue. There are many who utilize the program as it should be used and are honest and only buy the essentials to keep them afloat while they search out a better job situation. This is what the program is about, to feed the hungry. It reminded me of Christ’s words in the book of Matthew in the New Testament when he asks us to feed the hungry, but when people abuse the system that is what makes me upset. People who really need relief can’t receive it because the money was spent on candy and soda. After more research we all felt this was an issue worth supporting and bringing to attention

Bibliography (1) California Association of Food Banks. Resources for Outreach. 1 March 2012. 22 March 2012 <http://myfoodstamps.org/resources.html>. (2) Edwards, Chris. 1 July 2009. 15 Mar 2012 <http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/agriculture/food-subsidies>. (3) Frazier, Sarah Kugler. The Washington Times. 7 October 2010. 22 March 2012 <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/oct/7/ny-seeks-food-stampban-on-soda/>. (4) Hensley, Scott. NPR News. 7 October 2010. 22 March 2012 <http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/10/07/130399285/new-york-city-wants-to-ban-foodstamps-for-sodas/>. (5) Tax Foundation. America Celebrates Tax Freedom Day. 1 January 2011. 24 March 2012 <http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxfreedomday/>.

Sheree Harper Writer Biography My name is Sheree Harper. I have been married to my husband for 15 years and have 2 wonderfully active boys. I started my college journey back in 1995 when BYU-I was Ricks College. I graduated with my Associates degree and then went to BYU in Provo. Before finishing my degree in Provo, my husband and I left Utah for a job opportunity. I am now finishing my Bachelors degree 17 years after I started. I am very grateful for this opportunity to be able to finish. This second time around at school has given me a different perspective as I have studied the various subjects with the life experience that I now have. I hope that our booklet will help people to take another look at the issue of Food Stamps and the toll that is being taken on our economy as well as on people’s lives because of the choices that are being made. For our issue book project, I was writer #1. I researched the history of Food Stamps as well as the nature of the problem. I found it very interesting to see the original reason for the Food Stamp program and the changes that have happened over the years. While our booklet focused on the connection between unhealthy eating and food stamps, there are many other aspects that I found as I did my research. The Food Stamps program in our country is very important yet there are those who choose to abuse it by using Food Stamps when they don’t really qualify for them. This was a common thing that I found throughout my research. The nature of the problem of obesity is something that affects more than just Food Stamp users. As I researched I discovered that a possible reason for this connection is that many people on Food Stamps do not have access to real grocery stores and healthy fruits and vegetables. I also researched one of our solutions. This solution was to provide credit back to Food Stamp participants when they bought fruits and vegetables in an effort to promote healthier eating. Throughout the process of our booklet, I tried to provide clarification as we each worked on our individual parts. I provided some pictures to the editor to help with putting the booklet together.

Why Food Stamps? Our team selected the issue of Food Stamps because we had already done a lot of research from our last group project. Food Stamps is something that I did not know a lot about. It has been very interesting to research and become familiar with such a broad issue. We wanted to bring awareness to the issue and connection between food stamps and healthy food choices. As we researched farther into the issue of Food Stamps it became apparent just how large of an issue it is. Food Stamps is an important part of the Welfare programs that our country has, yet it’s efficiency in the way it is run was brought into question many times. Taking the time to research has opened our eyes that something needs to be done and we hope that our knowledge can someday make a difference in our own communities.

Reflection At first I thought that the connection between Food Stamps and unhealthy eating was all about the choices that people are making. But the issue goes much deeper than that. As I researched I realized that many who are on food stamps don’t really have access to a real grocery store and more healthy food choices or they don’t have an understanding of what it even means to eat healthy. Living off of food from a corner convenience store is anything but healthy, but what do you do if this is your only choice? This was something that I had not even considered as I began working on this project. The complex issues that surround Food Stamps is very daunting. The program needs to be overhauled but the cost of making the changes would be immense. I would imagine that just the cost of researching how to change the program to be more efficient is more than the government is willing to spend, but after all the research I have done, it really needs to be changed. The connection between Food Stamps, unhealthy eating, and obesity is an interesting one. It is not what I was expecting as I began to research. The Food Stamps program began to help the undernourished, while today we don’t seem to have the same problems. The food choices that we have today make it so that while people may not look undernourished because they are overweight, truly they are because they are not getting the right nutrients from the food they are eating. I have really learned a lot as I have done the research for this project. It has made me think about Food Stamps and those who really need them in a different light. I am grateful for this opportunity to learn more about a subject that I knew little about before.

Bibliography (1) Amber Waves. Food Stamps and Obesity: Ironic Twist or Complex Puzzle? ers.usda.gov. February 2006. Web. 9 March 2012.http://www.ers.usda.gov/ AmberWaves/February06/Features/feature4.htm (2) Deparle, Jason and Robert Gebeloff. Once Stigmatized, Food Stamps Find Acceptance. The Safety Net. The New York Times. 2 Feb. 2010. Web. 6 March 2012. < http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/us/11foodstamps.html?_r=1 > (3) Economist.com. Food Stamps, The struggle to eat. The Economist. 14 Jul. 2011. Web. 6 March 2012. < http://www.economist.com/node/18958475 > (4) fns.usda.gov. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. USDA. 16 Feb. 2012. Web. 9 March 2012. < http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/Legislation/ about.htm > (5) Food & Nutrition Service USDA. WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. fns.udsa.gov. http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/fmnp/fmnpfaqs.htm (6) Fox News. Research links food stamps and obesity. FoxNews.com. 9 Jan. 2003. Web. 9 March 2012. < http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,75131,00.html > (7) Goodridge, Elisabeth and Jason Delparle. A History of Food Stamps Use and Policy. The Safety Net. The New York Times. 11 Feb. 2010. Web. 6 March 2012. < http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/02/11/us/FOODSTAMPS.html > (8) Scientific American. Do food stamps lead to obesity? ScientificAmerican.com. 11 Aug. 2009. Web. 9 March 2012. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/ blog/post.cfm?id=do-food-stamps-lead-to-obesity-2009-08-11>

Alan Nightingale Editor / Designer Biography I'm originally from Lake Elmo, MN. Currently I'm studying Computer Information Technology and Organizational Communication at Brigham Young University — Idaho.

Why Food Stamps? To me it seems like the current implementation of food stamps harms more people than it helps. As such. I don't support the current program. Rather than see it abolished I'd like to see it updated so people can get back on their feet after the hard times in their life.

Reflection With time I realized that there is no single issue regarding food stamps that would result in happier, healthier people. At first I was discouraged, but then I remembered that sometimes change comes gradually. As long as there are people

who care about each other there will be hope for a better food stamp program in the future.

Bibliography (1) Back to School (Picture, iStockPhoto.com, standard license) (2) Capitol Hill 2 (Picture, Sxc.hu, standard license) (3) Farmer's Market Vegetables (Picture, iStockPhoto.com, standard license) (4) Flag (Picture, Sxc.hu, standard license) (5) Horizontal mess group of junk food (Picture, iStockPhoto.com, editorial license) (6) New USDA ChooseMyPlate Basic Food Group, Healthy Eating Diet Recommendation (Picture, iStockPhoto.com, standard license)

More Information Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program !

fns.usda.gov/snap/

United States Department of Agriculture !

USDA.gov

Chose My Plate !

ChooseMyPlate.gov

Food Stamps - March 2012