Very interesting article in the Tennessean today

Do you keep up with current events...aka the news? I buy 5 newspapers a week and do not read them, nor do I watch news on TV. The most exposure I get is via friends on Facebook or msn.com which is set as the homepage on one computer I use. So occasionally I get a smattering of news here and there.

Today...that changed...I happened to glimpse someone elses paper today. I saw the title of an article and I told my daughter as we walked out of walgreens, "Those silly people at the Tennessean are going to make mommy read AND Write today!" She replied as only a 1 year old can. "Oh Noooo, Mama!"

So what was this article that vexed me so? "Tenn. Food stamps, Waistlines expand." Go on & read it...I'll wait. So...they did this study for 14 years (1989 - 2002) and they discovered that people who use foodstamps are more likely to be obese. (Apparently on average women using foodstamps are 6 lbs heavier than women who do not use them.) Roughly 1/3 of the state has an obesity problem also....So is it a problem related to the food stamp program OR is it just a "benefit" of being a southern. (mmm love that good Southern cookin' with gravy and grease in everything!!)

A notable quote from the article is that of an assistant professor of nutrition and food safety from TSU (Leslie Speller-Henderson.) Her quote is: "When I talk about salmon, people say, 'Well, I'm on food stamps, I can't afford salmon.' Not true, if you plan." Very smart lady!!

Another problem discussed in this article is lack of access to healthy foods. Neighborhoods specifically mentioned include East Nashville, North Nashville and the Edgehill area. Apparently there are no grocery stores in those areas.

The policy director of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Richard Dobbs states that"[he] would like to see benefits increased or some rewards for people who purchase fruits and vegetables."

I don't think increasing benefits is the answer! That is throwing money at a problem that cannot be resolved with money!! An uneducated person who is not maximizing their $100 food stamp benefits by using coupons and shopping sales is not going to do any better with $200!! If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach him HOW to fish...he eats for a lifetime!!

Where do I think the problem is? Education! The extent of education you receive when you get foodstamps? Zilch. The amount you get with WIC? Slightly more than zero.

I think if the state offered more information to people receiving benefits it would be MORE BENEFICIAL than just giving more money to people who don't know how to manage it!!!

If you know someone receiving benefits please point them here. you CAN use coupons with foodstamps (And really should!!!)
Resources for obtaining healthy foods:
Have you ever heard of a CSA? Read this post to find out how to get a half bushel of produce for $15 a week!! The up-front cost may be prohibative for many. But if two families went in and split a half share for one season to start with it would be roughly $7.50 per family, per week

Have you ever heard of the Angel Food Program? I did a search for Edgehill's Zip code and came up with 37212...and here are the closest locations for them. The Fresh Fruit box looks GREAT for September and only costs $22.00 and you can use EBT Cards to purchase Angel Food boxes!! Live in another area and want to know where your nearest Angel Food site is? Clickity here!

You knew it was coming!....

COUPONS!!!!!! are an amazing resource for people who want to save money whatever their situation. I know Doctors and lawyers who save money clipping coupons.

You have seen me reference Crystal aka Moneysavingmom.com - did you know her husband is a lawyer? Yep! They are HUGE Dave Ramsey fans and plan to pay %100 cash for their first home. How AWESOME is that?!
I know a doctor here in Middle, TN who clips and uses coupons!

Resources:
www.commonsensewithmoney.com
www.moneysavingmom.com
www.hotcouponworld.com/forums
www.iheartpublix.com
www.iheartsavingmoney.com

Local Resources/Blogs:
http://crazycouponcarol.blogspot.com
http://frugalinfranklin.typepad.com
http://www.faithfulprovisions.com

Still not convinced? My friend Becky over at Frugal in Franklin posted her weekly totals here. She got plenty of fruits and veggies for $45.90 and because i've been reading her blog for a while I know a few more things about her..... She belongs to a CSA and she has a stockpile. If you go back about a month in her blog you will find she got an INCREDIBLE deal on some salmon and she has that in her freezer right now.

What would you say if I told you that someone got (12) A-1 Steak Sauce, (10) Aunt Jemima Breakfast items (pancakes, french toast, etc), (12) McCormick Grinders, (1) Gallon Iced tea, (1) 1/2 Gallon milk, (2) Delmonte Fruit cup packs, (1) jar Ragu, (1) Bounce Bar Package (for the dryer), (7) Packs of meat/chicken for 14 cents??? Click to find out how. Then come back and tell me you don't want to be like her! Now all of that food isn't necessarily "health food", but milk, fruit, ragu counts as veggies, and meat and chicken.....If you bought all of that for 14 cents on food stamps then you could afford to use some of your food stamps to buy fresh vegetables and fruit right? Or to buy some more milk.

Do you have any further suggestions for frugal ways to eat healthy? Please share them in a comment or e-mail me directly :)