Are People Who Are Homeless Too Fat?
They used to say bring an apple to school for your teacher. Now they are saying bring an apple to a homeless shelter. Why? Because some are saying people living in homeless shelters are getting too fat on greasy, excessively caloric food donated by good intentioned folks.
Now, no hate emails please. There is some logic here. Studies show that those who struggle with poverty typically don’t use their financial resources to purchase healthy, low calorie food. They can’t afford all of the vegetables and fruits needed to keep a lean figure. So they gain weight.
Even people who can afford such “luxuries” don’t typically eat the daily recommended food dosages. What are we supposed to eat again? Like 10 fruits and vegetables per day? I barely have time to drive through In-N-Out, let alone spend an hour picking through the grocery produce section.
So, thankfully, the Washington Post comes to the rescue for people living in homeless shelters who are forced to eat whatever is served. They recommend teaching people struggling with homelessness and poverty how to eat better. Water over soda. Lean foods instead of fat.
But I have a better suggestion. Help people find living wage jobs and affordable housing, and you will give them the option to eat fat food or lean food. Just like you and me.
(Pic from http://healthpsych.psy.vanderbilt.edu)
Now, no hate emails please. There is some logic here. Studies show that those who struggle with poverty typically don’t use their financial resources to purchase healthy, low calorie food. They can’t afford all of the vegetables and fruits needed to keep a lean figure. So they gain weight.
Even people who can afford such “luxuries” don’t typically eat the daily recommended food dosages. What are we supposed to eat again? Like 10 fruits and vegetables per day? I barely have time to drive through In-N-Out, let alone spend an hour picking through the grocery produce section.
So, thankfully, the Washington Post comes to the rescue for people living in homeless shelters who are forced to eat whatever is served. They recommend teaching people struggling with homelessness and poverty how to eat better. Water over soda. Lean foods instead of fat.
But I have a better suggestion. Help people find living wage jobs and affordable housing, and you will give them the option to eat fat food or lean food. Just like you and me.
(Pic from http://healthpsych.psy.vanderbilt.edu)
posted by LA's Homeless Blog at
9:17 AM
2 Comments:
Agree! I am homeless and stay in shelters when they are open. The food we get is high, fat, high cholesterol, high carb, high sodium... Not to mention, people such as I who could use special diet adjustments/restrictions and alternative menu choices so we don't get sick. I absolutely LOVE dessert! But there is often so much of it that you might think a diabetic could go into a hyperglyemic coma. Its almost like the primary source of our calories is supposed to come from sugars and carbs?!? People with hypertension get higher pressures due to all the excess sodium. There needs to be better nutrition in all homeless shelters! I almost hate to say it, but perhaps the government needs to intervene and supervise the nutrition in shelters as in our children's schools.
I had a homeless guy on a freeway onramp turn down an apple I offered him, showing me a toothless smile as explanation. Since then, I've leaned toward bananas and hard-boiled eggs as food to offer out the window.
I agree with your main point: focusing on teaching homeless people to make better food choices is pretty harsh rhetoric. I know what kind of bad food choices I make when I don't get a good night's sleep, or have some big unsettling problem rattling around my head. I don't know why we'd expect more from people who have no fixed address.
Post a Comment
<< Home