this post was submitted on 30 Apr 2025
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[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

There was time in my life when most of my food came from a public pantry. I know it's not the same as stamps, bit same principle.

Anyway, birthday rolls around; didn't think anything of it cuz I was in the "it's just another day..." phase of life, and even if I wanted to do something for it, I wouldn't have been able to afford it. Roll up to the pantry for that week's pickup, and they break out a fucking cake and a hand-written birthday card! Nothing crazy - maybe 6-inch diameter, enough for the wife and I to split. But that shit pulled my ass right out of a depression spell like nothing else came close to before or since.

When I finally got a reliable income coming in and paid off the critical stuff and got a little bit of savings, my first 'splurge' was a $1k donation to that pantry with a note saying that their assistance pretty much single-handedly saved me from homelessness and probably from suicide; and enabled me to take the steps I needed to get the job I have now and ultimately become self sufficient.

Food is more than just nutrients; and junk food is more than just food that's junk.

And pantries are bad ass. If anyone reading this is struggling and not yet using one, GO SEE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE! Many people are resistant to ask for help prior to hitting absolute rock bottom, but a little help now (even if you only-kind-of need it) could save you from needing a LOT of help later. They're also an awesome source of info on local resources - whatever your unique situation is, they can probably point you in the right direction to start getting shit under control.

...I should make another donation - shit's extra fucked nowadays.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 50 minutes ago

I bet it would feel very different if you just used food stamps to buy your own cake

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 hours ago

I thought it was already blocked? 🤔

Huh, guess not.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:

Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco

Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.

Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).

Foods that are hot at the point of sale

Any nonfood items such as:

Pet foods

Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.

Hygiene items, cosmetics

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

I used to live in a kinda poor area. Lots of people on some sort of program. And that program had really restrictive rules about what you can and cannot buy. For example, you could buy Skippy peanut butter but not Skippy light peanut butter (whatever that is). It caused great confusion for the people who needed food, huge amounts of labor for the poor grocery person, and a long wait for the other shoppers in line - just so the government can save a few cents. Unbelievable.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 hours ago

WIC most likely

[–] [email protected] 24 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Gotta stop those poors from having any joy. Only misery will suffice.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 50 minutes ago (1 children)

Why is it in our interest to pay for food that causes obesity and health issues?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 15 minutes ago

Why do you consider what someone else eats to be a matter of "your interest", at all?

Do you think your boss...who pays your salary...should be allowed to dictate what you spend it on? Is it in "their interest" to make sure you're spending their money on "the right things"?

[–] [email protected] 33 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

Let them buy what they want you damn Nazi.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

It's not what every snap user wants. It's just that garbage products are calorie dense and need little to no preparation, and those things absolutely matter when working several jobs or being homeless and convincing someone to let you use their address because a permanent address is necessary.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 6 hours ago (5 children)

More calories per dollar for things like rice beans pasta. It's a bit more complicated than that.

Convenience is king when you are constantly burned out and sleep deprived and "just need something good enough and easy"

[–] [email protected] 28 points 6 hours ago (3 children)

Fucking hell, have you ever tried to live on rice and beans? You need half a dozen spices and salt just to make it taste like not sadness, plus prep time, prep space, prep bowls and pots, and then you need to wash everything. Compared with a frozen meal that cooks in the microwave and a disposable tray for serving, there's really no contest. A "rice and beans" lifestyle requires a stay-at-home partner who soaks beans and washes dishes.

It's a great frugal tip to stretch your grocery dollars, but if you're poor, it's not a moral failing to go with a cheap frozen meal.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 47 minutes ago

I lived on easy hamburger helper. Everything is in the package, just cook some ground beef in a pan and mix the rest of the stuff in.

It's not that hard, guys. You don't need to eat candy to survive

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 hours ago

You can make a relatively tasty rice with beans with canned beans and bit of salt in 10 minutes - if you are feeling fancy adding parsley will even move it to tasting good. I'm starting to suspect all the corn syrup is damaging american's taste buds beyond repair.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

I wish more people understood this. Beans are so good, but only if you can devote hours to them.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

I know this outside of the scope of the discussion, but you can cook dried beans in a instant pot in about an hour.

Obviously that's still going to be a struggle for anyone where time/space/equipment are a huge factor. But it's a big difference from letting them soak overnight.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Insta pot can help, but I don’t feel it add much value in the overall cook. Sautéing, caramelizing, deglazing, etc. takes time that no home-use kitchen gadget is going to help with. Soaking beans overnight is not the problem, as much as actual time it takes to make a meal. Planning, purchasing ingredients, prepping, cooking, cleaning…insta-pot is not worth the hype iykyk

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 hours ago

It's just one of the myriad of recommendations people make because they don't understand the problem. People think that the simple trick that worked for them would solve similar problems for everyone. Worse, they get angry when their advice is met with resistance. It's like Napoleon feeding the alpacas.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 hours ago

Yeah, I'd say the bigger issue is low income people not having time to cook, and/or not having the ability to get to a decent grocery store.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 hours ago

You might also be living on the street or in a car and not have the means to actually cook.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 hours ago

I'd also like to see how he addresses food deserts. I already saw an article suggesting 18-65 are going to lose benefits.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

You're assuming that people have the time and space to prep rice, beans and pasta. Not everyone does.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 46 minutes ago* (last edited 46 minutes ago)

I think if we remove the cooked food restriction it would make sense

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Eh, can you get a bag of equivalent volume of apples for the same as a bottle of coca cola?

Same amount of sugar, one is considerably healthier.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

IDC about soda, although it's probably less harmful than water in certain areas.

Apples. Food deserts. I've never seen an apple at any of the dollar stores.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 45 minutes ago* (last edited 45 minutes ago)

Soda is made from municipal water. If the tap water has an issue, so will the soda

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 hours ago

And consuming how expensive cars are I don't want to hear people say "food deserts doesn't exist because you can drive 10 Miles"

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Next it will no sugary cereal, just oats and gruel for the peasantry.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago

"Ingredients only, no finished products. You want to eat? Work for it!"

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 hours ago

What goon-affiliated product will they be able to purchase with food stamps instead? Lee Greenwood Bibles? My Pillows?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 hours ago

Oh good, we'll have slightly less sugar-related inflammation while we all fucking die of bird flu

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 hours ago

Interesting, why not start branding and labeling better that more products that have high content of X

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