Poor do not have worse nutrition

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Poor do not have worse nutrition

People on low incomes have similar diets to the rest of the population, a government report states.

The Food Standards Agency found that contrary to popular belief, nutrition, access to food and cooking skills are not much different in poorer families. However, the Agency pointed out that the whole population was not eating as healthily as they should be. Public health experts said the results were surprising but showed everyone needed to eat a better diet.

There had been concern that diets among those on the lowest incomes were extremely poor and they faced more barriers to healthy eating. Poor diets can lead to chronic disease, such as heart disease and cancer, and contribute to obesity.

But a survey of 3,500 people on low incomes found that the food they were eating, although not particularly healthy, was similar to the general population. Also 80% said they shopped mainly at a large supermarket and most had good cooking and food storage facilities at home. Around 91% of women and 64% of men in the study claimed to be able to "cook from basic ingredients".

Areas of the diet that were slightly worse in the survey, which covered the poorest sixth of the population, were consumption of fruit and vegetables and intake of sugar, particularly sugary drinks. Levels of obesity were found to be very high - 62% of men, 63% of women, 35% of boys and 34% of girls were overweight or obese - but the FSA said this also mirrors the high levels within the general UK population.

The survey found higher levels of smoking and alcohol consumption, together with lower levels of activity, than the general population. Rosemary Hignett, head of nutrition at the FSA said: "The encouraging news from this research is that the gap between the diets of people on low incomes and those of the rest of the population is not as big as some feared.

"It is also positive that most people in this group say they feel confident about their cooking skills, have reasonable kitchen facilities and access to large supermarkets.

"However, the bad news is that this group - like the general population - are not eating as healthily as they could be.

"Small changes to diet can make a big difference to health so we urge everyone to think about the food that they and their family are eating."

Dr Alan Maryon Davis, president of the Faculty of Public Health said the results were surprising and experts had always thought the gap was bigger. Although he added that if the results were compared with those in the most affluent sixth of the population there would probably be a greater difference.

"It's encouraging people in the lowest income bracket are not eating a worse diet than the bulk of the population but, and it's a big but, the bulk of the population is not eating a healthy diet," he said.

British Retail Consortium director general Kevin Hawkins said: "This report confirms that British retailers have made healthy food accessible to families of all incomes.

"Today an average trolley of food from the supermarket costs 7% less in real terms than it did in 2000 and 15% less than in 1990."

[Twomoles 8]

It just proves again that stereotypes don't work - eating traditions has little to do with how wealthy you are.

Actually, as less you have and you are trying to economize and cook for yourself at home, from raw products, like I do, as better you eat and track your kitchen things.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Number 6, have you ever read John Howard Griffin's "Black Like Me" (© 1961)?

The myth of poor (at least in US) having bad nutrition was demolished in that book, especially in an exerpt where Griffin described a dish of rice-and-red-beans ("inexpensive, quite tasty, and excellent nutritionally").

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I've not read it - but its not really all that surprising.

As you say - rice and beans, veggies etc are pretty cheap so good nutrition isn't a case of how much money you have.

[Fandango 1,439]

It's saying the nutrition factor is on par with 'everyone else' but also because 'everyone else' eats like sh!t.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It's saying the nutrition factor is on par with 'everyone else' but also because 'everyone else' eats like sh!t.

exactly

[Jasman0717 9]

I've not read it - but its not really all that surprising.

As you say - rice and beans, veggies etc are pretty cheap so good nutrition isn't a case of how much money you have.

Rice and beans maybe cheap but veggies and fruit are starting to cost an arm and a leg here in California

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I've not read it - but its not really all that surprising.

As you say - rice and beans, veggies etc are pretty cheap so good nutrition isn't a case of how much money you have.

Rice and beans maybe cheap but veggies and fruit are starting to cost an arm and a leg here in California

NJ can beat that - I have to drive to a supermarket over 5 miles away to get decent fresh fruit and veg, unless I want to make do with bruised fruit, dried out baby carrots and having to cut off the rotten bit on the bell peppers.

[jundp 191]

Rice and beans maybe cheap but veggies and fruit are starting to cost an arm and a leg here in California

NJ can beat that - I have to drive to a supermarket over 5 miles away to get decent fresh fruit and veg, unless I want to make do with bruised fruit, dried out baby carrots and having to cut off the rotten bit on the bell peppers.

Do you guys have farmer's markets near you? Can't beat the ones here in Seattle. The produce is heaps better and it's cheaper than the grocery and you help out local farmers at the same time.

[slim 1,525]

Only in America!

We have "poor" fat people.

In other countries, if you're in poverty, you don't eat so well, and you end up getting skinny. Here in the U.S. we offer our poor "free" housing, "free" electric, gas, CABLE TV, and "free" food....

But we still want to b!tch about "it's them d@mn illegals that are messing America up." (Can we not look at the lazy Americans that REFUSE to work for "less than what they're worth?")

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Rice and beans maybe cheap but veggies and fruit are starting to cost an arm and a leg here in California

NJ can beat that - I have to drive to a supermarket over 5 miles away to get decent fresh fruit and veg, unless I want to make do with bruised fruit, dried out baby carrots and having to cut off the rotten bit on the bell peppers.

Do you happen to live in or near one of the following:

• Cherry Hill
  
• Englewood
  
• Edison
  
• Ridgefield
  
• Little Fery
  

You probably guessed that my question was an oblique version of "Is there an H-mart near you?" I found these generally have less expensive, and better-quality, vegetables and fruit than "standard" grocers such as SuperFresh, Giant, Food Lion or Shoppers.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Rice and beans maybe cheap but veggies and fruit are starting to cost an arm and a leg here in California

NJ can beat that - I have to drive to a supermarket over 5 miles away to get decent fresh fruit and veg, unless I want to make do with bruised fruit, dried out baby carrots and having to cut off the rotten bit on the bell peppers.

Do you happen to live in or near one of the following:

• Cherry Hill
  
• Englewood
  
• Edison
  
• Ridgefield
  
• Little Fery
  

You probably guessed that my question was an oblique version of "Is there an H-mart near you?" I found these generally have less expensive, and better-quality, vegetables and fruit than "standard" grocers such as SuperFresh, Giant, Food Lion or Shoppers.

No. Where I live there's a mixture of Shop Rites, Shop & Stops and A&Ps.

[Mononoke28 135]

I don't agree with this. I was dirt poor while growing up, especially while in college. Ramen noodles and a big bag of potato chips go a long way. I couldn't afford to buy veggies which some times really add up and then still be hungry after I ate.

[almaty 19]

It's saying the nutrition factor is on par with 'everyone else' but also because 'everyone else' eats like sh!t.

exactly

i agree with you both..most people i know, eat like barn animals

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

It's saying the nutrition factor is on par with 'everyone else' but also because 'everyone else' eats like sh!t.

exactly

i agree with you both..most people i know, eat like barn animals

Just this weekend I saw a young, fairly well dressed couple buying 5 pounds of lard, a ton of tortillas and a 24 pack of sobe all paid for with one swipe of the mighty EBT card. By the looks of them they were far from starving.