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How is this good news? The money to pay for this bill will come directly out of the food stamp program that feeds children most in need!

I’m baffled why this is a victory. Yes, we need healthier foods in our school cafeterias, but the poorest citizens shouldn’t be made to pay for the program. Consider that many people on the supplemental nutrition program might not have children, or their children might be too young to go to school. They’re not benefiting from the breakfast and lunch provided to them five days a week. And what about summers, school holidays, dinners, and weekends? There is a dearth of funds already for food stamps, and some states don’t give enough for families to live off of.

I live in Washington now, but when I lived in California, my daughter and I had to survive off of $120 in food stamps a month. Can you do that and provide decent nutrition, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other things a child needs to grow? Every dinner we ate $0.30 pasta cooked with a tomato sauce I made from canned tomato paste and dried herbs. We never had fish with its necessary Omega-3s, we didn’t eat most meats, and most of my daughter’s lunches consisted of tortillas and cheese with the occasional helping of beans, because I got cheese and dried beans from WIC. These are not nutrition for a growing child.

Add to the question, what do families with young children do when someone in the house has food allergies to wheat, dairy, or nuts? Programs like WIC fail them, and now the food stamps won’t cover basic foods. Leafy greens are expensive. Fresh fruit is expensive. Tell me how this is a victory?

Baffled and Frustrated,
Raven Demers

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Sarah Francis Reply:
December 6th, 2010 at 6:10 pm

@Raven Demers, I totally agree with you Raven. Child nutrition should not be a zero sum game by paying for healthier school lunches with food stamp dollars.

That’s why I’m dedicated to holding Obama to his commitment to change the funding source. Here’s how the NYT reported Obama’s position on SNAP:

“Mr. Obama tamped down concern by telling Democrats he would work with them to find other ways to pay for the bill, before the cuts in food stamps take effect.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/us/politics/03child.html

I’d love it if you’d email me at Sarah at MomsRising.org because it would be great to share your experience with legislators.

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Anita Reply:
December 7th, 2010 at 2:58 pm

@Sarah- thank you so much for your hard work to make sure not only that the law is passed but that its funding is right. Thanks to Raven for raising the issue as well.

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This is wonderful news! Let’s

hope Congress is able to continue making progress on the issue.

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GO TEAM! It’s so great to get a win for kids like this. Are you feeling good about it?

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