Quality vs Quantity

Sometimes you read something that is simply so wrong you want to shout from the mountain top, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? But I know better, because everytime you ask that question the answer is, YOU WEREN'T.
Same must go for an editorial in the Saturday Times Union by Mona Charon. She wrote about all the programs available to the poor to help them purchase food that it's riduculous to worry about them being fed. Then she went on to note the higher rate of obesity among the poor. As I read this I kept shaking my head .. DUH. If you're on a tight income what are you going to buy- strawberries at $2.99 a quart or a loaf of house brand bread for a buck and change .. and we often seen a sale - 5 or 10 pound bag of potatoes- buy one get one free .. but have you ever seen that with fresh peaches.
The fact is, it's much easier to eat empty calorie foods on a limited budget than to buy lower calorie, higher nutrient foods. Ever been to those food giveaways from the government - big hunks of cheese and starch.
So Mona and everyone else who wants to point fingers .. let's find a way to help those impovershed not only eat, but eat well - then we can start a real dialogue about obesity in that community. As for the rest of us: those who don't worry about where their next meal is coming from - take a close look at your grocery list and see if it's heavy on starch or veggies - pre packaged or basic items - and then take a look at the portion size in your plate. Only then will we begin tackle the problem of expanding waistlines across the board. And we haven't even touched exercise.