Disturbing Map Of Food Deserts.

[JLM]

That is one of the most disgraceful things we have done in North America.

One of the big movers in favor of ethanol plants is ADM.

It's insane to grow crops to turn into fuel that is less efficient than the oil we already have.

Yeah, but you can grow another "fuel crop" next year.

 

[petros]

You can always eat next year?

 

[JLM]

You can always eat next year?

You can't replace petroleum every year.

 

[petros]

You can't replace petroleum every year.

Well then drink up.

 

[JLM]

Well then drink up.

You alright this morning? :lol:

 

[darkbeaver]

You can't replace petroleum every year.

You have exactly no proof of that conspiracy claim.

Hemp would be a better choice for ethanol than food grains but we do not eat hemp and growing it in the stead of other better ethanol yeilders would do nothing for population reduction.

 

[YukonJack]

Sounds like they had a population explosion there......................must be getting enough to eat!:smile:



High time to impose a calorie tax, too many people sitting around getting obese at the expense of millions who are starving. :lol:

At the same time time - and before proposing an other insane tax - let us remember that some people are starving exactly because they are just sitting around and expect somebody else work and feed them.

 

[Mowich]

According to the write up:

Michael Pollan, author of 'The Omnivore's Diet' wrote about the lack of supermarkets and the predominance of fast food places where the former once were, years ago in the New York Times. It is incredibly hard for poorer people in the U.S., who rarely have vehicles to get to a supermarket or grocery store chain to buy food. People living in the suburbs have the same problem, having to drive miles to visit a grocery store. The lack of availability of grocery stores and the prevalence of fast food outlets is having a very detrimental effect on the health of people as is evidenced by the ballooning obesity stats.

 

[EagleSmack]

I know... us Yanks have such a hard time getting food. WTF, we are the fattest most wobbling population on earth. The lower the economic scale the fatter they are.

We are not starving down here. In fact we gorge on way too much food.

Hunger? A little kid slumped in the dirt in Africa with his stomach disdended, that's hunger.

Michael Pollan, author of 'The Omnivore's Diet' wrote about the lack of supermarkets and the predominance of fast food places where the former once were, years ago in the New York Times. It is incredibly hard for poorer people in the U.S., who rarely have vehicles to get to a supermarket or grocery store chain to buy food. People living in the suburbs have the same problem, having to drive miles to visit a grocery store. The lack of availability of grocery stores and the prevalence of fast food outlets is having a very detrimental effect on the health of people as is evidenced by the ballooning obesity stats.

Bahhhh. I grew up in a city as a kid and we always had food in the house... not McDonalds.

I live in the suburbs now and there are 3 supermarkets in my town.

And having to drive miles in the suburbs? What like one or two miles? The horror... oh the horror.

They go to these fast food joints because they are too lazy to go to the supermarket, buy food, cook it, and clean up afterwards. It is laziness that causes them to go to McDonalds, Super Size it, and then simply throw out the wrappers.

High time to impose a calorie tax, too many people sitting around getting obese at the expense of millions who are starving. :lol:

That is EXACTLY what the Governor of Massachusetts is proposing at this very moment. He is asking for a Soda and Candy Tax for programs to help battle Childhood Obesity. Really?

It's just another tax and until the obese kids fat obese parents start adjusting their behavoir and start doing the right thing they will remain fat.

Nothing to think about, our governments are speeding up this catastrophe. Here in the U.S. I don't think we burn the food, we just pay our farmers not to grow it. There was a time we used to give excess food to the poor, that benefit has pretty much dried up.

Yes, they used to give basic subsidies. Now we give them food cards and they can buy whatever they want at the Super Market. And they buy crap. We give them the tools to be fat and the liberals down here wonder why there is an obeisety problem.

U.S. maps ?food deserts.? Population: 13.5 million - Healthzone.ca

Food Desert Locator

So I just checked the Food Desert as it relates to the place I grew up. Apparently the part of the city that contains the highest of incomes is a Food Desert. The part of the city where Million Dollar Homes line the streets. Also included in this "food desert" is a Private Golf Course...

Please, for a laugh... click this link of this golf club...

Thorny Lea Golf Club*Home Page

... it is part of a Food Desert. lol


and a massive state park.

Brockton, Massachusetts - D.W. Field Park



Did they even check the population of these areas?

Believe me, the people that live on the West Side of Brockton are not suffering from lack of food.

 

[JLM]

You just have to look at what's on the shelves in the food stores. One complete aisle dedicated to pop. A complete aisle of freezers dedicated to frozen processed food. Tear all that sh&t out of there and put in barrels with beans, corn, oatmeal, brown rice, lentils, onions, apples etc. How much does all the lights and refrigeration add to the cost of food? People are getting ripped off at the deli counters. Sell the stuff by the pound and we can carve it up ourselves as we need it. The entire system is set up to encourage waste and greed.

 

[EagleSmack]

You just have to look at what's on the shelves in the food stores. One complete aisle dedicated to pop. A complete aisle of freezers dedicated to frozen processed food. Tear all that sh&t out of there and put in barrels with beans, corn, oatmeal, brown rice, lentils, onions, apples etc. How much does all the lights and refrigeration add to the cost of food? People are getting ripped off at the deli counters. Sell the stuff by the pound and we can carve it up ourselves as we need it. The entire system is set up to encourage waste and greed.

All the tools are there to allow us to live healthy lives. Yes there is a whole soda isle, and processed food isle, and snack isle, etc. But there are also other isles that have everything you need to be healthy. Growing up, the Microwave dinners were there just in case we needed to rush. My mom and dad cooked dinners and we all helpled clean.

There were sub shops, pizza joints, and Burger King around... we just didn't go there except for a treat.

So these people are filling their fridges with garbage, going to fast food joints every night and it is suddenly EVERYONES duty to unF*** their fat azzes because they are too lazy to cook.

 

[Mowich]

All the tools are there to allow us to live healthy lives. Yes there is a whole soda isle, and processed food isle, and snack isle, etc. But there are also other isles that have everything you need to be healthy. Growing up, the Microwave dinners were there just in case we needed to rush. My mom and dad cooked dinners and we all helpled clean.

There were sub shops, pizza joints, and Burger King around... we just didn't go there except for a treat.

So these people are filling their fridges with garbage, going to fast food joints every night and it is suddenly EVERYONES duty to unF*** their fat azzes because they are too lazy to cook.

I hear what you are saying, EagleSmack and understand your problem with overweight people who refuse to change their ways and add generation after generation who know no better.

My dilemma is that unhealthy people are an added burden on the health care system on every level from emergency care to surgery. At a time when health care costs are rising yearly, this is an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer whose wages support health care. By intervening in these people's lives, by helping them learn the benefits and rewards of healthier eating - the health care system also benefits. Leaving things the way they are will only lead to worsening obesity and an ever- growing and needless burden on health care. IMHO.

 

[JLM]

I hear what you are saying, EagleSmack and understand your problem with overweight people who refuse to change their ways and add generation after generation who know no better.

My dilemma is that unhealthy people are an added burden on the health care system on every level from emergency care to surgery. At a time when health care costs are rising yearly, this is an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer whose wages support health care. By intervening in these people's lives, by helping them learn the benefits and rewards of healthier eating - the health care system also benefits. Leaving things the way they are will only lead to worsening obesity and an ever- growing and needless burden on health care. IMHO.

Right on Mowich, and even more important than diet is some strenuous exercise, which would burn off a lot of the effects of junk food.

 

[Mowich]

Right on Mowich, and even more important than diet is some strenuous exercise, which would burn off a lot of the effects of junk food.

Exercise really is the key, isn't it JLM. It surprising what your body will do even on food that is not good for you, if you are continually keeping it in good physical shape. However, give the bod some good food and exercise and you can live a long and healthy life.

 

[SLM]

I hear what you are saying, EagleSmack and understand your problem with overweight people who refuse to change their ways and add generation after generation who know no better.

My dilemma is that unhealthy people are an added burden on the health care system on every level from emergency care to surgery. At a time when health care costs are rising yearly, this is an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer whose wages support health care. By intervening in these people's lives, by helping them learn the benefits and rewards of healthier eating - the health care system also benefits. Leaving things the way they are will only lead to worsening obesity and an ever- growing and needless burden on health care. IMHO.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

If good nutrition choices were better promoted, would we have this growing (pun intended) problem with obesity and other health issues brought about by poor nutritional habits? Our healthcare system would be in better position if all issues of health and well being were dealt with in a way that promotes prevention. Some things are, smoking for example, but many things aren't, chief among them is nutrition.

When I was in school, I vaguely remember a cursory bit of introduction to the Food Guide, but even trying to follow the food guide can be an onerous task. I've tried. I think, for the most part, I've managed to incorporate fairly decent choices into my diet and more specifically into the diets of my kids when they were growing up. (Aside from the child who refused to eat any vegetables other than carrots for a time. That was a challenge!)

And does it really do any good to promote healthy choices in our education system when, in order to offset shortfalls in funding, the schools have all installed soda and candy machines in their hallways?

 

[JLM]

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.


And does it really do any good to promote healthy choices in our education system when, in order to offset shortfalls in funding, the schools have all installed soda and candy machines in their hallways?

I don't see any reason why the pop and candy machines can't be replaced with machines selling such things as pure orange juice, pure apple juice, raisins, peanuts (unsalted), granola bars etc. :smile:

 

[SLM]

I don't see any reason why the pop and candy machines can't be replaced with machines selling such things as pure orange juice, pure apple juice, raisins, peanuts (unsalted), granola bars etc. :smile:

I think the main reason is $$$$$$.

Coke, Pepsi, Frito-Lay, etc all kick in a portion of the take to the schools.

And they can afford to do it. I'm not sure the granola bar industry is large enough to absorb that as a promotional cost. Coca-Cola is.

But I have heard of some school boards that have mandated exactly what you are suggesting.

 

[EagleSmack]

When I was in school, I vaguely remember a cursory bit of introduction to the Food Guide, but even trying to follow the food guide can be an onerous task. I've tried. I think, for the most part, I've managed to incorporate fairly decent choices into my diet and more specifically into the diets of my kids when they were growing up. (Aside from the child who refused to eat any vegetables other than carrots for a time. That was a challenge!)

Eating healthy is much harder than not. You have to work, and cook, and give up junk food or at least limit it. These folks that are obese and feeding themselves into oblivion are simply to lazy to do that. No program is going to stop them from their Supersized Quarter Pounder Meal.

The day that THEY say...

"Damn... I need to do something."

... is the day they will change, if they mean it.

 

[TenPenny]

I don't see any reason why the pop and candy machines can't be replaced with machines selling such things as pure orange juice, pure apple juice, raisins, peanuts (unsalted), granola bars etc. :smile:

They are, in all the schools in our area.

Anyone remember that scene of Chara on the bench at one of the last round of playoff games, drinking a Coke? He was warned - Coke isn't an official sponsor of the NHL, so if he's going to drink Coke, it has to be in a different container, preferrably a Gatorade bottle. Ovetchkin was told the same thing, apparently he likes Coke on the bench, too.

 

[SLM]

Eating healthy is much harder than not. You have to work, and cook, and give up junk food or at least limit it. These folks that are obese and feeding themselves into oblivion are simply to lazy to do that. No program is going to stop them from their Supersized Quarter Pounder Meal.

The day that THEY say...

"Damn... I need to do something."

... is the day they will change, if they mean it.

I'm not negating personal responsibility. Ultimately, it's an individual's own choices that determine their fate. And I'm sure some of it is laziness. I know, for myself, because I work in a public accounting office and the hours in March and April are ridiculous, I eat way too much prepared foods during that time and I feel horrendous when it's all said and done. And I'm someone who actually loves to cook. But during that time of the year, I'm so overwhelmed that I can't be bothered. My own fault, I'm not blaming anyone else.

But even aside from elminating making McD's your food vendor of choice, nutrition can be a tricky road to navigate. A lot of people who rarely eat fast food still do not eat proper portion sizes. Most people double the size of the meat portion and half the size of the vegetable portion. Most canned goods are heavily loaded with excess salt.

So simply saying to skip the cookie aisle, or moderate fast foods, is only half the battle, I think. And that's where education comes in to play, imho.