There's more than just cooking education involved. There's a whole social-welfare matrix that has to be broken up and rebuilt, starting with the case workers who actually discourage their clients from bettering themselves.
Until that happens, nothing substantial will change.
I'm put in mind of a great line I recently read somewhere that sort of applies:
Grandma put pies on the windowsill to cool.
Her granddaughter puts them on the windowsill to defrost.
That syndrome, unfortunately, applies to all segments of today's society, not just the poor.
Posted By: jglass
May 7 # 27 of 86
My little sister whom I adore is a big fan of those box meals and frozen dinner kits where you add the protein. I have yet to try one I like.
Posted By: chubbyalaskagriz
May 7 # 28 of 86
RE: "There's more than just cooking education involved. There's a whole social-welfare matrix that has to be broken up and rebuilt, starting with the case workers who actually discourage their clients from bettering themselves."
I won't get political here- even though I am extremely political on a variety of levels, elsewhere. Most of you know me to be an odd conglomeration of liberal and conservative- difficult sometimes for some to figure out, 'cuz ya never know exactly how I'll feel on a particular issue...
But my idea of the perfect system of social welfare and assistance to all in general is the age-old, tried and true: "Give a man a fish he eats for a day- TEACH a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime."
None of us does enuf- and need to do more to help our brother. But TOO MANY of us refuse to learn our lesson and become self-reliant, so that we can finally pull back the hand we're holding out. And some politicians and political policies don't encourage the right thing in this area either.
(Okay- I'm finished!)
Posted By: jfain
May 7 # 29 of 86
Cook Chatty Cathy wrote:
If I were truly poor my meals would not be eaten out!!! I would COOK! And I would cook truly nutritious food not JUNK FOOD and Frozen Crap! I would eat a variety of dried beans cooked in many different ways. There would be rice and biscuits with meals as well. I WOULD have a garden and I would can and freeze vegetables, I would save grocery money by doing so, and have fresh sliced tomatoes and fresh greens, and many other wonderful vegetables with our meals. I could spend less on dried beans, rice, flour and all the ingredients to cook these into wonderful meals than I would spend eating off the Dollar Menu at McD's or the Burger King!!! And it would be a heck of alot better for me than their fast food offerings!
I know this would keep us alive, well-fed, happy and healthy:)
Unfortunately you see many that have not adopted this lifestyle, and, or.... are too lazy to cook or learn to cook! It is a sad but true fact that many do not even like vegetables and their taste buds desire nothing but fast food or junk food. It is sad that their taste buds have never developed, nor a desire to live a healthier life style:( I just do not "get it" and never will!
You are preaching to the choir here sister. I've always said the same thing. I think even if you can't grow a garden you can do rice and beans. There are a lot of ethnic stores in larger cities that sell produce pretty cheap and if you live in the country then you could grow.
Posted By: Cook Chatty Cathy
May 7 # 30 of 86
I have seen on TV at some of the Inner City Apt. complexes someone comes up with the idea to start roof top gardens, also for instance my Mom-In-Law had hanging baskets and pots in her windows where she grew herbs and tomatoes. Isn't that neat!
Cook Chatty Cathy wrote: