I think I have to disagree about the availability of healthy, cheap food. As a mom who used to be on food stamps and is now just above the income level, I know plenty about cheap food.
I was given $160 in food stamps each month. Fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive. Apples cost on average $1.29 per pound, which is about $1 per apple. Strawberries cost $3-$4 easy for a small container. Pineapples are generally at least $3. Peaches? Plums? At least $1.40 per pound. Greens? $2.50 (on sale) for organic romaine or spinach versus 99 cents for a head of iceburg with no nutrient value. And I only have one child.
And tomatos? Think about it. Why would I spend $2 on ONE tomato when I could spend that money on a frozen pizza and have dinner?
Canned fruit is certainly an option, but you know what kind is cheapest? The big cans of peaches in heavy syrup. 79 cents.
Canned and frozen vegetables are very affordable.
As for main dishes, we eat meat at our house. 80% lean ground beef is cheaper than my preferred 97% lean by two dollars or more.
Know what else is cheap? Hamburger Helper and all it's preservatives and salt. And big bags of chicken nuggets.
You want to give your kid juice? Well, the healthy (100% juice) stuff costs anywhere from $2.50 to $4 for 46ounces. Kool Aid is SO much cheaper. Even regular apple juice or juices that look good but aren't 100% juice will cost half as much for a container twice as big.
I think things like this are why the kids I work with are afraid of fresh strawberries and melon but devour fruit cocktail. They don't know what those other things are!
Yes, education is needed. Because even on my limited budget I was able to make fairly good choices. We also need to realize, though, that socioeconomic factors play a much larger role in this than simple laziness or a simple desire for junk.
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