Today’s show was about the new face of hunger: Children in America.
Due to the poor economy recently and perhaps some unsound financial decisions, many families have found themselves struggling to keep food on the table. Several families discussed their new-found poverty and it drove home the fact that you never know what the future holds. One family was pulling in $98,000 a year, and the next thing you know they’re making only $21,000 a year.
Dr. Oz had a doctor on to show how to feed a child on $5 a day, with foods like whole wheat bread, peanut butter, fruit, carrots, low-fat milk, low-fat cheese, and lean meat.
Am I the only one that thinks that whole milk and full-fat cheese are smarter choices than low-fat?????
Why would parents choose to cut the calories and fat out of the child’s diet, when calories and fat are exactly what the child’s body needs? Kids, especially starving kids, should not be on a low-fat diet!
Sure, whole milk costs a little bit more than low-fat, but the cost-per-calorie for whole milk is way lower than for low-fat milk. Plus, growing kids need more fat than us full-grown adults…
If I was trying to feed kids on a very limited budget, this is what they’d be eating:
Breakfast
oatmeal, generic store-brand, 5-minute (big old bowl!) with a few walnuts and dates, whole milk
(or)
vegetable frittata with spinach, broccoi, tomatoes and onions, topped with Swiss or Cheddar cheese (full-fat, of course!)
Lunch
Peanut butter and banana sandwiches on whole wheat bread, plus an apple or orange
Afternoon Snack
Popped Corn (air-popped or popped on stove with coconut oil) topped with melted butter, carrot sticks
Dinner
Big salad of mixed greens or spinach, with bell peppers, onions, tomatoes with homemade dressing (olive oil and lemon juice or vinegar), topped with canned tuna or salmon, with a big side of cooked pinto beans and rice topped with salsa to fill ‘em up
Bedtime snack
Hot chocolate made with whole milk, cocoa and sugar (they’ll sleep like babies…)
There is no doubt that it’s a challenge to eat well on a very limited budget, but it can be done. It involves knowing the cost per calorie of the food, and avoiding restaurants.
Unfortunately, most fruits and vegetables are more expensive than grain-based foods. You can only economize so much before you start to compromise the health of the kids.
Did you see this episode? What did you think? Let me know with a comment!
Robert J. Stone