I totally agree. I went to buy some weightwatchers meals this morning and they have nearly trebled in price. I sometimes visit a local market for fruit and veg but a lot of the time it has gone off by the next day

I dont eat meat as its too expensive

Politics aside, I will give the first lady credit. She has done a great job at getting the message out about the obesity problem with our kids, and getting schools ect, to do a better job. However, I do understand your situation too. We live on a weekly budget. On weeks were we do have a little extra, I buy the bulk packages of chicken breasts or lean meets. I try to get my wife to buy the grapes rather than the Twinkies. We also stopped eating out at fastfood places and spend that money on better foods. We just have to spend more time and realy plan as far as grocery shopping goes. I have made a lot of ajustments. I don't have kids like you Snippy, so I can emagine how much tuffer it can be. Like June mentioned, the farmers market is a great place to find good healthy deals. Good luck and keep the faith....Dan

I agree. If politicians really wanted to change things, there is plenty they could do. For example, spend money on subsidising supermarkets so they can reduce the prices of fruit and veg - proper fruit and veg, not irradiated rubbish. Bring in a rule that say 10% of fresh supermarket produce has to come from the local area and has to be affordably priced.

Or help people afford gym membership, either that or arrange and subsidise exercise classes. Or give people training in food shopping. Sound silly. But the shops are so sly in how they arrange their food, where it is placed and what smells waft round the shop, there is a whole discipline of retail psychology to catch us out and trick us into buying things we shouldn't. We do need someone to walk us round and tell us how to navigate these gigantic stores.

And so many people don't know how to cook or meal plan anyway. When I was at school it was old fashioned to teach cookery so we learned "food technology" - how McDonalds makes all their brugers identical, what ready meal would be best for an old person. The only thing I cooked was cake and pizza, So cooking lessons would be a worthwhile use of money too, both for kids at school and for adults.

But no - it seems all they want to do is tell us what we already know. Most fat people know we should not be eating as we do. It is blatantly obvious when we look in the mirror that something is wrong. We do not need money spent on posters or flashy TV cartoons and Michelle Obama or anyone else telling us what we already know. We need constructive help to change. If the politicians do not wish to pay for this, they should butt out. IMHO, of course.

I was commenting only the day about how schools have dropped cookery classes. Also shocked at Lizzie writing how cookery was dropped in favour of food technology, its a crazy world when one has to learn what fast food to buy, as bad as having a McDonalds in a hospital! Today I bought a box of blueberry juice and was shocked at the price as at the same time I bought 6 oranges for a third of the juice box price, in fact if I hadn't bought the juice box I could have bought another 12 oranges - would have lasted better than a box of juice which by the way was awful, it had no substance. Yes fresh fruit and veggies can be expensive especially the "fancy" ones like fresh fennel or asparagus - for me its boring old carrots, cauli and cabbage. Soft fruits like berries are expensive for me so again I tend to stick to the apples, pears and oranges which I find cheaper and if the fruit becomes too ripe I make stewed apple, pear smoothies and orange juice. I tend to make my own food from scratch and still find it cheaper to do it that way. Convenience foods are expensive and didn't buy them even when I worked as we never seemed to be able to afford them. Maybe we need to learn to cook economically again like our mothers did and not waste as much as we do now. Not pointing a finger at anybody here as we are all doing the best we can - Mrs Obama could have been more diplomatic or why doesn't she show the rest of how to feed a family economically.

Wow, you guys are tuff (lol) I do agree with most of your words, but I cant knock Michelle. She has made great strides at teaching children about planting gardens ect. She has made attempts, but she cant control what we feed ourselves and our children. Trust me I know how tuff it is to live paycheck to paycheck. I also know when you look at a pack of Kraft mac n chease for 99 cents and you see a 8 pk of chicken breasts for 12 dollars, what do ya do? I just try to make the healthiest choices I can. Sometimes it is PBand J, other days when we have a little extra to spare, its salmon and salad. I hate to get political or even bring politics into this. Were all here to support and help eachother. I do agree that we cant depend on politicians to help us in our weight battle. Hope everybody can keep the faith and stay focused on a healthier lifestyle. Have a great day......Dan

Maybe Mrs. Obama can share some of that $100.00 per pound beef she likes with us, since its paid with our tax money anyway.

Amen to that one.

Keep the faith guy's and do the best you can. Michelle isnt the bad guy. I'm not a huge fan of President Obama either, but again, Michelle has done alot to help educate our children on nutrition. She did much of the same for years in Chicago, so I do credit her for that. Its us who controls what we eat and feed our children. I know we have to live in our limits and budgets, but just try to do the best you can. I started out very slow, with small changes eight months ago. When I could and can, I eat healthy foods, when the budget for the week is real low, I do what I have to do, but I do excersise everyday and control portions. Doing that has helped me to lose over 200 pounds. Please dont hate me or be upset for defending Mrs Obama, I just believe in giving credit were its due, now with that being said, I wont get started on the president when it comes to his politics!!!!!! Have a great night, believe in yourself and keep working hard on your weight loss journey. Were all in this together, and we need to keep helping and inspiring one another......Dan

Hi

I don't hate anyone, just having a healthy debate :) It is a similar situation in the UK, I think politicians are completely out of touch with people. For example, some MPs here are complaining because they apparently cannot afford Starbucks coffee on their 65,000 ($103,715) annual salary! I don't know how they expect people on a fraction of that amount to live on organic vegetables and expensive ingredients.

I have had that problem for a long time as well. Lately I have been buying it anyway. I am not sure if I will be able to continue but, I will as long as I can. Money is tight for almost everyone today(including me).

Try feeding two families and only one person working. Now I have to tell this one. My stepgrandson and his family are living with us right now. Yesterday my husband and I went out to dinner and a little fun with some out of town friends. When we got back my grandson said we didn't know if you were gonna cook dinner so we went to Subway. My husband looked at him with wide eyes and a laugh and then told them not to depend on us to eat. They were adults. He just said what I wanted to but wouldn't cause I'm just the step grandmom. I have to stay home this week instead of going with my husband on the road and I have decided not to cook one darn meal.

Bless your heart Snippy, I do feel for you having your grandson and family back at your home. I love my idiot son dearly BUT, he chose to marry a woman with 3 children who makes it clear that she wants to stay home and expects my son to support her. LOLOL, he would not listen to his dad or me. My exhusband was a good dad, and regardless of why our marriage ended, he remained an excellant father, he sacraficed much for his son. So now my 32 year old son and his 30 year old wife are mad cuz daddy would not let them move into his home and support them. Dad told him to get a job and keep it, oh well that is another story.

I am not thrilled about how Michelle Obama treats obesity at all, like you we are struggling to make ends meet and buying groceries is difficult at best, let alone healthy food. High Five Sister VOTE!

O'yes I clearly plan on voting. The sad part is that they refused them food stamps told them cause they live with us we would have to apply. That is not gonba work cause my husband will make to much money. We gave them a place to live and are paying all the bills and have to feed them to.
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