Healthy Food Project

This is the first in a series of 4 posts by Emily Mead, a student at Weston High School, interning at the Community Day Center of Waltham, a day shelter for the homeless in the Waltham/MetroWest region. In her post (#1), Emily noted the unhealthy food choices by our guests, even though there were healthier choices. In posts (2 & 3 ) over the next two days, Emily will be documenting making healthy choices while eating at the Salvation Army, Community Day Center of Waltham, Soup Kitchen and/or spending $6.00 per day, the average amount of money for individuals on Food Stamps. She will purchase food from places that are within reasonable walking distance of the Day Center, and store food without refrigeration or cooking facilities. And post (4) will be a synthesis of her experience and any revised advice she has for us.  And, based on what she learned, it may be possible for the Day Center to develop a healthy eating/healthy snack program for the guests. 

These posts are based on Emily’s observations and experiences and not the position of the Day Center.  Part of our work at the Day Center is to further educate our public, so please read all 4 posts to see how it all unfolds at:  http://cdcwseasonofhope.blogspot.com/ 

Post 1:  by Emily Mead

When some Community Day Center guests use their foods stamps they tend to gravitate towards the foods that will give them “instant gratification,” for the cheapest amount, foods that will take away their hunger and sustain them for the longest amount of time. They are aware of what is healthy and what’s not, but many aren’t thinking about the long term, they are thinking about the short term. And so they aren’t buying a bag of carrots, they are buying a more filling box of donuts.

( Picture from https://www2.nau.edu/wordpress-mu/plaid/files/2012/03/healthy_living-12rnho3.gif)

Some guests of the Day Center shared that your food choices also depend on if you have an apartment and stove where you can cook. Many would be willing to buy the healthier choice, if they could cook it. And since you may not purchase any processed/already made food (expect for sandwiches at some stores) or hot food, a guest might buy “a pack of mini sandwiches at Tedeschi’s, some cookies, and a 99-cent liter of soda” for a snack. Guests also find themselves buying a lot of candy, junk food and other high calorie food because it is cheap and will keep them full for a long duration of time. This is especially true when a lot of them don’t know when and where their next meal will be coming from or if they are going to have to skip a day of using their foods stamps.

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 Guests are shopping at Hannaford’s, Shaw’s and Stop and Shop, but not Whole Foods. So, when it comes to the more expensive organic foods that the guests know are healthier, they either can’t afford it, don’t have the proper facilities to cook it with, or choose to buy the junk food that will fill their stomachs right away, or all of the above.

(Picture from http://everydayfoodblog.marthastewart.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Justins-nut-butter-shots-400x303.jpg)

So, how can you eat healthy and stay full when you have a limited about of facilities and food stamps? Here are some great choices:

• Cheese and bread. (A substantial amount of calories to sustain you and a good source of your daily protein and carbohydrates)
• Yogurt. (For an instant healthy snack)
• Make a sandwich. Buy a loaf of bread (whole wheat or whole grain) and some cold cuts for a filling snack or meal. Add a side of low-fat organic milk or another healthy drink, not soda.
• Mixed nuts and dried fruit, such as trail mix, is a great snack to give you some protein and give you instant gratification.
• Almond butter is great for you and tastes great on whole wheat bread or crackers.
• Peanut butter is also a filling good source of protein. Make a peanut butter sandwich, or put peanut butter on an apple or banana.
• These mini packages are great to carry around, with an apple or crackers, if you are ever hungry for a snack:

(Picture from http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/mediaassets/images/food_circle_400x405.jpg)

You don’t have to think long term, just focus on eating healthy each day!