US

Holiday Food Banks Urge Donors to Give ‘Fresh, Healthy Stuff’ to the Poor

Food Banks Urge Donors to Give Healthier Food to the PoorMILWAUKEE (AP) — The season of giving has started, with schools, churches and businesses kicking off food drives that have become annual holiday traditions. But many food banks are asking donors to think twice before dropping ramen noodles and frosted cereals in donation barrels.

Many commonly donated foods are high in salt, sugar or calories, making them poor choices for people with high blood pressure, diabetes and other diet-related health problems. With more people turning to food banks and for longer periods of time, agency officials say they need donations but they‘d like to see people give the kind of healthy and nutritious items they’d serve to their own families.

Sherrie Tussler, the executive director of the Hunger Task Force’s Milwaukee office, said people tend to donate cheap foods without paying much attention to the nutrition content – and they may do so with the best of intentions. For example, people who fondly recall living off of ramen noodles in college tend to donate them to food banks, even though a single serving can have half the recommended daily allowance of sodium.

“We say, if that‘s what you’re going to give, turn around and get a bag of rice,” Tussler said. “It’s just as good a value, it lasts for more meals and there’s no salt.”

Pantry officials also say they receive plenty of soups, along with processed foods such as ravioli. Many varieties are heavy on calories and salt and light on nutrients. Better choices would be low-sodium soups and bags of whole-wheat pasta.

Tussler also recommended avoiding fruit packed in heavy syrups and drinks that aren’t 100 percent juice – which are often diluted with sugar water.

Those are the type of products that could kill Dorothy Jones, a 63-year-old diabetic who picks up food once a month at a Milwaukee food pantry to supplement her Social Security checks. Jones has to watch her sugar intake, and after a heart attack two months ago, her doctor also told her to reduce her intake of salt, fats and carbohydrates. Jones said she understands the impulse to try to lift people’s spirits with cookies and other treats “but they’re no good for a diabetic.”

“To be honest I’d rather have fruit,” she said.

That‘s an item most food drive organizers won’t accept because of concerns about spoilage, and many donors – on tight budgets themselves – don’t feel they can spring for.

But many larger food banks also receive food from corporate donors – retailers, grocery stores and food manufacturers – and groups that grow fruits and vegetables. Those donations go a long way toward helping them provide healthy meals. Cindy McCown, a director at the Second Harvest Food Bank in San Jose, Calif., said nearly half of what her organization provides is fresh produce.

Food Banks Urge Donors to Give Healthier Food to the Poor

In this Nov. 16, 2011, photo Patricia Howard looks through a bag of groceries she picked up from the Milwaukee food pantry. Howard, who is anemic and has high blood pressure, joins food officials who ask that food donors this holiday season offer nutritious foods instead of unhealthy alternatives. (AP Photo/Dinesh Ramde)

That kind of help is important to people like Patricia Howard, 50, who picked up a bag of groceries at a Salvation Army pantry in Milwaukee. She needs iron because she has anemia and said she’d rather get it by eating leafy greens than taking supplements. The grocery bag she received recently included peanut butter, spaghetti, tomato sauce and corn flakes – all foods that she said were valuable.

“The fact that people donate something, I’m grateful for that,” Howard said. “But I just hope people ask themselves, `Am I giving something healthy?’”

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, which supplies 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelter, gets the bulk of its donations from corporations, and executive Bob Dolgan said it doesn’t accept candy, chips and soda.

“We also don’t see those items as being in demand in pantries,” he said. “They want meat, dairy, bread, produce.”

So what foods are healthy, in demand and inexpensive enough not to bust donors’ budgets? Food bank operators recommend nonperishables such as:

- low-sugar cereal such as Cheerios or Chex;

- peanut butter;

- cans or plastic containers of juice (make sure it’s 100 percent juice);

- canned vegetables, any variety, marked lite or low-sodium;

- bags of pinto or black beans;

- rice;

- canned tuna fish;

- and powdered milk fortified with vitamin D.

Donors should avoid:

- foods high in sodium, fat, oils or sugar;

- chips, candy, cookies and crackers

- sugary beverages;

- items in glass bottles;

- and items that are expired or in damaged packaging.

Some food pantries are equipped to accept frozen foods such as turkey, chicken and vegetables and other perishables like fruit and milk, but donors should call ahead.

The simplest – and most appreciated – donation is cash. Pantry officials can use the money – cash or grocery gift cards – to buy whatever healthy staples are in low supply. Also, because they purchase in bulk, they get more for the money than the average grocery shopper does.

“A $15 donation goes a long way toward getting fresh, healthy stuff,” Tussler said. “People say $15 doesn’t do much because it only buys one meal but really, it makes a big difference.”

Comments (111)

  • thankfulness
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:40am

    To a point I do agree that we need to be sure that what we donate is healthy. But I have to say that is impracticle in practice. When people collect for food they have long spans of time where the food is not refriderated. Some scouts have can drives where they have 5 hours time of people leaving the food outside as scouts collect the food. Or schools have kids bring in food and the food is sitting around for hours or days. In those cases you have no choice but to donate canned or boxed or other pantry food. Most of those foods are in salt or other perservatives that are needed to prolong shelf life. And to not have those in canned foods will shorten the life. Grocery gift cards are useful if you want to have the pantries buy the fresh and healthier stuff. Reality is what reality is.
    And I remember someone who was famous for feeding the poor who was practical and compassionate was faced with healthy food. And she said that any food is what is needed. (I am paraphasing here if someone can find the quoite please help out).
    Anyway yeah I see the concern but to me you also have to be a realist and appreciative for any food at all.
    Though I would love to see a spring seed donation that would be kind of cool to do something like that.

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:51am

      This is exactly what I was thinking. The people who “supplement” their groceries with stuff from food banks, can get their non-perishables there, and save their money for smart shopping and buying fresh stuff. The shelf life for lettuce and fruit is not very long, even when refrigerated. My husband was out of work for 2 months due to a very bad break in his leg. Luckily we had stocked up (though now we’ve gone through most of it) and only had to buy milk, eggs, fruit, etc.

      Report Post »  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:57am

      First of all…it is sad that the only attention given in this country to “feeding the poor” only takes precedence around the holidays..Driving to work last week…I realized that at this very moment..there are less fortunate people who are homeless….Please pause to think about that each day…Here we give aide..have food, clothing and money drives for people in other countries like Haiti…we send via our tax dollars to Arab countries…3.5 billion to Pakistan whom we find out has been sharing nuclear technology with Iran. China. Lybia and North Korea..THe President sent 700 million to refurbish Mosques in Arab countries..and imports Black Somali Muslims to here furnishing them all with jobs.. and we have people here who live under a bridge and have no food.. There should be no homeless or starving person in America..I believe it was in the Reagan era that mental patients were turned out into the streets…That is just perplexing…We have a mind set for the world…while ignoring our own.

      Report Post »  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 9:00am

      !THANKFULNESS and LOR ANN The food perishables could be given to places where the homeless can go for a hot meal such as the Salvation Army or anywhere there are food kitchens.

      Report Post »  
    • thankfulness
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 9:05am

      Some things that I have donated are canned beans and tuna fish. But also things like mac and cheese, pasta and prune juice. As well as chef boy re dee (probably the last one is what they are asking us not to donate) But I tend to donate lots of beans. Again the fact that canned food has salt is so that people do not get food poisoning. That really is why canned food has that stuff in the first place. The thing is that any food is better than no food.
      If we want to make sure that people get healthier food we can start a spring seed drive. We can have food pantries or seed pantries help to distribute seeds. I think that would be a good idea. We can donate the seeds and potted plant that can grow locally. And we can donate the tools as well as other stuff to help people with their gardens. Potted tomato plants and herb plants and strawberry plants and other fuits and veggies that can grow in containers for urban areas…… That can be done if anyone in your area wants to do that. Why not. Books about canning and books about gardening. That is doable. And worthy.
      I notice that around thanksgiving we have the biggest food drives. But once holidays are over only some churches and very few people collect food. Maybe doing a spring seed drive would help fill in that gap. Also with those spring drives have books on canning a freezing. Just an idea to put out there…….. why not?

      Report Post »  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 9:07am

      .
      PLEASE DON”T FEED THE OBAMA SUPPORTERS or the ILLEGALS!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 9:17am

      SPANKEY We already feed the illegals..We give them 338.3 billion of our tax dollars a year…You don’t have to worry about feeding the hungry around election time…that’s when Acorn and subs go out in force to get them…offering them cigarettes and booze and giving them rides to the poles.

      Report Post »  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 9:19am

      Thankfulness..great idea.about giving seeds..

      Report Post »  
    • thankfulness
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 9:41am

      Thanks…. If Mr. Beck reads these posts maybe he can spread this idea?????
      Here are some ideas for the seed donations. (anyone else who has ideas please feel free to add them)
      Either work with food pantries, churches, schools, or empty warehouse. And we can donate whatever would be needed to start planting things. Hardware, software and seeds. The country side people with yards can plant in the ground. We can donate nut trees, fruit trees, seeds, seedlings, herbs, planters.
      In the urban areas we can donate the upside down planters, right side up planters. We can donate whatever can fit on patios or balconies or whatever. And also community gardens (I see community gardens popping up already, someone else came up with that one) But this is for people who want to have the plants closer to home.
      What we donate depends on what is practical for the neighborhood, the lay out of the neighborhood and the amount of land of that neighborhood and the soil of the neighborhood. Bring this idea up at churches and schools and friends and see if it takes off. Hopefully it does. If I am missing something, please let me know. How you run it would be specific to what you are willing to do and what works where you live.

      Report Post »  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 10:14am

      God Bless anyone who gives anything. The staff will make up special bags for diabetic and anemic persons, and give the rest to healthy persons.

      God Bless anyone who needs food assistance in the Greatest Country On Earth.

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 10:37am

      But I Always Give The Poor My Left Over Easter And Halloween Candy

      The poor seem to like the candy I give them and I like watching the tooth aches they get as they chew it.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 11:13am

      If you are… very hungry… you do not care about “healthy choices”. Which reminds me of the old Fascist New Reels… with German kids Exercising and Eating… as the Government “suggested”!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • thankfulness
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 11:47am

      When a person has a tomato plant, strawberry plant or nut tree (or fill in the blanks) the person is actually have a regular supply of food. And you are giving the person a fishing pole to work with. By giving seeds to plants that are growing this is benificial. Yes canned goods and ramon noodles and everything is on the table. But this is one way to have the person actually have something that they can be appreciative of since it is something the person has put in effort with. Plus seeds are much cheaper to donate than the already grown and transported food. And the family can have something fresh. Seeds are a gift and donation that keeps on giving.

      Report Post »  
    • 1chancey1
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 12:18pm

      Monicne (Encinom) your little charade is getting stale. You are a Troll and don’t have a clue what the Tea Party is about. Please stop representing something you are not.

      Report Post »  
    • SLAPTHELEFT
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 1:19pm

      Oh ok. Here i thought donating food was the idea. Oh. Its not. Now i need to buy arugula and steak and give it away. Ok. Lets see, homeless people eat out of dumpsters, yes? People with no food would eat anything that is not spoiled. So would i. Get off your bs about how we need to donate healthy foods. Beggars cant ne choosers. Lets see- we are now paying for chdren to eat three meals a day at school. Presumably poor kids, yes? So they are not on welfare or food stamps? Hey that moneys not for food anyways right? You libs just kill me.

      Maybe i just wont donate at all. Dont tell me how to be charitable. Mind your own damn business!

      Report Post » SLAPTHELEFT  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 1:39pm

      I donate ‘individually’,,,,because there IS a difference between “poor” and “lazy”

      Report Post »  
    • gramma b
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 2:53pm

      Another long-respected truth bites the dust: “Beggars can’t be choosers.”

      Report Post »  
    • thankfulness
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:03pm

      Fresh fruit and veggies are expensive, hard to donate and store. It makes more sense to give seeds (which are cheaper than canned or boxed food) and maybe a planter and dirt and say “this is your veggie and fruit, Plant it and take care of it and you will have something fresh) . This would be a church and club inititive with other people who like that idea. By the way only people who Want to do it would be involved (not government run) only private people. I am only putting this idea out there for those who Want to do it. If You Like the Idea you can do it. By yourself, with you scout den or troop with your church, if you like that idea. If you don’t like the idea, you do not have to do it. Seems like it is a conservative christian would like this idea. Again just putting ideas out there. Keep doing what you are doing. Any and all charities started out by one person coming up with something. Boy scouts, girl scouts, salvation army, good will, catholic charities and all other organizations came from someplace. And we all have a choice how and what we give to. This is only another option and choice that I thought about.
      This is an idea.

      If you give a man a fish he eats one day if you teach him to fish he can feed himself.

      Report Post »  
    • thankfulness
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:06pm

      Taking care of a garden is work, not a hand out.

      Report Post »  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:36am

      .
      If I’m hungry and someone gives me food, I’m not going to
      bi*ch about it. The so called poor have gamed the system
      to the point I’m over it. There’s a huge food stamp economy in the hood.
      $0.50 on the dollar, go buy beer and drugs, take a cruise.
      The more we help the poor, the more we‘re told it’s not good enough.

      How about you WORK for your food? Oh, the humanity!

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:42am

      .
      This story has Michelle Obama written all over it.
      “You better give higher quality stuff to my voters.”

      The lady in the story is picking at her free food bag.
      Waaaaaa, waaaaaa.
      What have YOU done to make your life better?
      .

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
  • ColoradoMaverick
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:38am

    Maybe Michelle Obama should have her husband sign an executive order banning anything they deem unhealthy from being donated. Do you remember the Everybody Loves Raymond episode with the “approved list of snacks” from that liberal twit parent with the sweater around his neck. People like this really do exist you know. They’re called democrats.

    Report Post » ColoradoMaverick  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on November 22, 2011 at 3:45am

      At every grocery here there is an area to drop off food items for the needy. I try to give nonparishable items such as canned foods and easy to prepare items. At the register they always ask if you want to make a one dollar donation to St Judes or some other organazation. When you enter or leave you have the salvation army asking for donations. Then if you are shopping at Walmart or K-mart, it is the same thing. There is a bin for Toys for Tots. Again the salvation Army at the entrance. We have a coat drive here in our area. All of which I try my best to participate in. It is hard to say no, I feel guilty if I don’t give. I save my change all year and keep it a coffee can in my jeep to give to the salvation army . I buy a few items each week for the food bins. I buy 3 or 4 toys for tots. And at least one coat. To be honest, it hurts me financially. For some one to complain about how much or what I choose to donate bothers me. I guess my spagetti in a box, mac & cheese, pizza mixes, jello, instant mashed potatoes, pudding mixes, koolaid drinks, canned beans,corn, mixed veggies, peas, gravy in a jar,and canned fruit are poor choices to some. I will buy red licorice and gum too. I buy Gator aid and Crystal light. Regardless, if you are hungry, it is food. I don’t know if to many people would benefit from planting the seeds in the middle of winter.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
  • hi
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:35am

    I’ll give fruit to the Christmas Food Bank.

    Report Post » hi  
  • USAqh
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:29am

    wow ! this is fantastic ! a new arena for Moochelle to get involved in … poor people food pantry deserts … quick call her and have her take up the standard … oh yeah, that’s right, she is pretty busy this season what with all her vacations coming up !!!

    Report Post » USAqh  
  • jadedinkc
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:28am

    I am so sick and tired of the leeches and takers. Now they are telling the rest of us they want better free stuff.

    Report Post »  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 10:16am

      God Bless you and may our Lord Jesus Christ keep you and yours from poverty.

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • a_lady_patriot
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 10:22am

      I agree – How about being thankful for what you have and not just complain about what you don’t have. If you are truly hungry you’ll be grateful for ANY food.

      I remember my mom being on welfare in the late 60′s – we got a block of cheese, powdered milk, hot dogs and old bread. She got herself off welfare as soon as she could. Now we support a lifestyle of people with EBT cards who take advantage and even scam the system. And they have more disposable income than my own family.

      Report Post » a_lady_patriot  
    • mikelivi
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 11:21am

      Hey monicne, Stop mocking folks, get a life and go touch yourself while looking at that poster of your lord soros. People like you are the worst our great nation has to offer. Just go f@*k yourself. I for one have had it with idiots like you. “hey mom I need more doritos” how many times a day do you say “hey mom I need……….” my 5 year old is more independent than you! Douchebag!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 12:19pm

      MIKELIVI – tHANKS FOR THE SHOUT OUT! yOU SURE ROCK!

      It’s a pleasure to read such enlightened thoughts! I am glad you have a little one to inspire, my boys are all grown and in the US Military now, one is giving taxpayer-funded food to needy people by the way.

      All of them are eating free food in their mess halls every day that includes healthy choices.

      Peace Love Dove

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 12:29pm

      To think I have been saving the pasta and such for the food drive .. since I found out I must eat gluten free. Now they won’t appreciate my donation? Should I just throw it in the garbage .. let’s face it many of these people going to food banks are selling their food stamps for drugs and their kids are eating two or more meals at school. I am getting sick and tired of being told what I do for others is NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
  • celestialfire
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:17am

    Reminds me of an old saying, “don’t bite the hand that feeds you”, oh, and “beggars can’t be choosers”. And for good measure words of wisdom from facebook, Be happy with what you get – “life could be a dream” fact is it isn‘t and never will be because you’ll just keep wanting more. Many Americans are working hard at two and three jobs to put food on the table for their families and it’s not about “healthy choices”, it’s about feeding the family, putting gas in the car, and paying bills. At that point, donating fresh fruit, produce, meat and leafy greens to the local food pantry is not an option. Americans give because they want to and if its soup, tuna, or ramen noodles accept it with a happy heart because it is given with a helping heart. Please don’t tell me about your healthy preferences. Who can afford Kobe steaks, Steelhead salmon, and crispy spinach served on gold rimmed plates. The people thinking they are entitled to the same need to get real. Let’s see…“healthy choices from the food pantry” or “starve”, now that’s a no brainer.

    Report Post »  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:17am

    Most truly hungry people don’t want healthy food. Have you ever watched someone on food stamps. They very seldom ever buy vegetables, and healthy food. Why because it costs more than junk food. They don’t want healthy food because most of it you have to develop a taste for it. Sort of like Scotch. Never could stand that stuff.

    Report Post »  
  • sister1_rm
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:15am

    On the one hand, I’m glad to see some guide lines as to what food pantries want. Most food drives in my area are been either pretty vague on the details or don’t accept perishables; however, I’m not pleased to read this article. It makes people who receive food assistance seem picky and ungrateful. Some how I think at least a few are happy for the help.

    I was in that position several years ago, when my family needed help one summer, and I know the value of healthy food. We had help through our church and I felt humbled and grateful.

    My church has an excellent program funded only by member donations, with many of our own farming, processing, and distributing centers run mostly by volunteers. Most of my charitable giving goes through my church where I know it will do the most good for those in need.

    Report Post » sister1_rm  
  • Tepeyac
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:08am

    The poor are not the same class of people we knew from the past! They’ve stepped up quite a bit! We have to make accommodations to fit their needs! As a kid I remember walking around with a salt shaker in my pocket and eating out of gardens (not necessarily mine). Anything to fill the stomach! I remembe my mom adding two cups of rice krispies to the two eggs she had to make it go further! Surplus food (?) yeah it helped and we were grateful!

    Report Post »  
  • Mandors
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:03am

    Beggars can’t be choosers.

    Report Post » Mandors  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:19am

      Thanks for donating the French bikini swimsuits and trout fishing vest to our clothing drive, too! They were hardly used and will keep a family warm this winter.

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
  • Ron Staiger
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:00am

    Give them unlimited alcohol and drugs instead and the problem will be solved much quicker or– let them eat cake!

    Report Post »  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:58am

    Where’s Michael Moore to donate his stash of cash to feed these hungry masses? Oh, that’s right, he’s only concerned with feeding his own hungry mass……..

    Report Post » biohazard23  
  • Darla_K
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:54am

    Obummer should take some of the people’s tax dollars that he has been wasting on crap and sending off to other countries to help the food banks here at home. But….seens how he hates this country and could care less. I would rather see my tax dollars go for something like this than go to help abortion clinics, Acorn and on and on………

    Report Post » Darla_K  
  • leftcoastslut
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:49am

    how about a bamboo pole and some fishing line? would that be ok?

    Report Post »  
  • OklahomaBeck
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:48am

    Does the government restrict buying unhealthy foods with food stamps?

    Report Post »  
    • Dalady
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 9:06am

      I know an Obama voter who gets $1000/mo. in food stamps. He starts off his month with $50 worth of crab legs, kids each pick their own personal 2 liter soda, etc. Yes, this O-voter is fat.

      What’s wrong with this picture?

      NOBAMA 2012

      Report Post »  
    • Woman
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 10:03am

      Bingo!

      Report Post »  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:45am

    Listen, I don‘t want to burst anyone’s charity bubble, but food pantries throw away a tremendous amount of food every week because there is no one who wants it and the shelf live expires. The truth in America is that charity is far GREATER than need. Even in this recession, this is true.

    If you do not believe me, contact your local food pantry, or better yet, go check out their dumpster if you want to know the truth.

    Report Post » Secessionista  
    • demint.disciple
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:05am

      For example, people who fondly recall living off of ramen noodles in college tend to donate them to food banks, even though a single serving can have half the recommended daily allowance of sodium. IDIOTS, use only half the of the flavor packet or don’t use the flavor packet at all that is where ALL the sodium comes from .. Amazing, I live by myself , I spend about 3 dollars a day eating and I’m healthy .. 2 cups of coffee in the morning, sunflower seeds in the afternoon and a 2 dollar T.V dinner or rice with 6 fish sticks and 2 hamburger buns ,in the evening with more sunflower seeds for a snack. I can go on and on with foods that I buy that I only spend about 3 dollars a day on. No, everyone wants to eat three times a day, even the poor.. btw , I don’t consider myself poor just a wise working bachelor …

      Report Post » demint.disciple  
    • ColoradoMaverick
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:41am

      You’re right about that. Our local church gathers up boxes and boxes of very nice clean clothes that we were going to take to an Indian reservation in South Dakota. They rejected the donations and said they wanted new clothes. We told them to go pound salt and donated them to a Christian charity to be given out to people who wanted them.

      Report Post » ColoradoMaverick  
    • Woman
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 10:02am

      Shelf life is bologna.

      Report Post »  
  • Amy
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:41am

    Beans and rice are very nutritious. Throw in a short recipe.

    A couple years back I was selecting rice when a young woman told her mother she would not buy rice because it took three hours to cook. Huh?

    White rice 20 minutes simmer; brown rice 45. Basmati and Jasmine rice are very delicious and cooking methods vary. Beans from bag should be picked through for tiny stones, rinsed well. Easy bean method is to bring to boil, turn off and sit for one hour, drain, add more water and simmer for three hours. Meanwhile add garlic, tomatoes, meat if you eat meat etc. Beans are fantastic storage items.

    Report Post » Amy  
    • Secessionista
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:48am

      My mom looked for stones too. I have looked, never found one, and finally stopped looking. I assume the machines that do the sorting and cleaning are much better today.

      Or maybe it’s just the way we eat – never scraping the bottom of the barrel, so to speak.

      Report Post » Secessionista  
    • demint.disciple
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:09am

      “The fact that people donate something, I’m grateful for that,” Howard said. “But I just hope people ask themselves, `Am I giving something healthy?’”
      Ok you asked for it. Nothing but rice cakes and tofu from this point forward .. I get the hint..

      Report Post » demint.disciple  
    • demint.disciple
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:16am

      @Amy.. Will you marry me ? You won your way to my heart, because I know you can cook …

      Report Post » demint.disciple  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:40am

    Well, what a turn-off. The poor are now being picky eaters. I do believe that means the war on hunger has been won. Quick – someone give Obummer a salvation army bomber jacket and pose him in front of a “mission accomplished” sign!

    Report Post » Secessionista  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:14am

      I cannot think of a single politician that would be arrogant and detached enough to appear in front of a “Mission Accomplished” sign, it would be so tasteless that it would be remembered 5 years later with extreme anger and hurt.

      TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • demint.disciple
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:20am

      @ Secessionista… hehehee good one , think he’ll do it ?

      Report Post » demint.disciple  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:40am

    .
    PLEASE DON”T FEED THE OBAMA SUPPORTERS or the ILLEGALS!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Don’t give FOOD , COATS or ANYTHING to a Food Bank, they are no more than Progressive Indoctrination Centers. We need these leaches to go home……

    If you want to give, find you a family to bless. Cause, when you knock on the door, and see the look on their face…………

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:36am

    What the HECK now the donors are being told what to give by the people getting the food stuff.
    They are getting food stamps and all kinds of other free goverment money. Then we give them food its not good enough. If they don’t like what we give dont take it.

    Report Post »  
  • kcinco
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:35am

    I once offered a dollar and some change to a homeless person who came up into my face on the street. He laughed at it and angrily said he couldn’t even buy a cup of coffee with that. I will never forget that encounter. It turned me off to giving cash to people on the street. Now I donate through my church to a program that fills the shelves of a local food bank. I’ve never heard our community complain.

    Report Post » kcinco  
    • demint.disciple
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:29am

      One time I offered food to a man sitting in front of McDonalds with a signs that read, “ Will work for food” I said, I have a few things to do around the house and I will buy him a dinner to take care of it.. His reply ? Well what would I have to do ? lmao, that was my last time.. I didn’t even have anything for him to do, I WANTED to see his reply .. If he said OK, let’s go, I would’ve have bought him a supersized meal and said, have at it and good luck ..

      Report Post » demint.disciple  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 12:22pm

      You two are classy and a real scream!

      (Show those beggars their place) TEA

      Report Post » MONICNE  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:30am

    Cash is probably a good choice. Don‘t forget Samaritan’s Purse, http://www.samaritanspurse.org/GiftCatalog2011/. It’s the charity of those “radicals” Billy and Franklin Graham.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • ares338
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:22am

    I would tend to give what I personally consume but if I were hungry I would eat just about anything.

    Report Post » ares338  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:20am

    But if the poor are going to complain about what they receive for free, then people should do what they should have been doing all along, and teach the poor how not to be poor. Then, if they stay poor, they are staying poor by their own hand, and you’ve done your job.

    Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:23am

      After all, that‘s why Adam fell because God showed him but he wouldn’t listen and so he fell. Therefore, let the poor fall by their own hand if they won’t listen.

      Report Post »  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:14am

    The poor need food….period. I don’t think they will complain about sugary food.

    Report Post »  

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