I was reading...then thinking!!!
Posted by dl-bailey on Dec 16, 2009 · Member since Oct 2008 · 286 posts
I was reading about how during the Victorian era the Vegetarian Society had resturants on 'Skid Row'. It provided healthy vegetarian food at a low cost to the working class. Then a read an article that 3/4 of the US adult population is overweight or obese. A significant part of this has to do with cheap, unhealthy food that is widely available and the inability to get healthier options. I think it would be great if their were vegan/vegetarian resturants that catered to the poor and working class. If the food was made from simple, inexpensive ingredients and ran by a charity or non-profit - to reduce taxes and some overhead, it could be possible. What does everyone else think?
when i wanted to open a vegan restaurant i totally wanted to do that --make things cheap and delicious.
we have something like that up here: Sisters of the Road
That sounds awesome and I would love it.
Agreed. One of the problems is that the government subsidizes dairy, beef, et cetera, so those things are super cheap to consumers. Sigh.
That would be awesome. Food activist Bryant Terry that wrote Vegan Soul Kitchen addresses the fact that poorer areas don't have healthy options. The stores in poor areas don't offer fresh fruits and vegetables, nevermind healthy restaurants.
That would be awesome. Food activist Bryant Terry that wrote Vegan Soul Kitchen addresses the fact that poorer areas don't have healthy options. The stores in poor areas don't offer fresh fruits and vegetables, nevermind healthy restaurants.
Definitely, and on that note aren't a lot healthy foods not able to be bought with food stamps? I can't find a list of what you can buy with them, but I'm 99% sure it can't be anything organic, and can you even buy fresh fruit/veg with them? Unless it's just the fact that people who use them buy a bunch of cheap junk food to make the money go farther. It's a shame, if they spent a little more on quality food then maybe they'd spend less on doctor's bills, getting sick, etc. But I might just be talking out my ass b/c I'm not sure about what you can buy with them, other than you cant buy non-food items and alcohol.
That would be awesome. Food activist Bryant Terry that wrote Vegan Soul Kitchen addresses the fact that poorer areas don't have healthy options. The stores in poor areas don't offer fresh fruits and vegetables, nevermind healthy restaurants.
Definitely, and on that note aren't a lot healthy foods not able to be bought with food stamps? I can't find a list of what you can buy with them, but I'm 99% sure it can't be anything organic, and can you even buy fresh fruit/veg with them? Unless it's just the fact that people who use them buy a bunch of cheap junk food to make the money go farther. It's a shame, if they spent a little more on quality food then maybe they'd spend less on doctor's bills, getting sick, etc. But I might just be talking out my ass b/c I'm not sure about what you can buy with them, other than you cant buy non-food items and alcohol.
You can buy healthy foods on foodstamps. I think the problem is that people are only given about $1 per person per meal. Unless you know what your doing, it is difficult to get enough calories and the right nutrition with little money. Either you eat a lot of whole, unprocessed foods for very little calories, say 1000-1200 a day. Or you can get full on a lot of processed foods. That is the dillemia that the hungry face in this country. Also, processed foods take less preparation. If your working two jobs and have inadequate facilities, processed foods become even more attractive. That's why I think I low cost vegan/vegetarian resturants in poor neighborhoods would be a possible solution to this problem.
P.S. I did read an article from the NY Times that they are planning to subsidize produce for those on food stamps. I believe it is a 20% reduction off the cost. This a start in the right direction.
Um.....I'm on foodstamps, and for 1 person, I'm getting $200 per month....which is waaay more than I have ever budgeted for me alone.
Could you be thinking about WIC?
Oooooh k, gotcha. Yea a low cost veg restaurant would be awesome. The only downside is if their looking for quick, cheap food would they want a sit down restaurant? Because you're right if they're working and have a family it's hard to get out and do that, especially if there are young kids which can be a handful to try to take out to eat :-\ I guess if it offered a take-home option that would fix it though. Definitely sounds like something to look into. I wish more people would think of starting something like that
Um.....I'm on foodstamps, and for 1 person, I'm getting $200 per month....which is waaay more than I have ever budgeted for me alone.
Could you be thinking about WIC?
I think it depends on your state. I calculated for CA and it is about a dollar a meal.
I just looked it up on the website. It depends on who is in your household and what they did/could earn. Homes with the elderly can get more than homes with those layed off. So, it depends on many factors. The quoted average for a family of two is $264 per month. That is about $1.46 per meal. This is for California. Are legislators are not as generous as other states.
Oooooh k, gotcha. Yea a low cost veg restaurant would be awesome. The only downside is if their looking for quick, cheap food would they want a sit down restaurant? Because you're right if they're working and have a family it's hard to get out and do that, especially if there are young kids which can be a handful to try to take out to eat :-\ I guess if it offered a take-home option that would fix it though. Definitely sounds like something to look into. I wish more people would think of starting something like that
I was thinking cafeteria or family style may work. If there is a select amount of options made in batches and only a few servers/workers, it may work.
Up here in OR, if you make less than $1120-- per month, you get the full $200 for one person. For two people, I think the income cap for the full amount of $350 is $2200--.
If you make more than the cap, the benefits decrease commiserate to the income increase.
To give you an idea about my situation, last summer I was feeding two adults on $30 per week. So even a dollar per meal would have made me feel rich....still would for that matter.
Oooooh k, gotcha. Yea a low cost veg restaurant would be awesome. The only downside is if their looking for quick, cheap food would they want a sit down restaurant? Because you're right if they're working and have a family it's hard to get out and do that, especially if there are young kids which can be a handful to try to take out to eat :-\ I guess if it offered a take-home option that would fix it though. Definitely sounds like something to look into. I wish more people would think of starting something like that
What about delivery? Because that way you don't even have to pick it up so that way dinner is there when you get home from work. That might help with gas for them, so they don't have to make a side trip on their way home (and gas is crazy expensive)
Either way I like this idea.
I would love to have something like that. Spreading health and compassion to everyone, for a economical price. :)
In Victorian/Edwardian times, many families would send a kid to the soup kitchen with a jug to pick up the amount of soup (and it was soup or stew) allowed to them. Because in those days they were often run by "missions" who would question adults about their lives and/or want them to take pamphlets. So they would send the kiddies who weren't held up, since they had to go back to school after a quick lunch. I think this sort of "pickup service" (without the harangue) would be the way to go for people today. Lot healthier than drivethru fast food.
In Victorian/Edwardian times, many families would send a kid to the soup kitchen with a jug to pick up the amount of soup (and it was soup or stew) allowed to them. Because in those days they were often run by "missions" who would question adults about their lives and/or want them to take pamphlets. So they would send the kiddies who weren't held up, since they had to go back to school after a quick lunch. I think this sort of "pickup service" (without the harangue) would be the way to go for people today. Lot healthier than drivethru fast food.
What I am thinking about weren't soup kitchens ran by churches or missions. From what I understand, they were inexpensive restaurants ran by the Vegetarian Society used to both provide the poor with healthy food and promote vegetarianism.
But, a pick-up/drive-thru service would make it more convienent.
Um.....I'm on foodstamps, and for 1 person, I'm getting $200 per month....which is waaay more than I have ever budgeted for me alone.
That's only $50 a week. I need to go shopping with you, because I spend much more and I need to cut back when I get my new job that pays less. Right now I spent about $400 to $600 a month (not just on food, but household items and petfood).
Um.....I'm on foodstamps, and for 1 person, I'm getting $200 per month....which is waaay more than I have ever budgeted for me alone.
That's only $50 a week. I need to go shopping with you, because I spend much more and I need to cut back when I get my new job that pays less. Right now I spent about $400 to $600 a month (not just on food, but household items and petfood).
Somewhere here there are "shopping/cooking on a budget" threads we started last year...they might help. Owning a decent freezer is half the battle. That way you can cook batches and freeze things in portions.
Um.....I'm on foodstamps, and for 1 person, I'm getting $200 per month....which is waaay more than I have ever budgeted for me alone.
That's only $50 a week. I need to go shopping with you, because I spend much more and I need to cut back when I get my new job that pays less. Right now I spent about $400 to $600 a month (not just on food, but household items and petfood).
Somewhere here there are "shopping/cooking on a budget" threads we started last year...they might help. Owning a decent freezer is half the battle. That way you can cook batches and freeze things in portions.
umm...well $600 a month is my budget. I'm pretty good with it. LOL.........I do need to lower it significantly next month when I switch jobs.
The three of us in our family get 345 a month on food stamps.
We were getting 550, then they dragged it down to 450.. and now down to 345.
and we're making LESS money. we're making almost no money.
(my mother is the only one who works).
the foodstamp lady keeps screwing us over. she is the biggest bitch EVER.
sorry for mentioning this, but you guys were talking about foodstamps hahaha.
anyways, I like what the OP had to say.. that would be awesome.
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