Staff Reports
There’s a saying: “You are what you eat.” If that’s true, then America might be in trouble. What passes for a grocery haul today looks more like a who’s who of junk food royalty rather than a lineup of nutritious choices. Chips, hot dogs, sugary drinks—these are hardly the path to a healthy lifestyle. But what might raise eyebrows even more is how these items made it into the shopping cart. Yes, much of it is being paid for with EBT, the government program originally designed to help low-income families buy food. Last time anyone checked, powdered doughnuts and teriyaki noodles weren’t considered part of a balanced diet.
The real issue here isn’t just the dubious nutrition. What should concern everyone is that taxpayer dollars are funding this parade of processed foods. Nutrition experts have warned people for decades about the health risks of such diets. Irony is a bit thick, like that extra layer of frosting on a donut—America is battling an obesity epidemic, and yet it subsidizes junk food. It’s like telling someone to quit smoking while handing them a pack of cigarettes.
Ponder this for a moment: families loading up their carts with sodium-heavy chips and sugar-laden drinks all under the benevolent eye of Uncle Sam. What are they teaching the next generation about self-control and making smarter choices? Traditional values like hard work, perseverance, and responsibility may start at the dinner table, and we seem to be writing them off with each scanned barcode of empty calories. Many have started to believe that if the government’s involved, it can’t be the family’s fault. Well, it’s high time people take back control of what’s on their plate.
Now, no one is suggesting banning personal choices, but there should be accountability. It’s time to rethink how the system works. Shouldn’t the funds be steered toward foods that actually promote health rather than hinder it? Is it too much to expect the government to support outcomes that improve lives rather than enable poor decisions? A nation’s health is its wealth, but right now, wealth is being spent on making people unhealthier.
At the end of the day, welfare shouldn’t be a pass to neglect personal wellness. People must remember what is at stake, including the health of citizens and the values that built this country. A hard look in the mirror—and perhaps into the pantry—is needed. America can reclaim its vitality and spare itself future health crises, but change needs to start now. Maybe a shift in priorities will lead to a shift in spending, both in families and in policy. After all, shouldn’t we demand better from our government and ourselves?
