Stuck in Reality
‘Teen Mom’ Star Gary Shirley Shouldn’t Be Bashed for Food Stamps & Junk Food
Get ready for a crazy rumor about one of the stars of the reality show Teen Mom that will actually make you respect them a little bit more. Someone is telling the tabloids that Amber Portwood's on-again-off-again boyfriend Gary Shirley is using food stamps to fill his fridge with junk food.
His response? He's not on food stamps, but he doesn't think there's any shame for people who are. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but Gary is absolutely right. And I'm going to double down: it's time to kill the "food stamps = junk food" myth.
No doubt the "source" picked on Gary because -- despite recent reports that he's losing weight -- it's an easy sell that an overweight guy is eating junk. Couple it with a story about a reality star blowing all his cash and having to live on the taxpayer's dime, and it's tabloid gold even if it isn't true.
More from The Stir: 'Teen Mom' Star Gary Shirley Becomes an Even Bigger 'Loser'
There's a pervasive stereotype that living on food stamps means you have to eat a whole lot of unhealthy junk, and it fits right in with the Gary rumor. The claim is that "good" food is expensive, and the myth is that food stamp users are fatties who have to eat crap that's making them fatter.
Not true ... and Gary should prove that point nicely. Look at him back before he started trying to shape up, when he was ostensibly making nice bank from MTV: he wasn't low income, and he was still unhealthy.
Yes, there are barriers for low-income people that make it harder to eat well. But you're kidding yourself if you think unhealthy eating is just an income thing.
Here's the truth: the biggest obstacle standing between low income consumers and healthy food isn't their pocketbooks. It's knowing how to be a smart shopper. Don't get me wrong -- this isn't about intelligence; people with more money are plagued by the same problems, but they're blessed with a little more scratch to spend.
The sad thing is that you can have reality star-sized paychecks like Gary Shirley (ahem, the reason he really should NOT be on food stamps ... and we are glad he isn't) and still be stuck in the junk rut because you don't know how -- or don't want -- to shop smart.
So let's stop blaming one for the other, alright? Gary's right, there is nothing wrong with someone who is on food stamps.
What do you think of Shirley's stance on food stamps?
Image via MTV
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SaphronScribble
Food stamps definitely do not equal junk food, but there's no denying the food supply IS greatly linked to income/wealth in this country. it is possible to use food stamps to shop intelligently and buy fruit & veg, etc., but at the same time, most of the BEST foods (i.e. grassfed beef, organic eggs, etc) ARE more expensive. so it's not fair to assume all people on food stamps eat junk, but neither is it accurate to say it's ONLY a matter of intelligent shopping when higher quality food IS more expensive. the cheapest food you can get is processed food may with corn, corn, corn, and maybe some soy. it's all corn oil, corn starch, corn acids, etc. in anything packaged and processed. fresh stuff is more expensive, it's simple economics.
qrex912
LynBoz
qrex912
micheledo
QUOTE: Here's the truth: the biggest obstacle standing between low income consumers and healthy food isn't their pocketbooks. It's knowing how to be a smart shopper.
I say that ALL the time!!! People get a lot more money from food stamps, for a family our size, then I EVER spend on groceries! I shop sales, coupon, check the store at a time when managers mark down the stuff that has a 'sell by' date. We are a family of 7 and I spend $400 a month on food and toiletries. Food stamps should NOT equal junk food/unhealthy eating.
kaerae
ChrisakaMama
My food stamps of $250 per month definately "suppliments" my food budget. I have 3 children (7, 13 & 14) & and exhusband who disappeared a few years ago. We live off of my $20,000 per year gross income. I pay insurance & food stamps is the only govt assistance we get. my 13 tear old has autisim & yeah I pay for all his expenses/meds/etc too. I do not buy junk food. I also cannot buy all free range/organic/preservative free foods. But I buy as many as I can each and every month. No one in my house is hungry, no one is overweight, but it would be ignorant to say that people on food stamps have enough money to be choosy about thier apples or chicken. I buy the chicken when I can afford it & dried beans when I can't. If I can afford a bag of fresh apples I don't give a crap if they are organic, I want my kids to get to eat the apples. I don't buy the processed foods in the middle of the grocery store (in general) or already prepared frozen meals. But I work 2 jobs to afford it. I challenge anyone to feed a family of 4 (with 2 teenagers) an organic/preservative free/free range/pesticide free/hormone free/etc diet on even $300 per month (what I spend most months including my food stamps & my money I rearned from working). If you do it please send me a how-to, I'd love to be able to do it.
AB
Cait
zandhmom2
I have both an older sister (family of 4) and younger brother (family of 4) who receive fs. My older sister works the coupons, sale ads, in store specials and feeds her family healthy meals everyday. My younger brother on the other hands, buy nothing but frozen pizzas, chicken nuggets, boxed mac n cheese, soda by the case and other junk food. You can't find a piece of fruit or fresh vegetables in his house anywhere. So yes, you can plan and provide healthy meals for your family on food stamps but many people use it the way my brother does instead.