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> Based on a lot of the comments here it seems a lot of you don't understand what it's like to be poor, how soul crushing it is, how unescapable it is, how you

> Based on a lot of the comments here it seems a lot of you don't understand what it's like to be poor, how soul crushing it is, how unescapable it is, how you have to make short term choices at the expense of the future just to survive. I know what it is like to be poor. I have been poor. I have had a lot of friends who were poor. Yet few of them were fat. Poor people are not very fat where I'm from. People in USA are not fat because they are poor, they are fat because they are in USA. Blaming it on poverty is a cop-out. I'm not sure why they are fat, but there is no universal law that poor people make bad choices and don't have time to cook.

AstralStorm 7y ago
There is a difference in pricing structure. Junk and unhealthy food in the US is much cheaper and more available than basic ingredients which you could use to make wholesome meals. Also much easier to store. We had a similar problem in Poland in 60s, people in some areas ate a lot of bleached flour (and potato flour) in various forms, inviting health disasters and obesity. But that was due to lack of availability of other things mostly. Pricing structure influences availability for poor. The "feel good" addictive factor is a real kicker. Some foods should come in black coffin boxes with a warning label on top.
- briancleland 7y ago
  That's interesting. How was the pricing structure problem addressed?
  - AstralStorm 7y ago
    Initially, the availability issues were fixed by rationing (dreaded food coupons), then by improving production and transport, and finally the Berlin Wall fell, after a short hyperinflation almost everybody can afford basic food and most kinds of produce (except meat) are cheap. The problem is somewhat flipped now that affluent people overeat or eat fast food due to time pressure. These are more expensive than produce and basic components (excluding most kinds of meat, still) even including preparation and work required. Fewer people cook at home, though healthier take out options are quite available in many places. Small restaurants, kinda like old American "greasy spoon" but healthier and more often with disposable cheap packaging and cutlery - big catering is barely competitive. Replacing in many instances previous "milk bars" with both cheap and more gentrified options depending on area. I think the main difference is how near these are to living and work spaces.

AstralStorm 7y ago

There is a difference in pricing structure. Junk and unhealthy food in the US is much cheaper and more available than basic ingredients which you could use to make wholesome meals. Also much easier to store. We had a similar problem in Poland in 60s, people in some areas ate a lot of bleached flour (and potato flour) in various forms, inviting health disasters and obesity. But that was due to lack of availability of other things mostly. Pricing structure influences availability for poor. The "feel good" addictive factor is a real kicker. Some foods should come in black coffin boxes with a warning label on top.

briancleland 7y ago
That's interesting. How was the pricing structure problem addressed?
- AstralStorm 7y ago
  Initially, the availability issues were fixed by rationing (dreaded food coupons), then by improving production and transport, and finally the Berlin Wall fell, after a short hyperinflation almost everybody can afford basic food and most kinds of produce (except meat) are cheap. The problem is somewhat flipped now that affluent people overeat or eat fast food due to time pressure. These are more expensive than produce and basic components (excluding most kinds of meat, still) even including preparation and work required. Fewer people cook at home, though healthier take out options are quite available in many places. Small restaurants, kinda like old American "greasy spoon" but healthier and more often with disposable cheap packaging and cutlery - big catering is barely competitive. Replacing in many instances previous "milk bars" with both cheap and more gentrified options depending on area. I think the main difference is how near these are to living and work spaces.