Dry Goods and Cooking Courses for Food Insecure Environments

Lex Hurley
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Dry Goods and Cooking Courses for Food Insecure Environments Oct 5, 2016 3:14:00 GMT

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Post by Lex Hurley on Oct 5, 2016 3:14:00 GMT

Forgive me if this discussion entry seems callous, but one thing that I have noticed in most all of the documentaries I have seen regarding food insecurity in the United States is that while I frequently see low SES individuals shopping through supermarkets for prepackaged/premade goods at low prices which are typically laden with excess fats, sugars, and preservatives for long shelf-lives, two Items which I don't ever see are beans and rice. Whenever I was completely broke and unemployed in Austin using student loans to pay for my rent, I lived off of beans and rice for months on end because that is what my parents, grandparents taught me to live on when times were tough (especially my grandmother, who lived through the Great Depression and would tell me of the lengths she and others went through just to get by). Dry beans and rice are cheap, shelf-stable, present variety in cooking opportunities, and provide proteins, fiber, and complex carbohydrates which I feel would be a welcome change to all of the children in the documentary who only said that they had chips to eat during the day. It's possible that this activity may be influenced by Texan and Mexican cultures meshing together in times of need, however in reading a biography of Dwight Eisenhower there was a passage which referenced that when he and his first wife Mamie were first married, beans and rice were all that they could afford and were able to offer guests at the dinner table.¹I know that this would not by any means be a "cure-all" for this persistent and devastating issue in our country, but perhaps increased supply, availability, and aid for dry beans and rice for food insecure neighborhoods as well as free cooking classes to educate individuals of the means and varieties of preparing these products could be a beneficial step forward to combating this issue.

Of course, these are my own thoughts and if anyone has information or discussion as to why this trend is not more common or why it would be impractical to implement across the country, I would love to hear them. This is a thought that I have been regretful to bring to public forums for fears of being inconsiderate.

ghannaba
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Posts: 28

Dry Goods and Cooking Courses for Food Insecure Environments Oct 10, 2016 2:30:53 GMT

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Post by ghannaba on Oct 10, 2016 2:30:53 GMT

There is a reason that any time there is a food drive, I always buy a sack full of dried bean packages and donate them. High in protein, fiber, nutrients, easy to cook, and was the only thing that kept my family line alive during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. They only ate beans and cornbread. Rice didn't really exist out here, but corn could grow here, and it allowed my great grandparents and their neighbours to make sure everyone in their immediate community around them had some source of food/nutrition. Sure humbled me all the meals I spent with my great aunt hearing her stories as a kid and what she grew up in (and then became a VP of a bank and travel to all 50 states). Who would know a small town farm girl from beans and rice would accomplish so much in her life time?

GH

Summre Blakely
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Dry Goods and Cooking Courses for Food Insecure Environments Oct 12, 2016 3:00:22 GMT

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Post by Summre Blakely on Oct 12, 2016 3:00:22 GMT

When I was young, my dad's company sold out without telling its employees and everyone lost their jobs. My father looked for years for work, but we went through some super bad times. I remember him cooking Spam, yes Spam for dinner most nights with beans and rice. He put it on the skillet and it actually tasted quite delicious! I remember thinking we were getting to eat some delicacy! I still crave beans and rice to this day and even though my family's financial situation has recovered, I have many great memories of family dinners when I was young!

Leslee Castro
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Dry Goods and Cooking Courses for Food Insecure Environments Dec 8, 2016 3:34:00 GMT

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Post by Leslee Castro on Dec 8, 2016 3:34:00 GMT

Hi Lex! I think that you provide an excellent suggestion to help combat the issue for food insecure individuals. However, like you said, this is not a “cure-all” solution. Prior to reading your discussion post, I truly had never considered this as a solution to any extent for people who suffer from food insecurity. Rice and beans are both equally filling, and as you mentioned, they provide a great source of protein and complex carbs. While it does not entail a well-rounded diet, it would be helpful to these individuals, especially to children who consume empty calories and foods high in sugar. Rice and beans are not extremely pricey, much less are they any pricier than unhealthy foods, therefore, I think this is a great suggestion and an interesting thought.

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Dry Goods and Cooking Courses for Food Insecure Environments

Post by Lex Hurley on Oct 5, 2016 3:14:00 GMT

Post by ghannaba on Oct 10, 2016 2:30:53 GMT

Post by Summre Blakely on Oct 12, 2016 3:00:22 GMT

Post by Leslee Castro on Dec 8, 2016 3:34:00 GMT

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