Exclude ‘junk food’ from aid program

We need to ensure that all children are getting adequate nutrition when it comes to meals at home, especially children who are members of low-income families. According to the current guidelines of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), efforts are made to ensure “low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health.”

The guidelines are ambiguous, however, when it comes to what foods qualify “good health.”

According to the current guidelines, “SNAP benefits can be used to buy ANY food product for human consumption, as long as it is not a hot food ready to eat, intended to be heated in store, a lunch counter item, vitamins, pet food, non-food, alcohol, or tobacco.”

The result is that many low-income families are loading up on “junk-food items” with the aid of their SNAP benefits. According to the advocacy group “Trust for America’s Health,” overeating, especially in these food groups, has contributed to “1 in 3 children of Illinois being overweight or obese.”

But, you can help save another child, niece, nephew, son, or daughter from battling a lifelong struggle with obesity, overeating, or even diabetes. By limiting the food choices families can get with their SNAP benefits, children can learn proper eating habits at a young age and instill such values about healthy eating throughout their lifetime.

SNAP’s sister program, WIC, has made successful strides to increase the health of America’s children by limiting voucher redemption to milk, bread, eggs, cheese, cereal, and peanut butter, to name a few, all available in whole-grain and low-fat varieties. These are strides easily applied to SNAP as well.

Please vote in support of limiting food choices for SNAP users to include more whole-grain, low fat, and minimally processed items. By controlling our choices, together we can ensure that all Illinois children have a healthy heart and bones, regardless of income.

Sarah Behm

Lake Villa