Neva Foster

ECD 252
Research Paper
4/10/16

Advocacy: We Are What We Eat

I have chosen to be an advocate for We Are What We Eat". Working in a child care
center for many years I am seeing a rapid rate of children who are getting a meal served
to them daily and the children refuse to eat it. Living in a society with both parents
working or children are being raised by single parents, fast foods seems to be the option
for children. I asked ten of my teachers who are in the category of working parents and
single parents to find out some of the reasons why they think the children do not like to
eat the food served. I also asked if their children ate the school lunch provided.
Eight of out the ten teachers who are in two parent homes said, Yes! Their children eat
the lunch but fuss about every day. some of the parents complain of not having enough
time when they get home to cook dinner, so getting fast food is quick and easy. This also
gave them time to spend with their children. However, this is not a healthy option. The
other two teachers who are single parents said the same thing. By the time they get
home it is too late to start dinner and spend time with their children, they also added it
was a lot cheaper than buying groceries. Clearly this is a serious situation, as children
need nutritious meals to help support their immune systems, keep healthy brain function
and support healthy weight and reduce severe chronic illnesses later in life.

Hearing the reason from the teachers, I sat down with them to discuss ways in which we
could combat this issue, as our children are the ones who will suffer from the effect of
not eat the right way in the long run.

What It Takes to Eat Healthy

As we went around the table and each teacher gave their input, some said, finding the
sales at the stores, creating quick healthy meals children like to eat, having the money,
meal planning, indulgence (eating healthy in general).

The most common factor in eating healthy was money. The teachers stated that even
though they had a two-family income, they still had to budget when it came to buying
groceries. They all shared that food is very expensive especially fruits, vegetables and
meat.
I asked the teachers about the food supplement programs for low income families. Each
stated to receive it you must be making under, the poverty line. If you make $8.00 an
hour, they do not factor in you have other bills, so you wont benefit for food
supplement. If you do qualify for the benefit it would be about $18, 00. a month, but
each time you must reapply, losing hours taking time off work. With prices, so high $18,
00 at the grocery store, can only buy milk, cheese, bread, jelly and made be a jar of the
generic peanut butter.

Reference:
What is SNAP: SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income
individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the
largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. The Food and Nutrition Service works
with State agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based
organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed
decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits.
So why do we have working families go through this problem of not being able to feed
their children in a healthy way. If State agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood
and faith-based organizations can assist in implementing this program, which families
are they asking to find out the needs in the families? Here is the table of income as of
2015-2016.
(Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30, 2016)

Household Size Gross monthly income Net monthly income

(130 percent of (100 percent of
poverty) poverty)

1 $1,276 $ 981

2 1,726 1,328

3 2,177 1,675

4 2,628 2,021

5 3,078 2,368

6 3,529 2,715

7 3,980 3,061

8 4,430 3,408

Each additional member +451 +347

Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have
been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.
(SNAP) Food... Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Retrieved 4/10/16
www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition...

We Are What We Eat Garden

With a little motivation from the rest of the teachers we must decide to implement a
healthy garden. With the help of the children, we will plant our own herbs and
vegetables. We will be encouraging the parents to be a part of the garden as they help in
taking care of it. Each parent will be given an index card to write down a vegetable
recipe from their culture, which is economic and healthy. The box will stay on the main
desk and each parent will have access to the recipe box. Meals will be made from the
garden for the children and their parents to enjoy. I will continue to model for my
students and encourage healthy eating habits. Having the children work and watch how
things grow every day in the garden, I hope to encourage healthier eating habits that will
last a lifetime.

Reference:
Home and Garden Information Center, the Clemson Cooperation Extension
Retrieved: 4/10/16
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/food/nutrition/nutrition/life_stages/hgic4109.html
This is the Garden, we have created, and we will start planting on Monday