I'm still getting caught up on my posts since we got back from our vacation, so you'll have to bear with me. Today's story actually happened three days ago, on the 26th of February. I was, yet again, on a regular register to help keep lines down at the time that this happened.
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~ A woman, her husband, and their two children came to my line to check out. The woman began putting their stuff on my belt, while I started scanning and bagging. At first, it seemed as if she was going out of her way to make sure all of her frozen food was bagged together. As the frozen items kept coming and coming, I became increasingly aware of something that I found very odd. The very final item that she placed on my belt was a large pack of toilet paper. After having scanned that, I realized that every single thing that I had scanned, excluding the toilet paper, had been a frozen food item.
Bags of easy-to prepare meals, pre-fried onion rings, TV dinners, and boxes of breakfast items are just some of the items that I remember scanning. They didn't just buy a few of these items, either. There was quite a bit. "How much," you ask? Oh, I'll tell you. These four purchased $135.00 worth of frozen, heart-clogging filth. They didn't use any regular means of paying for this junk, either. They used food stamps for crying out loud!
Now, I will admit that I do eat frozen dinners and whatnot every now and then, but having an entire diet consisting of icy, easily microwavable, pre-package food-stuff is just horrible. That's just not a food regimen that I would wish on anyone. I really don't know how they can stomach not having something fresh to eat. The fact that they used food stamps was just insult to injury, too. Yes, they can choose what they want to eat, but once they start using my tax money to pay for their lazy, obese asses is where I draw the line. There are only three excuses that I'm able to think of for these people to not have bought something that actually required effort to cook:
1. Either none of them actually knew how to prepare food.
2. Their stove is broken.
3. A combination of option 1 and 2.
Whatever the case, there is absolutely no reason they still couldn't have at least purchased some fresh produce. Someone needs to introduce them to an apple or a freakin' carrot for crying out loud. I really do hate people, in general, so much...
Bags of easy-to prepare meals, pre-fried onion rings, TV dinners, and boxes of breakfast items are just some of the items that I remember scanning. They didn't just buy a few of these items, either. There was quite a bit. "How much," you ask? Oh, I'll tell you. These four purchased $135.00 worth of frozen, heart-clogging filth. They didn't use any regular means of paying for this junk, either. They used food stamps for crying out loud!
Now, I will admit that I do eat frozen dinners and whatnot every now and then, but having an entire diet consisting of icy, easily microwavable, pre-package food-stuff is just horrible. That's just not a food regimen that I would wish on anyone. I really don't know how they can stomach not having something fresh to eat. The fact that they used food stamps was just insult to injury, too. Yes, they can choose what they want to eat, but once they start using my tax money to pay for their lazy, obese asses is where I draw the line. There are only three excuses that I'm able to think of for these people to not have bought something that actually required effort to cook:
1. Either none of them actually knew how to prepare food.
2. Their stove is broken.
3. A combination of option 1 and 2.
Whatever the case, there is absolutely no reason they still couldn't have at least purchased some fresh produce. Someone needs to introduce them to an apple or a freakin' carrot for crying out loud. I really do hate people, in general, so much...
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~Edit~
After having had a quick memory jog, I'll go ahead an add this for those who may not read the comments for this post.
~Edit~
After having had a quick memory jog, I'll go ahead an add this for those who may not read the comments for this post.
~ Since all this happened three days ago, I mainly only recalled that I severely disliked this family's purchase, leaving the details a bit hazy. Now, I remember the 'why' part. The first of the items that I even scanned were at least three gallons of ice cream and other frozen confections. They also had at least two, large boxes of Hot Pockets, which have never been known to be cheap. None of these frozen items that they bought even insinuated that they were on a budget or fixed income. There wasn't a single bag of bulk veggies that they could portion out and steam in saran wrap. Everything looked as if it were chosen solely by taste which is why I was floored when she pulled out the food stamp card.
I understand that frozen food lasts longer, but I still can't see that as being an excuse, in this case. They still had more than enough opportunity to buy a few apples, or some salad mix, and eat it before it goes bad. Purely assuming that this family only has a microwave, I still feel that they could have gotten way more out of their allotted money.
I understand that frozen food lasts longer, but I still can't see that as being an excuse, in this case. They still had more than enough opportunity to buy a few apples, or some salad mix, and eat it before it goes bad. Purely assuming that this family only has a microwave, I still feel that they could have gotten way more out of their allotted money.
8 comments:
A interesting rant. But I must say, maybe this time you might have taken a couple of minutes to think about your words before you committed them to the etherworld. You said a woman w/her family came through your line with frozen this and frozen that and finished it all off with toilet paper only to pay for it all with food stamps. Then you said you feel as if they either cannot cook or their stove isn't working. And you wrapped it up with espousing that they are lazy obese asses and that you resent them spending federal monies on that sort of trashy food. That's rather harsh.
You've no idea about their situation. Frozen foods are inherently cheaper than fresh foods. And if they're living on food stamps maybe they've only got one (if any) income coming into their house. Food stamps only come once a month...typically at the very end of or at the very beginning of the month which is probably why you saw them buying so much 'frozen food' which lasts 5 to 10 times longer than fresh foods. And maybe their stove IS broken. Maybe they don't have the funds to get it fixed. Maybe they only have a fridge and a microwave. Maybe they're loads less lucky than you apparently are.
To chide someone on what they eat by calling them lazy and obese (regardless of whether they may be obese) is not ranting...it's simply heartless. You've no idea as to the reasons for their actions. Wouldn't it be better to focus on the fact that they came into the store as a family? That the parents were at least seeing to it that their children had something on the table as opposed to buying liquor, lottery tickets, or selling the food stamps for drugs?
Typically, I find humor in your rantings. But I felt it important to call you on this one because you may have just alienated many MANY people who might have enjoyed your postings by making them think you're bitter and heartless as opposed to a bit cyincal.
Avery, I understand that there are many families who do live under harsh conditions. I am also not trying to imply in any way, shape, or form that I am any more fortunate than others. It would have been easier to make a more detailed post if I'd made it that day, but I just didn't have the time. Its been really hard at work lately and some problems at home aren't helping. I typed up most of what I could remember, and that's mainly that their purchase really bothered me. Now having a reason to think harder about it, I remember why. Reading your comment, I feel that I should add what I've recalled.
Any time I'm on a regular register, I check out plenty of people who use food stamps for their purchases. The reason this one bunch bothered me so much is because they -were- obese and making that purchase. There was also not a single item that they were buying which took any more than 10min of prep work.
I know that frozen items last longer, but their selection was just in poor taste. Two large boxes of Hot Pockets are not something that come cheap, either. Not a single thing that they got was a veggie 'steamer bag' or maybe some frozen, grilled chicken. Your comment, making me think harder about what they bought, made me remember something else. The first of the items they had on the counter were at least three gallons of ice cream and other frozen confections.They didn't have anything to make salads or imply that they even eat fruit. Not a single thing they purchased could be considered something 'healthy' that I can recall.
Also, I understand that, depending on one's selection, that frozen food purchases can be cheaper. The items that these poeple were buying were not. They had no bulk veggies that they could wrap in saran wrap and steam in the microwave. Nothing of the sort. It was all ready-made bags of dinners that are generally -more- expensive. None of the items that I scanned felt as if they'd put any thought into what they were buying other than the taste.
The whole family, just based on appearance, wasn't lacking in the least. Nothing about them portrayed that they were suffering, at all. Hell, the woman, after leaving my line, stopped by the cigarette counter to purchase a couple cartons before leaving. So I can assume that they do have other income to spend.
I'm sorry if my post is harsh or offends anyone out there on a less-than-desirable income, but its really something that I needed to get off my chest. Besides, at the risk of sounding vein, my purpose for this whole blog isn't to filter myself. I could just write all this stuff down and show it to my friends, but I choose to put it on the internet because its easier to share. Frankly, there are people out on this wide Ethernet who are a lot more bitter and heartless than I am.
While frozen foods are "cheaper" in the short term. Spend 10 dollars on a pork roast and 2 on spices and get enough food and leftovers for 3 days. The initial investment cost is higher, but over the long term you save money buying and cooking fresh and using the leftovers.
Hard lessons learned.
Cheap meals:
Chicken breast (1lb) = 4.00
French fried onions = 1.50
= 5.50 to feed 4
Bag of meatballs = 5.00
Can of sauce = 1.50
Hoagie rolls = 1.50
= 8 for 6 fulfilling meatball subs
This is something my wife and I are learning the hard way, but now are getting REAL meals for REAL cheap. Hotpockets, TV-dinners, hotdogs, processed chicken nuggets and fish sticks are far from fulfilling, or nutritious in any way shape or form.
Sally,
Ah...see...now this is the kind of discussion that makes a blog juicy! By the way...thanks for clarifying your post. When you add in that extra bit of information I can see where your frustration was. Unfortunately all I read in that first bit was 1/2 the story.
And I want to thank you for taking the time to expand on something about which not only I but apparently you are passionate about. And by the way, your reply was top notch. Kudos to you!
You're really quite an able writer. And what I was trying to offer to you was a reader's interpretation so that you could see how others might perceive your rants...which, when done with the skills you have can be quick and snarky and leave the reader with a chuckle at the absurdities you've had to deal with.
And if you're serious about being read/heard (however you choose to think of it) it's wise to always keep your target audience in mind but to also not forget the wanderers who may pop in to check out your blog. I'm not suggesting that you change your style...because it's YOUR style that draws people in.
What I do suggest is for you to make sure you don't unintentionally alienate people because each person who may stumble upon your blog is a potential follower and if that happens your new follower will mention you to others and so on and so forth.
So every now and again, it's important to stop and say to yourself as you're writing, 'what am I really saying?' and 'what will they hear?'
Yes, yes, I'll admit the teacher in me sees your potential and really want your blog to succeed by leaps and bounds. Your little rants, if collected the right way could be fashioned into a book or even the basis for a tv pilot...
But I truly think your blog rantings could grow beyond the blogging world and into the mainstream if you nurture the talent it is obvious you have.
Cordially,
Avery.
Oh, and please tell Mina that I am not a bitch...just a fellow blogger offering ideas to consider as you prepare future blogs.
Thanks
And to be honest, I cannot wait to read your next rant...even if it's about having to deal with a crazy blogging bitch like me! I'm a big girl...won't hurt me at all!
Cheers, Again. And happy blogging!
Wow, Avery, I'm really not sure what to say. I'll start off by being honest about that fact that I was pretty perturbed at your first comment. It just kind of got under my skin that you were questioning my opinion in my own blog. But now I see why and I can't say that I don't appreciate it. As always, thank you for your comments.
Sally, you wrote a good post. You said what you felt and you were honest. Avery did say her own opinion also. I like the way you write and your stories are real life. that is your strength, I think.
Take care!!
I'm fat and I use food as an escape. In that short amount of time that I get to have something "unhealthy" I'm happy. I also try and eat a balenced diet but sometimes it's harder then others. I'm not going to say anything about your opinion as they belong to you. I'm just trying to give some insite about why a person would buy those things. Many times obesity comes with some form of depression. Like fat bastard said in austin powers "I eat because I'm unhappy and I'm unhappy because I eat", it's very true. But I have to wonder would you feel the same way if the family was starving and could only buy $5.00 worth of food. I would hope that you would be compelled to help them, regardless the food stamp program needs to be refomulated in my opion, and yes I'm on them as well. But are you the person that is willing to tell people what they can and can NOT eat, and enforce it? What about what people say and do not say? The food people eat can be considered just another form of free speach. I'm from a midwest state that is a leading corn and beef producer. Should we force vegans to eat beef because its got more vitamins? Should we make it illegal to buy meat because of all the excess fat? Should we hunt down and jail those people who critisize a fedral program like other countries? That's why America is so great, YOU and only you can make the choice, be it what you say, how you dress, what you think, eveything. The only way that things will change is when we start educating people about the choices they make. Like if the foodstamp program FORCED you to meet with a dietician, or some one simaliar, to either plan meals or teach better shoping habbits, heck maybe even teach you to cook. I'm sorry that went WAYYYYY longer that I wanted it to. I'm going to get off of my soapbox now.
I'm depressed and I use this blog as an escape. Once again, I can't help but become semi-annoyed that I feel the need to defend my writing in my own blog for a second time.
With the economy the way it is right now, I would expect most (especially those who need the government's help to provide for themselves) to try to make their money go further. For this one bunch's case, the money they were using could have gone much, -much- further. I also know that there are those who turn to food as a form of comfort. The reason I left out that possibility is because I really do have a hard time believing that an entire family would feel that way. Just because I choose to leave out information doesn't mean that I'm not still aware of it.
In an ideal world, everyone would eat healthier and live long, actives lives, but I accepted a long time ago that that is simply not the case for our planet. I myself have some excess fluff that I could stand to lose, and I have been working to do just that, but I have not stated anywhere that people should be required to eat specifically healthy food.
If you got the impression that I dislike large people, I'm sorry. If you feel as if I'm looking down on the less fortunate, that's just not true. If I made it seem like people who live on a fixed income should be told how and what to eat, that's really not what I was trying to convey. Just because I used the word 'obese,' it seems like the main point for this one blog has overlooked. The plain and simple reason I made this post on that particular family's poor choice of purchases is because it really didn't seem right. That's it.
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