Food banks ask for the same healthy food people serve their own family - hold the ramen noodles

[Liberal_in_LA]

Food banks ask donors for healthier fare

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With more people turning to food banks and for longer periods of time, agency officials say they need donations but they'd like to see people give the kind of healthful and nutritious items they'd serve to their own families.

Sherrie Tussler, the executive director of the Hunger Task Force's Milwaukee office, said people tend to donate cheap foods without paying much attention to the nutrition content — and they may do so with the best of intentions. For example, people who fondly recall living off ramen noodles in college tend to donate them to food banks, even though a single serving can have half the recommended daily allowance of sodium.

"We say, if that's what you're going to give, turn around and get a bag of rice," Tussler said. "It's just as good a value, it lasts for more meals and there's no salt."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016829773_pantryneeds23.html?prmid=head_main

[undeterred]

1. Canned peas are pretty bad for sodium too.

[eilen]

29. Those at least can be rinsed off. nt

[Aerows]

2. You don't have to put the seasoning packs in them

Drop a little peanut butter in there and it's like Thai peanut noodles.

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. peanut butter is something food banks like to get

[Warpy]

3. I give money. They get deals that can multiply a dollar by a factor of 7 or 8

When I give food, I give canned fruit. Yes, it's high in sugar. However, I've been horribly poor and fruit was the one thing I missed most acutely.

[riderinthestorm]

5. I give both. I organize the food drives at my local schools and having kids bring tangible items

helps reinforce the notion of helping those less fortunate (in a way that $$ doesn't exactly equal). I use the same phrasing in my flyers as in the OP, and try to encourage the kids to actually select things that they'd like to eat, as items to donate. I believe that also can help to connect the kids as well.

[CTyankee]

6. you can get non-sugared fruit, too.

I buy the kind that is packed in Nutra Sweet because my husband can't eat canned fruit packed with syrup or even packed in juice, according to his doc...

[sam11111]

14. bad teeth!! even natural frt sugar level is WAY too HIGH for

the poor with tooth decay. Pain!

[bluestate10]

24. I give money. When I give food on occasion, I buy the same food that I would eat.

Except for fruit and vegetables. Since I also give money, food banks can negotiate to buy fresh produce in bulk, making more of the money than I would have if I purchased as an individual.

[Randypiper]

35. I agree

The food banks know better than me. And a check from my online banking is so easy, just a click.

[rhett o rick]

37. I agree cash is the best. But many like the feeling of giving food. Canned meats and

canned meals, like stew, raviolis, etc. Are popular. Produce is very popular but sometimes hard to get.

[tblue37]

39. I also like to give some things that people--especially kids--could enjoy for a

treat--like low-fat pudding cups. I like to think of the smile on a kid's face when he get a treat with dinner.

[CTyankee]

4. I don't think it's "elitist" to assume that poor people don't

want to eat fresh, nutritious food....I tend not to give canned goods because much of it I wouldn't eat myself. I prefer to give cereals like Cheerios, pasta or rice...

[sam11111]

13. bad teeth, food allergies: so pls NO sugar, fruit, peanuts, corn, wheat, or rice.Some no stove:cans

cans the only way they can get food.

Others, no fridge..so again cans the only choice...no leftovers with canned food...cooked food usu means leftovers that need a fridge.

Most nutrient dense foods (CSPI list)..see if u can get them in cans...Kale, collards...turnip greens IIRC...among beans, Lima is tops..AVOID green beans (few nutrients). Bean sprouts also few nutrients.

****************
*****************
Many poor have bad teeth,
*****************

pls avoid ANY added sugar in (esp) canned items...even bread and milk have enough to cause bad pain for hours.

Shredded wheat bite size is a substitute for bread. But some have wheat allergy or sensitivity...for them, rare shredded grains OK (get from ...Texas mail order..Arrowhead Mills).

PLAIN fruit is very HIGH in naturally occuring fructose sugar...Don't even THINK of giving any form of fruit!!Eskimos prove folks do not require it.

Red beets are also naturally full of sugar..potatoes turn to sugar-like carbs.

Rice causes painful constipation in some.

The most common food allergies are wheat and corn.

As u know peanut allergy can kill...so dangerous its been removed from respectable airlines' food service.

Milk substitutes anyone? With low natural sugars?

Don't give food that folks can't eat...that is a waste of money.

So...give canned beans that are PLAIN...no sauces , no added sugar. Good choices..(Avoid red beans, garbanzos, green peas all have added or nat sugars at hi levels)..
****************

--get blkbeans, blkeyes, Limas, pinto.
Get plain canned chicken.

Tuna? Hmmmmmm after Fukushima, Pacific seafood is suspect.

[wryter2000]

8. Hard to do if you can't give perishable food

I only donate things I eat myself, but that's mostly good canned chili and pasta.

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. brown rice, whole wheat pasta, peanut butter, - canned chili is good

[provis99]

36. canned chili has WAY too much salt.

[Betsy Ross]

9. I totally agree.

I shop organic. So when I shop for the food bank I always ask myself if I should stretch my dollar by shopping at Safeway but always end up buying organic dried beans, rice, and other non-perishables. I can't justify feeding people something I wouldn't feed them in my own home. So I'm a BoBo.

[prole_for_peace]

10. There was a donation box at my doctor's office on Tuesday

It was filled with cheap fat and sodium filled foods: many cans of vienna sausage, ramen noodles, and other items that looked like they were donated because someone was cleaning out their pantry.

I didn't bring anything because I didn't know they were collecting. I have to go back this coming Tuesday and will go shopping tomorrow to buy some canned fruit (in its own juice), whole wheat pasta, low sodium spaghetti sauce... I try to donate things that I would like to eat. Not things that are "good enough"

[bluestate10]

26. Why don't you donate money to your local food bank instead.

They know what people are picking at the bank and can buy in bulk to stretch your monetary contribution.

[prole_for_peace]

30. I donate cash also.

I think the box at my doc's office was for patients that needed a little help.

[Uben]

12. Thank you for this thread .....

.....this is the time of year when people need food.....and clothing! Look through your closet and weed out the things you haven't worn in a couple of years. If it has been that long, you are probably not going to wear it again, and there are folks who could benefit greatly from your generosity. Call a bud or your siblings and get them to do the same and bundle it all up and get it to a donation facility. Check local schools for programs you can donate to or participate in. Too many kids go hungry in America and you know that aint right!

And, since winter is quickly approaching, coats and outerwear are badly needed.

HELP OUT! I guarantee you'll feel good about your decision.

[jwirr]

15. My family donate eggs. We raise our own chickens and they lay

more eggs than we eat so we take them in to the food shelf. Also garden produce that we are not canning for ourselves.

[LeftyMom]

16. Many food banks have wish lists of items they particularly need.

I make a point of grabbing anything on their list I see a really good deal on. I try to focus on the specialty food items for people with allergies that are on their list, because I know how to find good deals on them and because they're always in short supply.

I know it's counter-intuitive but one of the biggest needs at most food banks is non-food items. Shampoo, toothpaste, pads, stuff like that, that poor people can't get with food stamps.

[CTyankee]

19. diapers are a crucial need for poor people...

my local food bank says that need crowds out giving food items...

[LeftyMom]

20. Ours is operating a diaper service, and wants cloth diapers and detergent.

[CTyankee]

21. are the diapers being washed commercially?

is it like the old fashioned diaper service? I used one many years ago...and for a while, I did them myself at home...

BTW, day care centers won't take cloth diapered babies (at least here, I don't know about elsewhere). So for working parents, it's a problem...

[LeftyMom]

22. I'm not totally sure of the logistics.

Here's the donor information, but it's a PDF and slow to load: http://www.sacramentofoodbank.org/pdf_files/wishlists/Cloth%20Diaper%20Project%20Donor%20Packet%20012710.pdf

[CTyankee]

17. Are we as outraged here about all of the fast food chains in poor neighborhoods?

I seem to recall some DU folks being pissed off at any suggestion that we discourage fast food and enable healthy, fresh foods for people who live in low income ghettos...lotsa rhetoric about "freedom of choice" to eat fast foods and why should we try to force poor people to eat what we think is "politically correct."

Hmmm.....

[Liberal_in_LA]

23. no outrage here, just passing on food bank info - Poor people can have the fast food

places AND our donations of more nutritious stuff.

[CTyankee]

27. I'm not trying to blame you...but really, if we aren't prepared to do

something to curtail the fast food industry's pernicious hold on so many Americans' health, then we can't be holier than thou on the question of donations to food banks. We decry "big business" here but if that business is fast food, then we rush to defend their right to sell us food that is KNOWN to cause health problems cuz we got this right to eat the stuff...

That's just my opinion, of course...

[postatomic]

Most Food Banks are in dire need

Asking for 'Starches' (mac & cheese, pasta, rice, etc) And Peanut Butter. Canned Goods

Try to spend at least 1 day a month going to the grocery store and loading up on food to donate. That's 1 day out of your life every month that can help those that are sick, poor, and need to eat. Ideally you should do this weekly but I know it's hard to give up facebook and twitter for too long. :eyes:

I don't think that's too much to ask.
:shrug:

Disclaimer: I know that some can't afford to do this.

[SoCalDem]

18. Rice, dried beans, powdered milk

pasta, jarred spaghetti sauce, tuna, quick oatmeal, cream of wheat, pancake mix are good choices to donate.

Peanut butter has skyrocketed in price, but when it's reasonable, it's a good thing to donate as well..

Unfortunately, many food pantries have little if any refrigeration, so fresh produce & frozen/cooler stuff is no option..

It's kind of grim to not have access to anything but shelf-stable/dry stuff, but it can fill in the gaps for many poor families.

[sam11111]

25. best toothpaste: for cavity riddled teeth..IMO...Colgate Total Enamel type

All three words on the box front.

According to my knowledgeable epal who says he has bad teeth.

"It has antibiotic, triclosan..only thing I found that ends the gum pain, Yes it is controversial, but if no dentist one needs whatever works." (He then cusses dentists ...at length)

[blogslut]

28. I give powdered baby formula

I realize that breast milk is best but breast feeding is often impossible for working mothers.

When I saw what stores are charging these days for a can of powdered formula, I broke down and cried. From then on, that's what I chose to buy for food drives.

[kickysnana]

31. Hey, the amount of sodium you put on your Ramen (flat packets) is yoru choice

and it is filing with a little left over meat and veggies.

[grasswire]

32. here is an avenue for extreme coupon shopping!

I've watched that show where peeps get a couple of thousand dollars of stuff for the FOOD BANK and get it for nearly free. Hygiene items, diapers, everything! A marvelous outlet for coupon shoppers!

[CTyankee]

33. used for a good cause! who could object to that?

[tabbycat31]

41. I think more people on that show need to donate their stash

Seriously what are they going to do with 10 years worth of laundry detergent, 600 toothbrushes, and 54 bottles of mustard.

If you can't use it, give it to someone who needs it.

[Liberal_in_LA]

46. many of the women on extreme couponing seem to be hoarders. The amount of stuff

in their basements make them happy. They aren't gonna give up their stash.

[ZenaD]

34. I donate household items you can't get with foodstamps

Toilet paper, feminine hygeine, cleaning supplies etc. are expensive and necessary. Also, pet food.

[cutlassmama]

38. and those are things that coupons are usually for so if people could

use their coupons for that stuff it'd be really inexpensive or free for them to donate to a good cause.

[GoCubsGo]

42. Pet food is a good idea--if the food bank distirubtes that sorte of thing

I'm not sure ours does. I usually just donate it to the local shelter. I'll clip the pet food coupons, even if I don't normally use it, and watch for sales. Sometimes, you can get it dirt cheap with a combination of coupon and sale. Our shelter often runs low on food, just like the food banks are. :-(

[Liberal_in_LA]

48. our local animal rescue collects pet food to give to the elderly for their pets

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GoCubsGo]

43. Not everyone likes whole wheat pasta

Many people just don't like whole wheat pasta, so why force that on them because they can't afford food? I'll get the Ronzoni "Smart Taste" and their vegetable pastas for donations. It, as well as other brands have the same benefits as the whole wheat, while tasting like the pasta most folks are used to. Not to mention that there are often coupons for it, so with a sale, you can sometimes get it for free, leaving you more money to spend on a few more boxes of it, or something else. Sometimes canned beans are cheaper this way, too.

[Obamanaut]

44. But it is good for the people who DO like it. Or would rather eat that

that to do without.

[CTyankee]

45. I used to hate whole wheat pasta but improvements have been made and now I eat

it regularly. It makes me feel virtuous...

[Liberal_in_LA]

47. takes time to get used to the grittier feel of it.

[CTyankee]

49. It is a LOT less grittier now than before...and it has only a few years...

try it again, I think you may like it! I do...