I saw a news spot the other night about the rising cost of meat, largely due to the rising cost of corn and fuel.

Could that be a good thing?

Food probably ought to cost more than it does. The convenience of food imports has taken us out of the traditional dietary changes dictated by agricultural cycles.

About a week ago, I heard a shopper at my local grocery store complaining about the poor quality of the tomatoes. Well, hell, it is February after all. But maybe she ought to be commended for wanting fresh vegetables?

Anyway, I think it's time to plant Victory Gardens. The economy is about to collapse under the massive weight of excessive government spending and national debt. Maybe a little economic turmoil will whip us into shape again.

"I saw a news spot the other night about the rising cost of meat, largely due to the rising cost of corn and fuel.

Could that be a good thing?"

No. It's not a good thing for low income and fixed income people. They can't afford to simply turn to fresh vegetables (especially in February) and the alternatives are more of the processed starchy foods that aren't all that healthy.

apropos1:

No. It's not a good thing for low income and fixed income people. They can't afford to simply turn to fresh vegetables (especially in February) and the alternatives are more of the processed starchy foods that aren't all that healthy.

Doesn't America get a great deal of its starch from corn, however? I know it can be gotten from other places, but the rising cost of corn is sure to affect the output of food items containing starch.

I think the OP was talking more in the long-term, anyhow.

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There has long been an acknowledgement of the correlation between poverty and obesity. If anything, it seems that poor people are most in need of this kind of economic correction.

If by meat, you mean fresh cuts of beef, pork, etc. than I disagree that it's good for low-income people. Low-income obesity is much more closely linked to starches and sugars than to animal flesh (and this is only assuming a high-fat cut of meat, when there's no reason to not include also the many ok-for-you lean cuts whose price will also increase).

Macaroni and cheese, white potatoes of all shapes and preparations, sugar Cokes, white bread, white rice, and other low-nutrient and high-starch foods are both a large part of low-income African-American and Native American diets. They are also the cheapest of the cheap and will likely continue to be so unless something happens to the wheat or potato crops.

I don't agree with the idea that economic hardship will make us thin and healthy. However, there is one good idea lurking here - planting "Victory Gardens". Of course, if you live in a small apartment that could be difficult, as well as doing it in the winter when there's 2 feet of snow on the ground and sub-zero temperatures.

So, perhaps community organizations or foundations could buy vacant lots or condemned houses (or even just decrepit ones that would have been good candidates for teardowns during the housing boom), put up nice big greenhouses with a water supply, power, and anything else that might be necessary, and let people use them to grow their own vegetables year-round. Space could be rented out, with reduction/elimination of the rent for low-income people, or perhaps in lieu of rent the poorer people could donate a small percentage of their produce to soup kitchens or homeless shelters. Anyone have the money or connections to start a pilot program somewhere?

"Doesn't America get a great deal of its starch from corn, however? I know it can be gotten from other places, but the rising cost of corn is sure to affect the output of food items containing starch."

Yes, and it will raise the cost of starches that come from corn. However, we get starch from other sources like potatos.

Yes, there's a correlation between poverty and obesity. Thi is my point: Since this is due to eating the food that one can afford, and that food in this country is high-starch, low-nutrient, how can you suggest that rising food prices will help this?

It will only make it worse. Or do you think poor people will suddenly be able to afford fresh meat and vegetables because corn prices rise?

Corn isn't the only source of starch in this type of diet. We grow a lot of wheat and potato for that purpose.