VERY VERY well said Shandi. Any one who doesn't see this perspective has not been poor enough to know. And if you've not been poor enough to know, maybe these statements touch your heart, and... could I get a little help about now? Thanks!
[QUOTE=Shandi;171621]Let's consider why people shop at discount places, like Grocery Outlet, and even buy outdated food items:
1. They aren't making a "living" wage, so any food is better than no food,especially when you have children to feed.
2. They're homeless, and don't have a job, but are able to get a small amount of food stamps that has to stretch
for a month.
3. They're a senior living on social security of $1000 a month or less, paying rent for a room, which leaves
them $300-400 for food, non foods, gas, car insurance. How does your income compare?
4. They "dumpster dive" for food when they're hungry, and aren't paying attention to dates if they're lucky enough to
buy something at Grocery Outlet.
The old saying "beggars can't be choosers" may ring a bell, but if you've never been in that position, you can
afford to be indignant that people would eat outdated foods.
Some of us who live in America are insulated from the lives of people who would be thrilled to get outdated food, to keep them alive.
Who's old enough to remember that we didn't always have dates on food? We used our eyes and nose to detect if
something was bad.
Have you checked your refrigerator lately? How do you know when the food is out dated? Now, who can you blame for this? Someone in your family might eat it, since it doesn't have an expiration date on it.
Your perspective is related to your financial situation, but that can change at any time, like it has for millions of Americans.
I think the quality of compassion is more important than the dates on food that many people have to overlook to stay alive, and yes through no choice of their own, "unhealthy".
Sometimes true empathy only comes from experiencing the thing that we judge as "disgusting" in others.
[QUOTE=Quality IsAlways Best;171[/QUOTE]