Parents skipping meals so children don’t go hungry as families struggle with longest cost of living squeeze in 60 years

Been there, done it, lately.

But, hey..I lost weight! :)

We seriously are struggling, but I manage to make meals pretty cheaply.

Yesterday, I made a HUGE pot of homemade chicken and dumplings for around ten dollars. The chicken was 7 dollars, and I used a stick of butter, milk and flour (of course, my secret blend of herbs and spices) for the dumplings..it was delicious and lasted two days.

I know its very hard, these days, but we all have to learn to go back to home cooked meals. No fast food or take away meals. We have to learn to live like our grandparents did.

Just get an EBT card.

Done it here,too. No weight loss tho. Actually gained from using rice and pasta to fill up on one meal a day.

My luck, friggin starving and still gain weight.

most of america needs to skip more than one meal.

Kudos to you!! This is what I've always thought being a parent should be. Doing without in times of need so that your children are taken care of. It's what our grandparents called "tightening the belt". Start some conversations with your grandparents. They will give you great ways to make meals "from scratch". Literally meaning with very little to make meals with.

Also like the guy who stated the often overlooked "most Americans could stand to skip a meal or two"

Nutrition is a daily habit - like watching TV or working in an I-pad factory.

Sorry OP I don't believe this

or if it is true, it is chosen by the people themselves.

why would I say this -

I work in a very poor school. the students all- and I mean all - dress very well if they are from downtown.

My clothes have been repaired so many times they are falling apart.

they wear the newest fashions, including sneakers that cost a lot, and have expensive electronics I can't afford.

Yet they are on free lunches - what a joke!


Free lunches so they can buy all the junk they want.

Not free because of need or hunger.

the proof is that it all gets thrown away.
all the fruit, they eat the dessert and main course SOMETIMES, mostly just the chips and cookies in the snack line.

Do not tell me about hunger. It does not get poorer than where I work. THEY ARE NOT HUNGRY.

Someone on GLP mentioned Great Depression Cooking with Clara:

[link to www.youtube.com]

I've made several of these meals and not only are they inexpensive, they're pretty tasty.

Edited to remove my own comment.

Last Edited by AWFEKKIT on 11/22/2012 06:45 AM

I agree 100%. One can manage with very little with a not a whole lot of effort.

I always have tons of rice around, can do a lot with it and of course you can usually find chicken on the cheap.

So right! Our grandparents are full of wonderful stories, and recipes..if you're getting together with family this holiday season, and you're lucky enough to still be blessed with the presence of grandparents, do yourself a favor, and just spend some quality time. :)

it's a sad state of affairs that one in ten Americans are in this state.
I know some people are lazy and brought it on themselves. But others are victims of circumstance .

Support your local food bank. It could happen to you.

Peace love and charity.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Wonderfully said!

In our town today, there is a locally owned restaurant that is having a free Thanksgiving dinner for the less privileged today.

I know our town is small, so it's easier than big cities, but I hope everyone has enough these holidays.

and never judge another based on your perceptions for it could indeed happen to you....it could happen to any one of us!.Donate to food banks if you can!

I/We have done this recently-Hopefully it doesn't get worse.

Most states give out clothing vouchers to the children on food stamps and free lunch. Here in WV they get 200 dollars for each child. Those vouchers can be spent almost anywhere. Most kids around here go to Gabriel Bros and get name brands at cheaper prices or they spend their voucher at the mall. I have seen signs at JC Penny, Kohls, and Old Navy, so just because they have name brands doesn't necessarily mean their parents have money.

But back to the topic, I myself have to eat only once a day sometimes to conserve food for the kids. It sucks but hey sometimes I have to.

How many of those parents have flat screen tvs, Direct TV, high speed Internet, a couple of pets and other luxuries?

Have any of you thanked Obama for this change he promised?

Another valid point. While childhood hunger is very heart breaking and real, I'd like to kick the parents in the head that prohibit food from being in the house because of their own comfort (TV, high end cars, clothes, etc).

they blow their $$ on smokes, booze and gambling, ran a food bank once - was not impressed by the clientele

One guy would show up with his two girlfriends all smoking cigarettes, would take tons of food.

hey dummy this is an article on the UK

ha I dress the family out of thrift shops the leftovers from the age of excess are still great. Hint I can get 10 sets of clothes including shoes for around 50 bucks per person. Socks and underwears from big lots adds another 20 bucks. recent great score was 50 pairs of gloves for 12 dollars , those should last for about 5 years before I gotta think about getting more.

why would u have kids if u are poor, god damn americans are dumb

Because they can't afford condoms/birth control?

Amen Hellcat. Home cooking is a good thing to learn now days.

4 more years, you stupid libtards.

Got 4 years of food stored?

Nothing wrong with having kids if your poor. It is wrong having kids if you arent' prepared to make the sacrifices required KNOWING you are poor.
It happens, but I can guaran-damn-tee you someone has a $1.50 to grab 2 condoms from the machine in the gas station bathroom. So, we don't need tax payer funded birth control.

You know it's just possible they may have been making good money and already had children when their lives changed for the worse.

Right, because falling on hard times only happens at the most opportune moments. How about after having the kids? Medical bills, loss of jobs, etc- think these things happen to people at the perfect moment?
Idiot.