Y’all, it’s 2026. Are we really debating whether the most obese nation on the planet should allow its most vulnerable and malnourished citizens to have unrestricted access to food items of no nutritional value?
You can absolutely buy your kids a candy bar or a soda, but you shouldn’t be able to do it with funds meant for sustaining healthy growth among children or keeping adults from becoming malnourished.
I am, and have always been, a firm believer that “food stamps” and WIC should be the same program. If WIC-approved foods are good for a child during its formative years and for the mother as she nurses and functions as a growth mechanism for the child, they’re good for anyone at any age. Even if those items have to be slightly tailored to certain age groups, the purpose remains.
If you’re receiving supplemental food assistance, I’ll say it out loud right here, right now: Teach your kids that a candy bar isn’t a bedtime snack. Teach your kids that a Coke isn’t for “I was just thirsty!” and that ice cream isn’t a meal.
Teach them to like fruits and vegetables. Teach them to like juice and water. Teach them to understand what’s good anytime and OK occasionally. Teach them to be appreciative of healthy meals and earning of not-so-often junk treats.
If not for you, for your children. Do better.
Dining and Cooking