Letters for January 9, 2014

Low-income can still eat healthy

Re “Stranded in the ‘food desert’” by Steph Rodriguez (SN&R News, January 2):

I read this article with frustration, as it focused on the fact that many low-income residents in Sacramento do not have easy access to grocery stores with healthy food, which contributes to a high incidence of obesity (and other health problems, such as diabetes, which were not mentioned). While I feel compassion for those who are unaware of how to eat healthy on a tight budget, I know from experience that it's possible and requires a will to be healthy much more than whether or not it's convenient. I could be labeled “low income,” too, but I've never thought of myself as poor. And I've always made sure I eat a healthy diet.

The real answer to the problem of low-income families and poor diet is education. If you learn about the real story of nutrition and what you need to be healthy—a diet based on whole grains, beans and fresh vegetables—especially at a young age, you can be healthier than most people and still not spend that much on food. But then, you have to eliminate the most expensive foods like meat, any processed foods with sugar and other additives and fats. When I was at the poorest time in my life, I figured out that I could only afford to eat what I cooked and still ate well with bean stews full of vegetables and rice, and oatmeal or eggs for breakfast, with some sunflower seeds and a little soy milk, and fruit in season.

I read a story about the runners from Kenya training for the last summer Olympics. They train and build muscle on a diet of vegetables, beans, rice, cornmeal, oatmeal and less than 4 ounces of beef three or four times a week. If they run and win in the Olympics on a diet like that, we should pay attention to what's possible and think in new ways about how we spend our food dollars.

Ellen McMahill

Sacramento

Remember homeless Sacramentans

Re “Death be not housed” by Raheem F. Hosseini and Dave Kempa (SN&R News, January 2):

Thank you for running this article. It is so easy for many of us to forget that the homeless have faces, names and a story that made them homeless in the first place.

Fr. Joshua Lickter

Roseville

Don’t hate on ‘theists’

Re “Do unto others” by Corbyn Hightower (SN&R Scene&Heard, January 2):

An interesting, thought-provoking article. I really like the term “nontheist.” I don’t follow any belief system, but am finding myself growing uncomfortable aligning with most atheists because of the very reasons listed in this article. I have family and friends who are theists, and they are loving, intelligent, good people. I’m so very tired of the anonymous unkindness toward those who hold different opinions. I’m also weary of those who excel at things grammatically, sniping at those who are less skilled in this area. We all have areas where we shine and areas where we struggle. That doesn’t mean we are not entitled to an opinion. Physically, because of health issues, I can’t “do” much, but I can work at being a kind person. I can listen, and I can love. We can have stimulating and interesting discussions about our differences without being rude and unkind. Like the author of this article, I try to live in acceptance of our differences, and give what I can when I can.

Tricia Bertram

via email