Congress Wants Low-Income Pregnant Women To Have High Blood Sugar
Count on "public interest" to be self-interest -- this time, from lawmakers from potato growing states.
Congress, for no particular nutritional reason, is encouraging the ag secretary to allow low-income pregnant and nursing mothers to buy white potatoes with the vouchers they receive as part of a government program. From HuffPo/AP:
That goes against the advice of the Institute of Medicine, which advises the government on health issues. The institute has said recipients of such aid already eat enough white potatoes....Although the Obama administration has tried on a few occasions to limit the amount of money the government spends on feeding people white potatoes, lawmakers from the roughly 40 potato-growing states, backed by the potato lobby, have worked to turn back those efforts. In 2011, Congress voted to thwart the Agriculture Department's recommendation that only two servings a week of potatoes and other starchy vegetables be served in federally subsidized school lunches. The USDA effort was an attempt to limit the proliferation of french fries on school lunch lines.
...Along with the massive spending bill approved Wednesday in the House, nonbinding language from lawmakers urges Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to include potatoes in the WIC program. If he chooses not to add them, all he has to do is submit a report to Congress explaining why.
Vilsack hasn't said what he will do. USDA spokeswoman Brooke Hardison said the agency "continues to believe in the importance of basing the nutrition standards for WIC on the best science available."
Those who oppose allowing white potatoes in the federal program worry that the budget language is a sign of more pressure to come from Congress.
Concerned that lawmakers could add potatoes to WIC in a wide-ranging farm bill, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association and other groups said in a joint statement that "to change the WIC food package because of pressure from the potato industry" could make the program less effective and that Congress should not be deciding what foods should be included in the program.
A bit on how potatoes raise blood sugar more than sugar. There are some complexities on this, however. Gregg, last night, made us mashed cauliflower in butter, which is delicious, and a great potato substitute.
via NicoleK
Mashed cauliflower, you say? interesting...I'll have to get that a whirl.
I R A Darth Aggie at January 17, 2014 7:24 AM
Last night, my wife made a stir fry served over Cauli-rice from Eades' The 6 Week Cure. Wonderful meal.
Steamer at January 17, 2014 8:11 AM
...because what poor women really need is gestational diabetes. Might as well add gummy bears and jelly beans to the program, too!
ahw at January 17, 2014 8:13 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2014/01/17/congress_wants_1.html#comment-4205275">comment from SteamerThanks for reminding me, Steamer. Here's a link to that: The 6-Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle: The Simple Plan to Flatten Your Belly Fast!.
I'm thinking we probably got this idea from Mary Dan Eades. We, as in, Gregg who does the cook and growls at Aida and me to get out of the kitchen while the maestro is at work.
Amy Alkon at January 17, 2014 8:36 AM
I would be happy if they would just take soft drinks off the list of things you can buy with food stamps.
Potatoes, are kind of "small potatoes" on the bad for you list.
Both WIC and food stamps have little to do with nutrition. They are both political footballs.
http://nationalreview.com/article/367903/white-ghetto-kevin-d-williamson
Isab at January 17, 2014 9:10 AM
I've been doing the mashed cauliflower for a couple years. 15 minutes-ish in microwave - add some butter, garlic, blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Then hand mix crumbled bacon in. Game over.
John c at January 17, 2014 10:52 AM
Ah yes--fauxtatoes.
I substitute cauliflower in just about any recipe that calls for potatoes. If you're hungry for cream of potato soup, cream of celery tastes very similar.
Lori at January 17, 2014 1:56 PM
A libertarian should know better than to want to dictate other people's diets, even if they're on the dole. Each to his own taste.
jdgalt at January 17, 2014 3:22 PM
Great idea if you're spending your money. What about if you're spending mine?
Jim P. at January 17, 2014 3:54 PM
When I was a kid, and my mother was getting WIC, the best tasting thing on the list and the worst thing for us was fruit juice. I think we all know how that compares to potatoes.
Cat at January 17, 2014 6:04 PM
Irony was what befell me great grand-uncle Sam
He choked upon the very last potato in the land
Rex Little at January 17, 2014 7:04 PM
Above link doesn't seem to work for some reason. It should be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK2Lx_gSr5k
Rex Little at January 17, 2014 7:06 PM
"even if they're on the dole"
Wait - so no pineapples, neither?
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at January 17, 2014 8:09 PM
Can you post a recipe for the cauliflower thing. I'm a terrible cook & have never done anything other than steam it. Would like to try something different
cornerdemon at January 18, 2014 6:46 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2014/01/17/congress_wants_1.html#comment-4207069">comment from cornerdemonGregg just cooks it in the microwave in a pile of butter and then mashes it up. Not very finely, but the butter makes it great. Think caveman with kitchen implements and act accordingly.
Here, though, from Jimmy Moore, a more refined recipe:
http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/low-carb-mmm-mmm-mock-mashed-potatoes/4174
My idea of successful food-making, personally, involves as few steps as possible. Open steak package, shake Old Bay on it, throw olive oil in pan, throw in steak, barely cook, turn over, barely cook, eat.
Green beans: Open package for Trader Joe's washed, ends-cut green beans. Put half in bowl. No lid. Put in two pats of butter. Put microwave on 10 minutes and insert bowl. Cook until wilted and maybe a little chewy.
Amy Alkon at January 18, 2014 8:20 AM
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