People who have little money to live on may be found in any of these groups: - Single-parent families - Unemployed men and women - Disable people - House-bound people - Homeless people - People unable to work because of illness - Students living on a grant - School-leavers setting up home - People in low-paid jobs Research has shown that people with low incomes are more likely to suffer from heart disease, strokes, and some type of cancer.
They are more like to be overweight which is also a risk to health.
Eating less fat, sugar and salt, and more fruit and vegetables, pasta, wholegrain cereals, and bread can be difficult on a low income.
Many people prefer to buy foods high in fat and sugar, which satisfy hunger for longer, rather fresh fruit and vegetables, even if the fruit and vegetables cost less.
There are many ways that may help low-income people to eat more healthily.
- Groups of people can organize the purchase of food in large quantities, and then sell it cheaply to members of food cooperation.
Food may be delivered to people's homes or sold in community center where local food cooperation also provides an important social role.
- Community cafés are often linked to food co-operations, and provide cheap meals and snakes.
They often try to introduce healthy eating, e.
g.
by having one day a week where they do not serve chips, or preparing and cooking foods in new ways to widen people's tastes.
- Local food co-operations may organize the selling of fruit or other healthy snakes at local schools.
- Food voucher scheme can help homeless people, by giving them vouchers paid for by donations from well off group of community.
The organizers of scheme may arrange for deserving people to be exchanged in local cafés and food outlets.
This is better choice than giving out food which makes some homeless people feel that they are begging.
- Local health workers of community may arrange cook and taste projects to encourage lonely people on low incomes to come to community centers.
They can watch and participate in cookery demonstrations, and taste the finished results.
Healthier ways of providing foods can be introduced, although the main aim is to provide a social service.
Suggested foods include: - Breakfast: Porridge or toast with jam, or cereal with milk, or boiled egg, or fruit juice - Midday Meal: sandwiches with beef, or fish, or vegetable soup, yogurt, or piece of fruit, or cake or biscuits - Evening Meal: meat or vegetable curry, vegetables or pulses, soup or pasta, rice or fruit salad, milk, tea or coffee