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New Expression Youth Communication Chicago Collection

January 1995 New Expression: January 1995 (Volume 19, Issue 1) Columbia College Chicago

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SPONSOREQ BY Ivitamins A and C. The program's target population are lacking perate to fee their babies." these nutrients in their diet. WIC foods include: • Iron-fortified infant formula and infant cereal In other words, the state would be allowed to c ut off AFDC benefits after two • Iron-fortified adult cereal years if the re cipient doesn't participate in a work training program . The savings could be used to build orphanages and group homes and promote • Vitamin C - rich fruit or vegetable juice adoptions-for children whose mothers are unable to care for them. • Eggs This bill has outraged most teen mothers depending on AFDC benefits for them • milk and their children. "The baby will suffer. More babies will be left alone and aban­ • cheese doned," said Sherry Ahls, 16, a high school junior and mother of a 2-month-old girl. • peanut butter Even with WIC, "It's really hard on us because my mother's pregnant. My mother • dried beans and peas can't work," said Tiffani, who is 15 and pregnant. The food package also provides special therapeutic infant formulas prescribed by Without WIC, pregnant girls and girls with babies will need more money to pay for a physician for a specified medical condition. what WIC provides.They may have to get a job, which could mean dropping out of school. Tiffani said she has heard some girls who have lost benefits have turned to By Aruba Roy, St. Martin De Pones illegal activities, desperate to feed their babies. To understand what it's like for these girls, Maria Ramos, 15, had a suggestion for lawmakers. "Come live in our house for a month" before you decide what these people need, she said. Aruba Roy, St . Martin De Porres Most food stamp recipients children

The U.S. Agriculture Department's Food and Consumer Service says half of the, people on food stamps are children. The chart below re­ fler.ts data during the summer of 1993.

Children • 51.4°/o Adults 18 to 59 · 42.0°/o Elderly • 7.0°/o

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t{,.f>W e'f..(Ke9c>9>i(Ttb - MoNEY DoN'T MATTER ToNight 15 Teen has no shame lor needing food stamps Food Stamps Quiz

Steaks, chops asparagus and starfruit. Those four foods are expensive. Many families can't afford ground beef, let alone those things. So if you saw someone purchase those items with food stamps, would you say something like How much do you l'eally know about the this: federal food stamp program and the people 'Why the hell are they buying that? They know they can't afford to eat like that, so why are they trying? involved in the program? Test your knowl­ Well, when my mom received food stamps, we ate like everyone else. S1nce when IS 1t aga1nst the law to eat healthy like other people just because you rece1ve help from the gov mment? Let me edge by taking this quiz: tell you something about myself. 1 • . , • • '\ • • After working at a good job, my father . , ~~ ~0~ I a was laid off. He wasn't la1d off for being 1. Too many non-deserving families lazy, or being tardy, or for having a bad attitud~they just didn't need him any get food stamps. more. Well, with two children, my parents had to do something. My mom returned to work. She worked 2. Most food stamp recipients are for about a year, before she was la1d off Now what where we supposed to do? able-bodied adults who could be Unemployment benefits do run out. Rent working. and bills have to be pa1d, and we gotta eat! Unemployment brings the benefit of sign1ng up for food stamps, so that's what __ 3. Food stamp benefits are too high. Mom did. She didn't like the 1dea of do1ng it, since she preferred working. After eating more expensive food, and shopping 1n the spec1ahty section of the stores, I d1dn't __ 4. People on food stamps can own know what to think. I thought we'd end up on a1d for the rest of our lives Before I was on food stamps, I would be embarrassed to go to the store. I would actually wa1t unt1l nobody I knew was in expensive cars. the store, and then qwckly get what I needed and leave. Domg th1s meant that somet1mes 1t would take 30 minutes for me to get home from the store. Now I was one of the people I used to make fun of and be ashamed of I thought that the quality 5. Food stamp recipients are just too of our food would go down, and we would be black and wh1te labell1ng' 11 (that's genenc food for those of you who don't get it). lazy to work. My mom continued to shop pretty well, although we wouldn't have three or four bottles of salad dressings, croutons, caviar and Don. She would buy first-cut pork chops, 1nstead of center cut. and pork steak instead of beef steak. She also would buy ground beef 1nstead of ground chuck, and G. Food stamp recipients have large more chicken. Lots and lots of chicken Spices also were one of the things that we didn't buy so much of. We used season salt and families. pepper more often. Kooi-Aid became the beverage of the house, corn flakes replaced frosted flakes. Rnally the day came when Mom and Dad found new JObs You don't have to be lazy or shiftless to be on stamps , and you don't have to buy crap JUSt 7. Food stamps build wenare because you are on stamps. Never aga1n w1ll I be embarrassed to use food stamps. If you happen to be 1n a store and you are us1ng your stamps to buy quality food, 1f some narrow­ dependency. minded person looks at you funny or says something to you, say "Look, I have to feed my fam1ly, too." Les lie Gray, DuSable 8. Poor people waste their food What do you do when the food stamps run out towards the end of the month? Run stamps on junk food and luxury for the peanut butter or potatoes or eat rice and beans Monday through Friday?Well, there's a way to make those dollars stretch, so you don't have to go hungry, or un­ items. dernourished. Create a game plan at home. A half hour of planning can save you $8 or more each week. Here are some tips from the Illinois Hunger Coalition: 9. It's easy for people to get food 1) Take inventory. stamps. What's in the freezer, refrigerator & cabinets?

2) Plan meals for the week using what you have on hand. __1 o. The food stamp program is riddled with fraud. 3) Make a shopping lis t and s t i ck to it. 4) If possible, shop without your children. Done? 5) Never shop when you are hungry. Want to recheck your answers? 6) Use coupons if: a) the item is on your list Find out how you did by turning to b) the price is less than other brands of the same product Remember, usin a cou on for somethin ou don't need Is not a bar Page 18. II Ja'tlMq f"{"{r; Chicago Food Depository serves up meals In America, hunger has become a growing problem. Sometimes our this food is donated is because when food-producing companies pro­ society tends to offer very little to help solve this problem. duce a surplus in food there are few options allowing them to either pay In the midst of all this hunger there is a ray of hope-the Greater Chi­ for a landfill and dump the food, or donate the food to non profit organi­ cago Food Depository. zations and receive a tax The Greater Chicago Food break. The price of the Depository (GCFD)is a non-profit ~-­ food is free, but a 7-cent organization that distributes per pound charge is added nutritious food to smaller organi­ to pay for the transporta­ zations which in turn distributes tion. That is the smallest food to Chicago's hungry. This charge in the nation. particular food bank has been There are more than serving the greater Chicago area 1 ,200 donors in the GCFD for 15 years. The depository not base. More than 300 food only receives donated food but producers, distributors, they also purchase food with retailers, and grocers money they receive. donate food to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Among the Although the food is received at little or no cost the quality is just as donors who give to GCFD are Jewel Food Stores, Oscar Mayer, Quaker good as the food someone may buy at Dominick's. The reason most of Oats, General Mills, Kraft General Foods, Dominick's Finer Foods, and Azteca Foods. Among the almost 200 agencies who donate prepared foods are Just the Facts ... on Hunger Levy's Restaurants/Sears Tower, Pizza Hut, the Westin Hotei/O'Hare, Lou Malnati's, Blue Plate Caterers, Marshall Fields, and Carsons (The An 18-month study conducted by Van Amburg Group, a marketing Place For Ribs) research firm, and funded by a grant from Kraft General Foods, reveals how serious the hunger problem is in America. "We received a 10°/o reduction in money for The report found that 28.0 million Americans (10.4% of the total U.S. population) depend on food provided by the Second Harvest 1995 from the federal government's network of 185 food banks in conjunction with irs 41,587 member agencies. Emergency Food and Shelter Program In Cook County, 328,000 people (8.9% of Cook County residents) compared to last year." rely on emergency feeding programs. Michael Mulqueen, executive director of the Of these people who rely on this food: * 44% of the households Include chldren 17 and yoqer. Chicago Food Depository * 11.8% are people 85 years and older. A study by the Second Harvest National Food Bank Network in con­ * 29.8% of all households are headed by a sqle parent. junction with the GCFD, and other food banks showed: 326,000 * 78% of the households have less than a S1 0,000 anooal income. Chicago citizens rely on more than 500 emergency feeding programs * 19.3% of all the people who receive food are homeless. which are supplied by the GCFD. The food depository distributes 25 * 37% of the people who receive food did not think they would be needing million pounds of food to over 500 member agencies per year. These he_, 8 months ago. donated foods provide over 49,000 meals per day, every day of the year. The depository collects 100,000 pounds of food every month from * 52% of the households had at least one member of the family in poor health. restaurants, hotels, company commissaries, caterers, food shows, and * 47% use an emergency food service for less than 8 months. schools. These foods are then sent directly to soup kitchens where * 98% use an emergency food service for less than a year. they are served that same day. The study also shows the racial makeup of the participants: The cost to run this food depository reaches almost $4 million per * 83% African Americans year. Although the food is very cheap transportation, materials, goods * 18% are White Americans and services, insurance, employees, and utilities make up the budget. * 14% are l.atilo/llispanic The program was originally started with a grant from the Department of Children and Family Services, and is now funded by individuals, founda­ * 3% are Native American tions, corporations, and special events. For $1 donated, GCFD hands * 1% are Asian American out enough food for five nutritious meals. Michael Mulqueen, executive director of the GCFD says that he as Of the soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and other food well as everyone else in the organization feel some personal satisfac­ programs in the survey, 72% operate on a yearly budget of less tion for what they do. He also said that in the future some of GCFD's plans include con­ than $1 0,000. And 17% feel that their program's future is in ducting pilot transportation programs, and expanding prepared foods jeopardy. More than han of them receive at least 50% of their rood programs. from the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Rodell Dawson, Von Steuben

Rodell Dawson, Von Steuben 1/n A rT C F ~------..J SPONSORED BY ·~ ENERAL OODS - ··-················-···-······--····-································ .. ································································-...... -...... NE ...... ·-······················································ ················-·······-··································· ...... --.-· ·· tte-W ~r;?V Ill!! II !If!! I I I !I 17 Here's your school's No time for breakfast menu: breakfast? Let's suppose that after a good night's sleep, you get up at 7 a.m., shower, get dressed for school and around 7:45 you 2 3 eat breakfast-a doughnut, or a bagel with ~ ... ~o>t...._ ...;..c"",s. _,. v-:­ r '

a glass of orange juice. You will begin to -, q (3,\>-;t, ,..A ,..- ~.:p __ ..)..., tv' ll'c. D ;::-~:.J .r feel hungry again around 10:30 a.m., tired "..c ~ ~.!. PE.,... u ~ Ou rrE"R.. t-'t"t...... : rc.." .. ,..

Why? That's a good question! 1-, 15 17 A <>PeE. W Et>&I:'S FRE~ P.. " C ...... s:.c. \...c;:w;, • .s c..-LI...E. 1:> ?c./>Q!, C..Af"J" (.1!.,..,,:..., Let's understand. First, one particular SUlP ..... 8 -c.b i 6o6o ~ A >tQOT f?.l O 'I!>T C.~QfA'- C.Qo

thinking ability and energy: complex carbo­ .2.-1. 22. D~AIJG.€ },;.~ (;!lAP£ "J..,,u;:­ FRe~~ APP'-E hydrates. SCR~ BI. C.I 0 "6T Crcarbohydrates occur in several Jf.L'-'1

forms depending on the complex of their 2.1 2.'9. A Pf>L t: Ju' U: ORI\NO.C structure. 1-tuT ~U>osugars") Tull.d:'f ~-t-1\ >1 C.Rc,.t'lot;A""r include those found in honey and fruits; while the most complex (starches) include those in most vegetables, such as broccoli Did you know you could change

and squash, and in grains like wheat, your school's menu? llus"O!()n~ liugOGa~ La>efec!\ brown rice, and rolled oats. Each month, the Chicago Board of Education pro­ When the body is in the process of diges­ duces a list of suggested breakfast items. But school districts can and do offer different options. For ex­ tion, complex carbohydrates are broken ample, a school board official told New Expression that down and converted in the liver to glucose Hyde Park Career Academy offers the most variety of which is used by cells to produce energy. breakfast items of all South Side high schools. Rea­ son? Some schools are more committed to offering Glucose in the body needs to be built back choices that help meet a balanced meal than others. up or replenished at a regular pace, espe­ If you're tired of what's being served tor lunch, you can do more than complain. About five years ago, the cially if you're physically or mentally active public school system had a student advisory council for during the whole day. the lunch room. That's since fallen by the wayside. It's easy to trick your body into thinking it So how can you have an impact? The best way is to approach your student council and tell your student has the fuel it needs to work properly. A leaders you'd like to see a Youth Adivsory Council or drop in glucose will take on a number of Student Cafeteria Counci l. Your student council can approach your lunch room manager to brain related functions: reflexes slow down, discuss ways to incorporate student input. and concentration weakens. In addition, You may want to enlist the support of your we're apt to feel weak, hungry, lethargic Local School Council. But if the school is reluctant to allow students any input, you and grouchy. can contact school board officials for more That's why it's important to eat a bal­ help. As a last resort, you can contact one of anced breakfast each morning that con­ two people: Gilbert Crespo, food services sists of healthy wholesome foods. supervisor for District 11 -North, at (312} 534-5430; or Carol Meiki, food ser­ Nikita Dixon ,Manley High School vices supervi sor for District 11 -South at (31 2) 534-7611 . -..-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.NE .__._.._.__..__._.._..- . -- -···-­ '?,e.W ~9cfast food restaurant after school. You can get fast food at school. Just remember when you decide what to eat: Greasy food causes weight gain and fatigue . Studies noted in the "Tufts University Guide to Total Nutrition" link high-fat diets to various forms of cancer. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before ordering big hamburgers: 1. Consider the fat content. A Burger King Whopper has 13 grams of saturated fat. McDonald 's Big Mac has 57 grams, and Wendy's Big Classic, 11 . 2. Always note calories . Wendy's Big Classic has 500 calories, McDonald 's Big Mac has 570; then Burger King's Whopper tips the scale at 628. 3. Regulate sodium intake. McDonald's 794 milligrams of sodium is about the amount one should take in for the entire day. Following close behind are Burger King, with 769 milligrams and Wendy's with 739. Always remember to look for options. The next time you order a Burger King Whopper say, "Hold the Mayo." ~~~~~~::: This diminishes 150 calories. ~ On your next trip to Wendy's, don 't order cheese. Though it is a source of protein and calcium there is a high amount of fat. Finally, when you stop by at McDonald's get a salad. Many people eat salad feeling good about the healthy choice they made. Then what do they do? Otten, they dose it with high-fat salad dressing. Ranch dressing has 300 calories. Go healthy and order the Lite Vinaigrette. If you don't have an option for low-cal dressing, you could always provide your own.

Eat any good books lately? Help is on the way for you meat-eating teens looking for a WHAT'S IN AHOT DOG change of taste. Judy Krizmanic is author of "A Teen's Guide to Going AnylNay? Vegetarian," a light-hearted new book that gives you the "how to" as you switch to non-meat items. What exactly are hot dogs made of? ic is a former staff member of Vegetarian Times. I'm sure you've asked yourself that millions of times. Well, The book also contains tips on how to handle questions now you <:

tte.W e'f{\e~i!Pv ::: r 19 8mHiion suner from eating disorders When can I develop an eating disorder? "Do these jeans make me look fat?" Excess weight dangers include The majority of victims (86 percent) report that they devel­ "Do I look fat?" heart, liver and kidney failure, as oped the disease before age 20. "Am I fat?" well as onset of diabetes which can The actual breakdown by age group is: How many times have you asked lead to blindness, kidney disease, By 1Oth birthday - 1 0 percent these questions? Practically every­ amputations, heart disease and one has looked at their body and strokes. Diabetes is the fourth Between 11 and 15 - 33 percent wished for a new one. That's OK, leading cause of death by disease in Between 16 and 20 - 43 percent unless it gets out of hand, leading to the United States with no cure. an eating disorder. • Binge eating is consumption of SOURCE: ANAO What are eating disorders? large amounts of food in a brief time Dr. Vivian Meehan, president of usually with a sense of no control. Highland Park's National Associa­ Causes include low self-esteem and tion of Anorexia Nervosa and Asso­ depression. Eating Disorder Survey ciated Diseases Who has eating {ANAD) defines an disorders? Do YOU have the symptoms of an eating disorder? Answer eating disorder as Eating disorders "yes" or " no" to the following questions: "any inappropriate strike men, women, use of food to deal blacks, whites, 1. Do you think you're too fat, even when others say you're with problems.- Hispanics and too thin? Major disorders Asians. are Anorexia ANAD says about 2. Do you fear becoming too fat or think you are fatter, even Nervosa, Bulimia 8 million Americans after losing a lot of weight? Nervosa, compul­ suffer from an sive overeating and eating disorder. 3. Have you ever lost more than 25 percent of original body binge eating. One million are weight by dieting? Though different, men.Eieven percent all may lead to the of U.S. high 4. Do you often have weight changes of 10 pounds or more? , same result-death. schoolers suffer 5. Do you often feel •Anorexia ~ from at least one Nervosa is possibly I' eating disorder and out of control around the most well- ~ 2 percent are guys. food or those eating? known eating So what hap­ disorder because pens to sufferers? 6. (Women) Does your - high-profile women, While the disease period stop shortly like movie queen 9 in males is usually after losing weight? Sandra Dee, '70s caused by other singer Karen factors, such as 7. Haveyoueverbeen Carpenter, and wanting to gain or so depressed you "Growing Pains" lose weight for the noticed a change in star Tracy Gold are football team, sleeping patterns? all known as suffer- results can be no Concentration? Inter­ ers. less deadly.ANAD est in life? Sex drive? 01 1 Anorexics volun- l-"'-·' '_10n_ov_Rom~e__ Duk_ es_.M_ c_or_- ___.,. estimates the Energy level? tarily starve them- I fatality rate for selves, which can lead to disorders at 6 percent. Exact figures 8. Do you deliberately malnourish-ment and death. They are hard to pinpoint because compli- vomit? take laxatives, induce vomiting and diet exces- cations of disorders, like heart diet pills, or diuretics? sively, often using diet pills, laxa- ailure, are often noted as cause of exercise excessively? tives and diuretics. death. restrict eating? binge eat? • Bulimia Nervosa, which usually Although recovering from an affects young women, involves eating disorder is hard, it's not 9. Do you feel out of control in your relationships? binge eating and purging food by impossible. Eating disorder victims vomiting. Though similar to must learn to handle day-to-day 10. Have you noticed any of these symptoms: anorexia in causes and effects, lifestyle changes required to truly Dental cavities? Chill easily?Missed menstrual period? there is no extreme weight loss - recover. Meehan estimates that only Loss of hair or poor nail quality? Meehan says bulimics view food as 50 percent of eating disorder suffer- a friend, while anorexics do not. ers are ever cured. But with proper Scoring: The more "yes" answers, the more likely that you Bulimia, like anorexia, can cause health care and perseverance, it can have symptoms of an eating disorder or another problem. death. be done. For help, reach ANAD at This is only a survey. Concerns should be directed to a • Compulsive overeating is usually POB 7, Highland Park, IL 60035, specialist. caused by emotional stress. Suffer- (708) 831 -3438. ers are usually overweight, if not Heather MacDonald,Kenwood SOURCE: LEVITT & COTTER, 1988. obese. KRAFT GENERAL FCODS ~----~----~----~---~-····-~----~- - --~----~----~·---~----~----~----~---~-- ~··· ~· ~-- -~·---~--- ~~ ~~ ------·--·-- ·­ t~teW e:ff\e~~i.~'b THIS IS YOUR BODY, OKAY, SO IT'S NOT AC­ . SUE US. IT'S A REP­ YOUR TEENAGE BOD. TORSO, TWO ARMS, TWO LEGS, . VARI OUS OTHER FUN PARTS WE WON ' T GET INTO HERE (FOR . MORE INFORMATION SIGN UP FOR HEALTH CLASS) • AND UNLESS YOU'RE SOME KIND OF WHACKED­ OUT MUTATED FREAK, IT'S ALSO GOT A HEAD, WITH A GOOEY GRAY THING IN- SIDE OF IT CALLED YOUR BRAIN. YOUR . LOOKS llOTHING LIKE RAW EGG MATTER WHAT · THAT GUY IN THE COMMERCIAL SAYS. ALTHOUGH, IF YOU SKIP BREAKFAST, IT MIGHT AS WELL BE AN EGG CUZ THAT'S HOW MUCH BRAIN POWER YOU'LL HAVE. SO SCARF SOME- THING DOWN EVERY MORNING. SOMETHING. ANYTHING. IT ' LT. GO RIGHT TO YOUR HEAD.

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