Although doctors may try to get a person to eat healthy, it isn’t always the easiest thing to do because of a person’s income. For example, I was told to eat healthier foods three years ago. I was at risk of having diabetes and high blood pressure because I was (and still am) overweight. A food specialist talked to me about how eating healthy is a good way to stay alive and lose weight. As she tried to get me to see the light, all I could see was the price.

After she was finished talking, she gave me a very long list of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats that would be good for me to eat. Every three to four weeks when I had to go back to get a check up from my doctor, she would ask me if I was eating the foods on the list. I told her a few because I couldn’t afford the rest. She eventually asked why I couldn’t buy all the foods and I told her it was because I live with three other people and we all share food stamps.

As told by Hilary Seligman, a doctor in the Department of Health, “ Studies show that getting the average American to the recommended target of just one nutrient, potassium, would cost an additional $380 each year” (see article here). Just imagine how it would be for Americans in poverty who can’t afford to spend an additional $380 a year just for food.

Now I will say that there are some healthy foods that don’t cost much, but you will rarely come across them. For instance, ground turkey doesn’t cost as much as I thought it would. At a discount grocery store it would cost $1.79 a pound, so instead of buying ground beef, which is $2.50 a pound, I buy turkey. Turkey meat is healthy because there is less fat in this particular kind of meat.

Another food that doesn’t cost much is iceberg lettuce. Iceberg lettuce costs $0.78 per head. Whereas you have romaine lettuce that costs $1.20 per head. To me iceberg lettuce is healthy because it’s a green vegetable and it doesn’t take a lot out of my food stamps.

Another scenario that I have come across was at a large grocery store. I went to the deli and saw that they had good meats like low sodium turkey breast and low sodium ham, but the price for the meats was way too high for me. It was $3.65 a pound for any of the lean meats. Then I saw some other meats that weren’t exactly healthy, like honey roasted ham and roast beef, and the price per pound was $1.50.

I asked why low sodium meats cost more than others. The deli man told me that when people buy low sodium meats, they are actually paying for the longer process it took to cook the meat. I then asked how often low sodium meats were purchased. He said rarely, because they cost too much and people want more for their money.

I’ve always wondered if anyone has ever thought about why healthy foods cost more than unhealthy foods. Has anyone ever thought that some people like myself don’t always have the funds to buy healthy foods all the time?

Chatiana says some ways to help people cover costs might include healthy food fee waivers for nutrition plans prescribed by doctors, or more, easier-to-find coupons in newspapers for healthy foods.

How are you helping connect people with affordable, accessible fresh foods? Comments are welcome below.

My name is Michaelyn Denny; I am the Foreclosure Prevention Intake Specialist at Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services (KNHS). KNHS is a unique non-profit home ownership resource center, whose mission is to revitalize the county’s lower incom neighborhoods. KNHS offers a variety of free services, including foreclosure prevention counseling.  Our counselors are experienced, certified counselors who are dedicated to assisting those facing foreclosure.

The foreclosure crisis hit close to home. I too was forced to face the reality that home foreclosure affects everyone. Last year when a family member was forced to leave their home, make the decision to find an affordable place to live, and face the possibility of having to give up a dearly loved dog, as well as all the unknowns that go along with foreclosure, I felt helpless and saddened that this was happening to them – and to so many other people. Foreclosure does not discriminate. Thankfully, Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services was able to assist my relative, including helping her to relocate to an affordable place for her and her dog to live. I knew then that I wanted to be a part of an organization that helps those facing this same devastating situation, and perhaps other situations preventing them from making their lives better.

When I was approached about the possibility of serving as a Foreclosure Prevention Specialist at KNHS through AmeriCorps, I did not have to think twice. The opportunity to help those in dire need has been one of the most rewarding experiences offered to me. The position is not without its heartache. However, on the days that something good happens for a client, it is a wonderful day. AmeriCorps is to be commended for their efforts in assisting the non-profit organizations, I am extremely fortunate to be a member of AmeriCorps, and for the professional and personal experiences I have gained.

Michaelyn Denny is an AmeriCorps member at the Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services in Kalamazoo.

This post is part of a blog series highlighting the viewpoints of Michigan AmeriCorps Foreclosure Prevention Corps members serving at different foreclosure host sites around Michigan. View information about the program or see more stories in this series.

 The Bright Side is a CEDAM program committed to telling the stories of CEDAM members and other organizations helping Michigan’s people and communities. Each episode focuses on a different topic in community economic development. CEDAM members are invited to submit ideas for the show and participate on the show’s advisory committee. Interested? Send a note to Olivia Courant, courant@cedam.info, 517-485-3588.

Get the good news on Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Episode 6 – Michigan: A Good State of Health
Supported by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Find out more about helping a future episode.

In this Episode:
Introduction by host Anneshia Freeman in Grand Rapids [watch now]
The Lies That Bind® [watch now]
Extra: Anneshia Book Interview [watch now]
Ingham Health Plan [watch now]
Crim Festival of Races [watch now]
Everybody Eats [watch now]
Just B Yoga [watch now]
The Wellness Center [watch now]
Ending, credits, and outtakes [watch now]