Mayor Michael Nutter's purchases are scanned by a cashier at a ShopRite grocery story Monday, April 23, 2012, in Philadelphia. Nutter pledged Monday to live on the average food stamp benefit of five dollars a day for the entire week.
Everyone wants to take their own bite out of the "farm bill," which funds America's food stamp program, and is currently being debated in the Senate.
Rory Freedman, author of popular vegan health book "Skinny Bitch," wants it to focus more on fruits and vegetables.
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Some might question how Americans on food stamps could afford to be picky about healthy food choices, so Freedman tried it herself, eating only vegan food (a diet of grains, beans, fruits, vegetables and condiments) for a week.
Her total grocery bill: $33, or the same amount an average person on food stamps in California has to spend on groceries.
Freedman argues that if grocers would only provide these healthy (and meatless) foods to food stamp-wielding customers, the American public would be a whole lot healthier.
The vegan advocate isn't doing it alone: The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has also put out a report calling for a healthier food stamp program that doesn't rely so much on meat.
More availability of vegan foods, the report states, "could help reduce the number of people who suffer from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other illnesses related to overweight and obesity."
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Elizabeth Flock is a staff writer for U.S. News & World Report. You can contact her at eflock@usnews.com or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
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