For Free: Keke Palmer Had A Word To Say About EBT & Making Healthy Food Accessible
Keke, do you love me, are you crazzzyyy? Our girl Keke Palmer decided to drop an unpopular truth bomb via her Twitter and add context after the fact, setting the internet ablaze with speculators upset with her delivery of an important message: Why is eating unhealthy so damn cheap and easy while the expenses of eating clean will have you considering a water fast just because?! Keke expressed her experience in a series of now-viral tweets:
"Healthy food is more expensive for a reason. It's fresh, good for you and gives you energy. Bad foods are bad for a reason. They last long they taste good because of tons of sodium and they aren't expensive because they're honestly not food. Mostly likely they are food-LIKE products"
When met with backlash, the self-proclaimed millennial diva refused to make apologies for her stance. But, can you blame her?
Right I'm confused haha like I get that some of them hated the idea. I'm not sure what more there is to do. https://t.co/Yl2jta6GT9
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) November 9, 2020
Now before I take you on this ride, let me address the obvious: yes if you have an EBT card, it is clear that you do not have an influx of money to spend on groceries in general, let alone fresh fruits and veggies while other long-lasting items are a priority. That's just basic survival. However, it comes a time when we have to question the way EBT is handled instead of questioning someone speaking out on it. Especially in our community where we have a predisposition to certain ailments (diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure being a few of them). OK?
Choo-choo, here we go.
To clarify my tweet was pertaining to issues w/ healthy foods being 2 expensive & thinking it should be free for those w/ EBT cards.
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) November 9, 2020
This was not a suggestion for solving all low income issues. Solely a hopeful solution 4 those with EBT that want to run it up w/ meat & produce.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to die of diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure that runs in my family if it is something I can do to control that. Diabetes and high blood pressure are diseases that do not necessarily have anything to do with weight, as it can be inherited genetically to any race or gender. There are plenty of people who appear to be in shape, but eat terribly and trigger morbid diseases. However, in our community, we are disproportionately afflicted with these health issues as a result of the systematic disenfranchisement of resources including, but not limited to affordable healthy food and nutritionists.
You never realize what healthy food is actually worth until you decide to eat extremely healthy and notice that everything is a million dollars .. !!!
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) November 9, 2020
I see corporations know the nutritious valuable off top. 🙄
Whenever I visit lower socioeconomic areas, I see a Wendy's within a five-mile radius of each other, and when I'm tired and hungry that 4 for $4 screams my name while I have to coordinate my Dollar Tree visits to make sure I don't miss out on the selection of frozen vegetables. I know I'm not the only one that has that dilemma of making a decision to eat healthy and feeling the financial constraints of that choice. Keke lives a life of luxury but her receipts for eating clean still have her reeling. If that's the case, what does that mean for us regular folk with a regular-ass budget?
Don’t bring being a Virgo into this sis haha it’s not wrong to want ppl to have free food sis that’s all I’m saying https://t.co/OX2lKui26K
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) November 9, 2020
Meanwhile, fast food restaurants accept EBT/FoodStamps/SNAP, making the decision to eat unhealthily a much easier thing to do in the moment. Processed food is always on sale, whereas fresh and organic fruits, veggies, and meats are sky-high in comparison and sometimes impractical in reality when you're concerned about making your purchases stretch. Presently, we are still knee-deep in a whole pandemic that puts people who suffer from hypertension and or diabetes at an increased risk for death, so nutrition is absolutely a priority moving forward.
Life is our birthright and we have to continue to advocate for more affordable healthy options when it comes to food in our supermarkets. Everybody should have the ability to choose whether they desire to eat clean without blowing their budget.
Keke was right about that!
Featured image by Parisa Michelle / Shutterstock.com
New Jersey native creating a life that she loves while living in gratitude. She loves using beauty, and fashion to create a balanced lifestyle while prioritizing wellness. A devoted fur mom, and a full-time lover of laughter. She is out for revenge against the darkness by being light, taking her own advice, traveling the world, and letting you know that you are so lit! Connect with her via IG @iamzaniah and please visit Zaniahsworld.com
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Though it is a year-long must for many, coffee hits different as the seasons change and the weather grows cooler. Similarly, a fall nail trend you're bound to see everywhere this season is latte nails. Just like sipping on a warm, comforting latte during the crisp autumn days, latte nails are all about providing those cozy vibes. Think earthy tones like creamy beige, caramel, and deep and soft browns or nudes with a touch of warmth.
Versatile and complementary of the warmer tones typical of the turn of the season, latte nails are a fabulous choice to embrace the sweater weather.
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Keep scrolling for different ways to rock latte nails this season.
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