

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
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September is National Self-Care Awareness Month, so for my girlies who have been putting off self-care, here’s your opportunity to start. Self-care means exactly what it says: taking care of self. Why is it important? Well, many of us have busy lives that may include careers, family, and activities that consume us daily. Taking some time for self regularly can help prevent depression, stress, anxiety, and burnout.
In February 2023, Future Forum polled 10,243 people in six countries, including the U.S., and 40% said they are experiencing burnout, and 46% of that number are women. According to CNBC, many factors contributing to burnout include companies demanding employees return to the office, hiring freezes, and layoffs.
Psychologist Debbie Sorensen explained to CNBC why women and millennials are experiencing burnout in higher numbers. “We haven’t had time to recover from the trauma of what we’ve been through the last few years,” she said. “Women and young people, in particular, are putting an immense amount of pressure on themselves to keep going, keep working, no matter the cost.”
As women, particularly Black women, we tend to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Other people's problems become our problems, and then we are expected to show up to work and show up for our family and friends with a smile on our faces. Whew, chile! What if we are having a bad day? How are we supposed to cope if we have to be everything to everyone? Well, here’s your sign to make time for yourself, especially on the days when you are feeling down.
Below is a list of self-care ideas for when you are having a bad day.
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Spend time in nature
Sometimes something as simple as surrounding yourself with trees, grass, and/ or water can improve your mood exponentially. The American Psychological Association’s (APA) research shows that spending time in nature can improve attention, lower stress, and reduce the risk of psychiatric disorders.
Got to a Spa
There’s nothing like going to a spa. You can relax in a sauna, get a massage, and just be. According to research, massages help release serotonin and dopamine, which are often referred to as “feel good” hormones, that will instantly perk you up and have you going about your day with a smile on your face.
Get Artsy
When was the last time you did arts and crafts? Drawing a picture, painting, or even coloring can help you discover your inner child, thus boosting your mood. Purchase an adult coloring book, or go to a paint-and-sip class by yourself, or you can make it a group activity and bring your besties.
Look your best
The old saying, “When you look good, you feel good,” didn’t just come out of thin air. There’s some truth to it. The Kentucky Counseling Center shared a link between self-care and feeling good. “Self-care regimens are extremely important not just to stabilize your day but to make you feel great. Simple things like getting a facial, taking care of your hair done, or exercising can make you confident because when you look good, you also feel good,” according to its website.
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Breathwork
There’s a reason why it is suggested that you breathe when you begin feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Breathing brings oxygen back into your body, and WebMD reports that it can decrease the fight or flight response that happens when you are stressed.
Spend time with babies
I don’t know about you, but nothing makes me smile quicker than a baby, especially a smiling baby. If you’re the same way, then spending time with a baby or babies may help put you in a better mood, too.
Do nothing
Last but certainly not least, do nothing. There’s nothing like laying in your bed and not being forced to do anything. Stay in this moment and use this time to relax and replenish your energy.
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