Student 1: Low Excellence
In New Zealand "40% of households go hungry, skip meals or scrimp on ingredients
because they are not 'food secure"'(Stuff.co.nz, healthy eating hard for poor.) Food
security is when families do not have enough money to buy healthy food to put on
the table and they are restricted to the amount of food they can buy.
This is just a cycle because from lack of healthy food they will have less energy and
won't eat healthy because high processed foods and fatty foods are cheaper and
give them satiety value, by making them feel full and satisfied. This will make them
unhealthy and later making them have health issue like diabetes or obesity etc. By
eating unhealthy food they will lack motivation throughout the day which could lead
to unemployment and less income for the family.
The problem is that there are not enough jobs to go around. People who have food
insecurity go on the benefit to support themselves and or their family to buy them
nutritional food etc. "Treasury forecasts predicts that unemployment will rise to be at
8% in 1999/2000. This means 10,000 people will lose their jobs". The social
determent, Unemployment comes into this. Without having a job and no income
families find it very hard to live and get ahead without having a solid income, this is
why they go on the benefit for a short period of time.
Most people on the benefit don't have any qualifications and most didn't have a
proper education. "Cycles of poverty are created as children from low income
families are more likely to leave school early and are more likely to have low paid
and insecure jobs". Children from low income families or families on the benefit are
more likely to shun education because they think it will help the family by bringing in
extra money or being there to help with the other younger children and having more
responsibilities.
The Social Determinant, Social Exclusion and Social Gradient come into this also.
Another reason why low income families or families on the benefit shun education is
because they either might not fit in at school, being poor, not having the latest things.
This can have an effect on the children and makes them want to earn their own
money. And what people don't realize "There are fewer job opportunities for people
with low qualifications".
Also a key factor why children shun education is not having enough energy and
motivation. The Social Determinant, Healthy Food, comes into this. Without a good
healthy nutritional food throughout the day, families with children on the benefit or
low income may struggle to provide food that is healthy and high in nutrients and
energy. This can affect the child by not being able to concentrate in class, and not
achieving the grades they need. Therefore they want to drop out because they are
failing and think it will be easier to work and bring in money.
Low income earners buy whatever is cheapest that will satisfy their family’s needs.
This means convenience foods and fast foods as they supply you with carbohydrates
and fat, as they are filling, therefore less food is needed. For example a family of four
“paid $3.60 for their fish and chips for dinner and afterwards all felt full with a
sustained amount of energy.” Compare this to buying a bag of apples or a bottle on
milk which would not fill the family up. Other reasons such as time, unable to afford
the kitchenware to cook with and to give the money earner a rest after working all
day contribute to buying convenience foods. “These products are often on special;
they keep better and are rarely wasted.” (Hidden Hunger)
Statistics have shown that low income earners are the best people at budgeting
(Hidden hunger) as it is a major factor in their life and by not budgeting correctly they
are losing a lot of money. However, the best budgeting in the world can’t solve the
problem of not having enough money. Also "low income families spend 1/3 of their
income to eat healthy" (Stuff.co.nz Healthy eating hard for poor.), compared to just
9% of income for high income families. This means they “had to limit the amount or
variety of food they bought and may skip meals or reduce portion sizes to make food
go further.” This affects their well-being; by working hard for money and then looking
after young children, and getting no break. Not having the right meals means you
don’t have enough energy to function properly. They can get very stressed and over
tired by always running around from work and children. Their social well-being is
affected by having no time for anything, always busy and not having any enjoyment
and not having enough money to afford things.
It is difficult trying to successfully cook a meal at home without the money to buy pots
and pans and a selection of basic ingredients and flavourings. You haven’t had time
to go to the supermarket or find the products that are on special and then you don’t
always know if the rest of the family will like what you cook. When you get home tired
from working all day, it is time consuming to cook a meal and then you have all the
dishes to clean up afterwards. Takeaways are much easier.
Michael Gorman, a Christchurch City Missioner says “Poverty in New Zealand is
very hidden”. It may appear that low income families are eating fast food along with
the rest of New Zealand. However, poverty and food insecurity are caused by many
things which are all connected – unemployment, low income, limited food, poor
health, lack of energy and motivation, and it means not having the same
opportunities.