John Boehner 8TH DISCTRICT OF OHIO

The US should spend extra on healthy foods promotion that would save the government money in long-term health care costs? For every dollar increase to spend in marketing and pricing of healthy foods; will decrease long-term health insurance costs by multiple amount of money. Then it would make perfect sense to implement. People ought to realize many are living at or below the poverty rate. The minimum wage has not kept up with living wage for years. How do you live with such low pay and pay for healthy foods? Currently, it is cheaper to buy fast food than it is to buy healthy stuff. For example, a hamburger may cost a couple of bucks from a fast food restaurant. Yet blueberries cost around $5. If we are going to create more incentives for the poor to eat better, we must change this by lowering the prices of healthy foods. Many poor neighborhoods are in so called "food deserts" where there are no grocery stores selling healthy stuff. New farmers markets should be organized within these "food deserts" to promote healthy eating. During spring and summer months, leaders could organize new farmers markets at places like neighborhood parks, church parking lots and school grounds. During winter, they would move these farmers markets indoors. Usually you will find at least one empty store or warehouse in poor neighborhoods. This is where you refurbish these buildings into indoor farmers markets. These buildings should be built with drive through service. Some area grocery stores could be built with drive through service, as well. Many of our poor may be working at a couple of jobs or working overtime to get buy. Thus they have no time to cook healthy foods. Therefore, they buy their meals from fast food restaurants and convenient stores. New healthy foods should be developed to sell at these stores. We have reality shows and we have contests for new business start ups. Why can't there be a new contest sponsored by the USDA and private businesses to create these healthier fast foods? Can private businesses create this new awards account so to make this contest fun? These new foods would be served at these farmers' markets and grocery stores even by way of drive through service. This could come in handy if you have a couple of kids in car seats and it is very cold outside. These foods could be sold to fast food and convenience stores, alike. Thus you move these healthy foods to more markets within these "food desert" neighborhoods. Then people will more likely buy them. A new system of vegetables farms and greenhouses should be built in nearby big cities. Some empty large buildings could be leveled then greenhouses be built in its place. Some people who are disabled, like those with autism or PTSD, may work well at these greenhouses.Some of our disabled veterans could be hired to manage this farmer's markets and greenhouses system. Thus you provide meaningful work for people who are disabled. In conclusion, we must find ways to promote healthy eating at costs well within the fast food prices. We must make it more convenient to buy these foods within these "food deserts". The US should spend extra on healthy foods promotion that would save the government money in long-term health care costs? Then we all win.