Reply #16: There are a couple of other points here.

[cbayer]

Just because someone is poor, should the government be able to tell them what kind of food they can or can not buy with their food stamps? Should this apply to all prepared foods (grocery deli)? Should we also restrict other foods that we don't think are good for them?

The lack of decent grocery stores, and particularly decent fresh foods, in impoverished neighborhoods remains an issue.

Poor people, who may be working multiple jobs, have multiple children that have to be cared for/picked up/dropped off, etc. may have difficulty finding the several hours it would take to prepare, cook and clean up after that lovely chicken dinner.

Although you describe a possible McD's scenario, they also have $1 options. You could get 4 chicken sandwiches, 4 cheeseburgers, 4 fries and 4 drinks for $16 without the additional costs of electricity/gas needed to cook and clean up after a meal.

It's a difficult issue, but the mere cost of the different choices is not the only deciding factor.