Stretching those food stamps

Re “Stamp out hunger? Not likely,” Opinion, May 24

Food stamp recipients should be educated about how to shop for food and cook healthy meals frugally. Frugal folk plan their meals, shop sales and buy generic. They cook from scratch, staying away from expensive and unhealthy processed foods. Learning how to cook is a critical step for living frugally. Use dried beans. Bake your own bread, cakes and cookies. Make your own tortillas. Use tougher cuts of meat and cook them slowly.

Ethnic groceries generally have lower produce prices as well. There are ways to stretch that dollar, even for those not on food stamps. Stating that $155 per person per month is not enough is ridiculous.

GINA WOOLFOLK

Redondo Beach

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Patt Morrison puts a face on the problems endured by low-income people trying to live healthfully on food stamps when she says, “You wind up on the fatty-salty-sugary-canned-processed-bottled diet.” Her column supports and enhances The Times’ news article that reports that minority women in L.A. County were found to have higher rates of chronic disease.

BARBARA COVEY

San Pedro