What my friend witnessed tonight while cashiering at Wal-Mart.

[Modern_Matthew]

From Facebook:

"I have never had such lack in faith of humanity as I have tonight...

A woman and her little girl were coming through my line at work today, along with another family pairing... the little girl had a big bag (32oz) of m&m's in her hands and was looking around the isle for who knows what. Her mother was distracted talking to the other pairings mother who's son was putting her groceries in her cart.

When I started to ring up the mother/daughters groceries up, she looked at her little girl and asked her for her candy so That I could ring it up for her. The little girl put her m&m's away on a shelf, and grabbed a small squeeze thing of applesauce and said "No mama, I want this instead." and she handed her mother the applesauce...

Her mother looked at it like she'd never seen something before. and said "What the hell is this? Applesauce? Eww. I'm not getting you applesauce." and so she puts the bottle back on the shelf and grabs the bag of m&m's and hands to me to ring up...

I almost didn't ring up them because, well for starters... Applesauce is a much better snack/treat than m&m's. The bag of m&ms was about 3 dollars, while the applesauce was 75 cents I think. and if those didn't mean much to you, the woman denied her little girls right of choice... A HEALTHY choice, mind you..."

[bluestateguy]

1. I once saw a bumper sticker that said, "Out of My Child's Lunchbox Michelle!"

Not to worry lady, Mrs. Obama will not interfere with your right to raise a fat, out of shape, and diabetic before she's 20 years old, child.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

4. Wow

They are really hung up on that bullshit meme.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Some parents mean well

but you can bet mom don't like applesauce since she never developed the taste for it. A lot of it goes from generation to generation.

Also we are told this all the time. I recommend you watch the adds for V-8 juice for fruit and juice, and how they make fun of actually eating raw carrots... which are a healthier snack than the juice. This crap is all over.

[bighughdiehl]

3. Lol

My mom would have been ecstatic if
I preferred apple sauce over candy!
What the hell is wrong with that woman?:shrug:

[gateley]

10. I saw co-worker at the grocery store, and her

daughter came up to her to ask if she could buy a piece of fruit. I forget what it was, but it was kind of expensive and she said "I don't think so". I said -"Get her the damn fruit! It's GOOD for her and it's money better spent than on unhealthy stuff that's cheaper!" I was kind of shocked (like you, my mom would have been giddy had I wanted something other than candy) and I think she saw it on my face so she said "Okay, we can get it". It was really none of my business, but that never stops me.

[EFerrari]

5. Applesauce is mostly sugar. There's nothing "healthy" about it. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Depends on brand

but general statement it is healthier than the chocolate, albeit not by much.

It does have things like, oh fiber, even in the worst brand.

And yes, some are pretty bad, corn syrup comes to mind, but there is a reason why Apple Sauce is still part of the BRATY diet, nothing to stay on for too long either.

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/brat-diet

[Broderick]

38. Some are ok

but I bet that applesauce at checkout isn't nothing but sugar.

[EFerrari]

41. I just looked it up and

that pouch of applesauce has 12 grams of sugar in it. A comparable snack size M&Ms has 9. The candy has more fat, less sugar and fewer carbs but it also has a bit of calcium.

I remembered that applesauce is mostly sugar from 100 years of dieting. It's candy, not an apple. LOL

[Broderick]

44. Surprising that the mm's have less

wow. Who would have thunk it.

[EFerrari]

51. Micheal Pollan.

:)


50 years ago when I was little, there weren't a brazillion packaged snack "foods" with images of real food like apples on them. There were only apples and rocks, lol, so we didn't get fooled by PR as much. We also seemed to cook from scratch more. If you have ever tried to make jam, for example, you'd never mistake jam for fruit. It's a ton of sugar with a wee bit of fruit in it.

Similarly, applesauce sounds healthy but it's still mostly a bunch of sugar.

What we need to do is lobby for WalMart to put real fruit by the register. That would be revolutionary. :)

[petronius]

52. "Apples and rocks..."!

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

54. Come on -- you remember when breakfast cereal was only in black and white

and when rock stations were only on FM and nobody could find them until 2 o'clock in the morning. :)

[DrunkenBoat]

6. if she lost her faith in humanity over that she didn't have much to begin with.

why is it her business what other people buy or eat or how "healthy" their snacks are? for all she knew the woman had a cupboard full of applesauce & carrot juice at home.

[leftstreet]

7. THE CHILD SHOULD BE REMOVED AND THE MOTHER STERILIZED !!1111

NOT

What a bullshit story. Since when does any store stock applesauce at the checkout counters?

Candy, gum, breath mints, magazines.

Applesauce?

Just another excuse to bash working class people

[EFerrari]

13. In the best case scenario, if this were real and the stuff

no sugar added, this is the BONANZA of nutrition this lady turned down:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/calories-in.asp?food=motts+natural+applesauce

[eShirl]

24. applesauce our local stores stock at the checkout counters

[EFerrari]

36. Nutritional info

Nutrition Facts

* Serving Size 1 pouch
* Servings Per Container 4

* Amount Per Serving
* Calories 60 Calories from Fat 0
* % Daily Value*
* Total Fat 0.4 g
* Saturated Fat 0 g
* Trans Fat 0 g
* Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
* Sodium 3 mg 0%
* Total Carbohydrate 13.3 g 3%
* Dietary Fiber 1 g 4%
* Sugars 12.3 g

* Protein 0 g N/A
* Vitamin A 0%

* Vitamin C 0%
* Calcium 0%

* Iron 2%
*

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calories needs.


http://www.grocerycouponnetwork.com/foodproducts/products.php?Id=54235


M&M Brand - Fun Size - Plain M&M's

1. Servings:

Calories 70 Sodium 10 mg
Total Fat 3 g Potassium 0 mg
Saturated 2 g Total Carbs 11 g
Polyunsaturated 0 g Dietary Fiber 0 g
Monounsaturated 0 g Sugars 9 g
Trans 0 g Protein 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Vitamin A 0% Calcium 2%
Vitamin C 0% Iron 1%

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/m-m-brand-fun-size-plain-m-ms-11696195

[WI_DEM]

46. actually I've seen those little six pack containers of apple sauce stocked at or near

the counters. It's something like for school lunches or snacks that is easy to grab. It's really not unusual.

[LeftyMom]

9. Maybe they were getting a snack for the car and wanted something that didn't make a mess?

Judging other people's parenting based on a minute's worth of observation sucks. Gawd only knows what's in "applesauce" sold at the checkout at WalMart anyhow.

[EFerrari]

12. The Isle of WalMart is famous for its applesauce, isn't it?

[LeftyMom]

14. I'd guess they sell wallpaper paste and corn syrup concoction in a tube,

with a homeopathic quantity of actual apple. Probably dyed blue or something.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Actually, as much as I despise Wally World

they are the strangest of allies to bring healthier food to people with Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama and Walmart Join Forces Promoting Healthy Food

After all, the White House and corporate America have had a fairly contentious relationship during the first two years of the Obama administration. Not to mention that Walmart, the world's largest retailer with billions in sales, doesn't need to adjust the product it puts on its shelves. And that's why the first lady's "Let's Move" campaign's collaboration with Walmart to offer healthier food is so surprising.

Under the initiative, Walmart will make healthier food choices more affordable, develop seals for the front of packaging to make healthier food more identifiable, address food desert issues and increase support for nutrition programs.

Walmart sells more groceries than any other company in the U.S. and changes made by its suppliers could have a big impact on American's access to healthy food.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/WorldNews/michelle-obama-walmart-join-forces-promote-healthy-eating/story?id=12723177

Feels odd to defend Wally world but there is that.

[LeftyMom]

19. That's a lovely press release. But if they've got applesauce by the register

with an ingredient label that reads something like "apples, cinnamon" I'll eat my hat. And I'm very fond of the hat.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. I don't step into one

but they are actually doing something about it...

And I have noticed a few apple sauces at my local Ralph's.

For the first time in a LOOOOONNNNNNGGGGG time people are starting to deal with food deserts, and not due to charity. From the POV of Wally Wold a somewhat healthier employee that is not so overweight, will be able to hack it better. That is the ulterior motive, IMO.

[eShirl]

25. bon apetit

[EFerrari]

37. I posted their info above.

These things have more sugar in them than the snack size plain M&Ms.

[REP]

11. Cool story, bro

[renate]

15. poor little girl

I'm not anti-candy, but the little girl was actually voluntarily making a healthier choice, and the mother denied her (and not for economic reasons--I would have been more sympathetic to the mom if she was making her decision because of cost). It's so unusual these days to see kids choosing a less sugary snack... I hope her natural inclinations aren't trained out of her by her mom's overruling her preferences. Maybe it was just a one-time thing... or maybe that little girl craves fruit and never gets it.

:(

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. By the way, before people keep piling on the poor cashier

I avoid wally world but...

Michelle Obama and Walmart Join Forces Promoting Healthy Food

They're not really likely allies.

After all, the White House and corporate America have had a fairly contentious relationship during the first two years of the Obama administration. Not to mention that Walmart, the world's largest retailer with billions in sales, doesn't need to adjust the product it puts on its shelves. And that's why the first lady's "Let's Move" campaign's collaboration with Walmart to offer healthier food is so surprising.

Under the initiative, Walmart will make healthier food choices more affordable, develop seals for the front of packaging to make healthier food more identifiable, address food desert issues and increase support for nutrition programs.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/WorldNews/michelle-obama-walmart-join-forces-promote-healthy-eating/story?id=12723177

[Duer 157099]

17. But were they peanut M&Ms?

If so, then at least you could argue that they have some protein.

Besides, my guess is that the M&Ms were really for the mom.

[Raine]

21. The applesauce was probably mostly corn syrup based

especially since it was only 75¢. I know after I realized I had to read all labels to see what goes into some supposedly "healthy" choices. At least MMs don't pretend to be healthy.

[eShirl]

26. nope: just apples and apple juice concentrate

http://www.gogosqueez.com/our-products/product-apple/

[EFerrari]

40. But still 3 grams more sugar than a snack size plain M&Ms.

Now, if the Mom had turned down an apple, you guys would have something. We probably shouldn't feed kids anything that comes in a package. :silly:

[eShirl]

47. and less sodium, less fat, more fiber, more nutrients

[EFerrari]

48. Less sodium, more fat and fiber, fewer carbs, not more nutrients.

The nutrient list is a bit of iron where candy has a bit of calcium.

ETA carbs

[eShirl]

49. Any idea how many m&ms there are in one "serving?" Or what the glycemic load is?

[EFerrari]

50. I don't know how many oz., you'd think they'd list that.

It may be somewhere, though. One of the reasons I know about applesauce is a period of hypoglycemia as a teen.

[Raine]

22. Dupe ... Self-deleted nt

[watrwefitinfor]

23. Oddly enough,

Wal-Mart's house brand is the only one on their shelves with no added sugar. At least in the local stores.

Where the apples came from, what conditions they were grown under, and how many pesticides are in the jar, is another question altogether.

Wat

[elana i am]

27. i agree with the lady

applesauce is nasty.

[aikoaiko]

28. The horror. The horror.

[City of Mills]

29. Hmph.

{Generic cynical reply}

[Generic Other]

30. I concur

hehe

[ensho]

31. the mother probably wanted to eat the m&ms

nt

[Ptah]

32. Perhaps she heard Dr. Oz warn of arsenic in apple juice?

Lori Boyajian O’Neill: The debate over arsenic raises interesting questions

Independence, MO —Dr. Oz has gotten himself into some hot water with the Food and
Drug Administration when he claimed that he had found arsenic in apple juice
and asserting that the food was not safe to drink.

Not so fast, Dr. Oz, claimed the FDA and juice producers.
What was Dr. Oz thinking?

Arsenic and food: What do you know? T or F?
1. Organic arsenic is considered to be safe.
2. Inorganic arsenic is considered to be safe.
3. It is used primarily in pesticides.

Arsenic, a naturally occurring heavy metal, is toxic in high amounts
ingested over a long period of time. It is known to cause cancer
and neurologic disorders.

[slackmaster]

43. I know people who STILL don't eat apples because of the Alar pesticide scare in the 1970s

Or peanuts because of an aflatoxin scare.

[MilesColtrane]

33. If I see something online that says it comes "from Facebook" I usually...

immediately dismiss it as bullshit.

[Javaman]

34. That poor kid. She has just been hitched to the wagon of wanton stupid. nt

[Matariki]

35. *That* was your friend's low-point of faith in humanity?

He or she needs to read the news more often.

[petronius]

53. Actually, it would be better if he didn't

Innocence that pristine needs to be preserved, not shattered... :)

[slackmaster]

39. Maybe the girl is being treated medically for a chocolate deficiency

Or maybe someone in the family is allergic to apples.

MYOB, don't judge others, mama knows best, etc.

[lynne]

42. Processed applesauce a healthy snack? HUH? Since when?

Processed applesauce is full of sugar - natural and corn variety - and little else. Too bad the kid didn't go for the peanut M&M's to add some protein along with the antioxidants.

Your friend needs to wear blinders and just do her job if she'd working at Walmart. There will be lots of stuff she probably doesn't agree with. However, its not her business and she has no idea if they were getting the M&M's for themselves or picking them up for a neighbor or getting ready to something with them.

If she can't do that, she needs to quit Walmart and get a job as a diet consultant and/or financial counselor.

[WI_DEM]

45. that is the biggest lack of humanity that he has ever seen in his life?

pretty sheltered.

[jberryhill]

55. One would think a Wal-Mart employee wouldn't have to look far