�200 for pregnant women to spend on healthy food

[AB Asks]

From April 2009 pregnant women could receive a lump sum of �200 to spend on healthy food. It is hoped that the initiative will reduce baby deaths and close the health inequality gap between richer and poorer families. The women will first go to a health session before they can claim the money, once the money is received however, they will not have to prove that it has been spent on healthy food. What do you think? Is this lump sum of �200 really going to change the health of poorer families? Is it a waste of taxpayers' money?

[WaldoMcFroog]

I believe that when one writes a question, the AB Techno-elves have provided a facility to show any questions with a similar bent.

Like these:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question45 3663.html
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question45 3325.html
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Cul ture/Question453790.html

[aims1202]

I dont think the reason poorer people eat badly is because they cant afford it. I am on income support and still eat and give my kids healthy food. It is affordable to eat well if you know what you are doing. we cant eat meat all the time but fish and fruit and veg and pasta and rice are not too expensive.I think a lot of people eat what theyve been brought up on and really think they cannot ever like healthy food and think their kids wont eat it. Its not true and if you start giving them it when they are very young they will love it.
The �200 will help those who are on a low income and who want to eat healthy when pregnant. I did struggle then as i was only given �40 a week to live on and i was so hungry all the time! But i'm sure there will be some who will spend it on other things. There will also be those who dont actually need the money as well.
It would probably be a better idea to give it in vouchers for healthy food, like the ones you get when on income support and you have child under 4 if they want to be sure it will be spent on that. But i dont think its a bad idea.