A few years ago, I had my students do a persuasive writing unit on hunger in Massachusetts. They had to research facts, etc. to get the information for the essay. Their job was to persuade their legislator that we needed to refund the bill that provides money for food programs for low income people. In the course of this unit, i learned a lot. One year, I took about 10 students on the Walk for Hunger and we walked 11 of the 20 miles, raising about $1,000.00 in a very short time.
It was an eye opening experience for me; even when I was single and living paycheck to paycheck, I would never skimp on food. I probably spent way too much on fresh fruit and vegetables, because tis was the way I was used to eating. I guess the whole learning experience made me more tolerant of what I see others putting in their grocery carts.