Calling All Schwan's...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
April 26, 2008 9:26am CST
There’s a company that I’ve known about for a long time. It’s called Schwan’s. It’s a refrigerated truck that comes around and sells food to ppl. The food is mostly pre-prepared and you just heat it in the oven. They also carry ice cream, juices, and full meals.
My Dad used to buy from them all the time when we were kids and they do have very high quality stuff. It’s also at a very high quality price. My oldest Brother still buys from them. I used to but I found that I could make a lot of the dishes myself at home for about half what they were selling them for. Although I do love their corn bites. A foster kid we used have, her parents would buy their food off the Schwan’s truck and feed the kids Mac and cheese and hotdogs…that would tick me off.
I also found out that they now accept food stamps. This bothers me. I think it’s wasteful. It would be like paying for Pizza Hut with food stamps. I think that if ppl can afford to pay the high prices for this specialty food then they can afford not to be on food stamps. Maybe I’m being mean but it just seems so wasteful.
Have you ever bought off Schwan’s? What’s your favorite item? Do you think they should accept food stamps? Do you think their worth it?
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
18 people like this
52 responses
@jennifer611 (2514)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I've bought from Schwans in the past but yes, they are pretty pricey which really turns me away from going to them any more.
one of my favorite things is their chicken drummies, I'm really picky when it comes to wing dings and those are so good.
but I feel like you don't get your money's worth. they charge so much and it's such a small quantity.
as far as the food stamps go, I say it's pretty expensive for someone to spend their food stamps there because like I said, you don't get much.
and with food stamps, they are supposed to last the whole month and when shopping there I don't see how someone could really make their food last that long..
I don't think it's that "they can afford those prices", if they could I doubt they'd be paying with food stamps.
a lot of the dishes I see on there, I think I could just go to a regular store and pick up items and make the same dish, and spend less and have it go a lot further.
were a family of 5 (and one on the way) and I see hardly anything on there that would feed us all.
also, with their recipes, if I see something that looks good, I can use the recipe but buy the items at a regular grocery store.
7 people like this
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
26 Apr 08
Foodstamp rules differ from state to state! When I lived in Pennsylvania, we did indeed get enough stamps to last a month, if we were very careful! When we got to California, the program is so different you would not believe it! Here, the program is based on the idea that everyone is recieving section eight housing assistance, even if they are not! I could not understand how I was supposed to feed one child and myself on ninety dollars a month in foodstamps! I was practically laughed at by the workers as I nearly cried trying to figure it out! They said I still had two hundred dollars left after paying my rent, but my rent was four hundred dollars a month and I was receiving four hundred and ninety-eight dollars in asssistance, so I could not figure that out until they told me the whole rent was not counted, only a "rental allowance"! So it was as if they only counted what a person would pay if they were receiving section eight! The weirdest part was wehn we did start receiving section eight, our foodstamps went way up! Now we do not get section eight or cash assistance, only our disability and veteran's pension, so we get foodstamps but it is definitely not supposed to last a month! The county tells us we should pay two hundred dollars a month in cash for food, then use the foodstamps for the rest of it. They even figure in school meals, which the kids do not even eat most of the time because it tastes so bad!
6 people like this
@Ricardosan (215)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Never heard of Schwans before. But I do like the icecream truck...lol.
2 people like this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I have bought from Schwan's before but I haven't in a few years now. They do have some wonderful food. My daughter lives in a very small town that has one grocery store and she travels over 20 miles to do her main weekly grocery shopping and for a while she would order a few things from them. In the summer time she would order a few treats since ice cream and frozen treats like that would melt before she finished her errands and got the groceries back home. I don't have any one favorite of theirs, I have many. hahaha
I agree with you about the food stamps, look at how much food they could buy at the grocery store with what they spend at Schwan's. It is the same as when they used to allow food stamps at restaurant and fast food places. They stopped that so they need to stop it at Schwan's.
7 people like this
@ldybgsgma99 (798)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I am sorry to say but I live on food stamps. And there is no way I would use them to buy from Schwanns. I have to buy enough food to last me for an entire month with what little food stamps that I get and there is no way it would stretch that far with Schwanns. I go to Aldi's or Save-A-Lot and I still have trouble getting it to stretch at those places. My son would love to have a pizza but that is a luxury and we can't afford those.
7 people like this
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I go to a place similar to Aldi's, called Grocery Outlet, as my kids get foodstamps, but my friend gets foodstamps for her grandson and she says she can buy most of her food from Schwan's! She lives in another county now, so I guess that has something to do with it!
5 people like this
@schilds (410)
• United States
26 Apr 08
Well - I buy from schwans every 2 weeks when he comes around. I don't buy alot, but I usually buy an ice cream and some juice -- I love their non frozen juice concentrates. They come in little cartons and can go in the cupboard, then you dont have to thaw them to make them. A box of six little cartons makes 3 gallons of juice for around $5. Not a great buy, but the convinience makes it worth it to me. As far as taking food stamps, they aren't doing anything wrong. Technically what they sell is a grocery - even if it is a high priced grocery. It's not different than allowing someone to buy a $10/lb prime rib at the grocery store instead of a $2/lb rump roast.
7 people like this
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
26 Apr 08
Hi Twoey Well first off no they shouldn't be letting anyone use foodstamps to buy food from there trucks, Most of it isn't really all that healthy anyway mainly the ice cream... Although they say you can buy it.. Personally I think that truck is just to high for me.. About two months ago I wanted to buy from them but it's so expensive I didn't... Instead went to the store and bought.. And yes most of the food that they sell there you can make it yourself not to mention if you really want it going to the store and in the frozen bake area and just get it for 5.00 less than what the truck sells it for... However They need to sell these things high price due to the fact of gas and actually hauling this stuff every day all over the world.. But I won't ever buy from these people again just because they are to high in price!
6 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I have never bought from Schwans. I couldn't afford to buy from them. The food is convenient but expensive. I do recall someone saying that you could use food stamps to purchase food from them. I never quite understood that one. I like convenience foods, but why pay such outrageous prices for items you can prepare at home for much less.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
26 Apr 08
NO I have never heard of them, and if they were pricey I wouldn't be able to afford them. I don't understand food stamps for a place like this but if someone could not make their own food, disabled or whatever then maybe it would be okay.
4 people like this
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
26 Apr 08
They do have a website! You can buy three pizzas for ten dollars! There are a few dinners that do not cost that much, just most of it is precooked and ready to heat and eat! You would not believe how many younger Americans have no idea how to cook! All we need is vinegar, oil, some fruit and vegetables as well as protein!
3 people like this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I used to buy from Schwan's but stopped cause I just can't afford it. My money stretches alot further buy just making my own. I was on food stamps for a while and did use some of it to buy a special treat from them but that was it. Food stamps is just like money for food and again, can go alot further shopping at Aldi's. They shouldn't accept food stamps because then the ppl that use them won't have enough to last them till next month if they shop from Schwan's. I never had a fave from them.
6 people like this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I do occasionally buy from the Schwan's truck here and I will say that some of the stuff is a little pricey,but it is always good! I love the ice cream and they have the best Blue Hake fish that I have ever eaten!
As far as the food stamps go, I don't feel that it should be against any rules for them to use them on the food there as long as they are buying food with them and feeding their kids. I see so many people on food stamps buying very expensive meats at the store that I work in and there is not anything more expensive on the truck than those. If people want to spend their money to have a really nice meal, that is their business. They know what they need to make it through the month and if they wasted it and go hungry, it is there fault. I don't think it is up to any of us to judge how they use their money.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I don't think I would likely find anybody who wants other people to put restrictions on what they buy at the store or how they spend what they have. Because of this, I don't think there will ever be any guidelines put in place to control this - it wouldn't be fair to anybody.
4 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
26 Apr 08
We used to have one come around here, but I never bought anything off them, too expensive..I guess the other people thought it was too much too, because I haven't seen them in years..
6 people like this
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I have bought food from Schwan's! I think they should accept foodstamps. Not everything they sell is high priced. We buy the fruit and juice as well as the pizzas! You have to be careful what you buy no matter where you shop! Some people do not have cars and you must add that to your shopping trip costs if you do drive to the store. Some kids only want to eat mac and cheese and hot dogs! You can still get a full meal for about ten dollars from Schwan's, and that is not that bad! In the stores, it also costs about ten dollars for a meal, depending on how may people you are feeding!
4 people like this
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
26 Apr 08
The foodstamps in California are not supposed to be for lunch and snacks! Maybe not even for breakfast! The kids get that in school, so we do not get foodstamps to cover those meals! I only buy one or two dinners from Schwan's, if that! Usually I buy the fruit and pizzas, sometimes the juices.
2 people like this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
26 Apr 08
That's true. Ten dollars a meal is pretty inexpensive when you think about it, especially if you are feeding more than 4 people or you have teenagers who eat a ton. On the short end, that would be $70 a week for dinners... that's still $350+ a month just on food, not including breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Sheesh. lol!
4 people like this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
26 Apr 08
I love the Schwans man and some of their stuff is very reasonably priced. The high priced stuff tends to be the already prepared food but the frozen veggies, potatoes and potato products, fruits and many ice creams are very reasonable when you compare to even the low quality cheapie stores.
As for someone using their food stamps to purchase their food, my personal opinion is that just because they have food stamps doesn't make them any less of a person. At least they're feeding their kids, unlike many who have food stamps and sell them off, leaving the children hungry. Is it cost efficient? Probably not. But I will say I'd rather see them buying some type of food as opposed to none and sometimes these people have no transportation also, so it's tough to get to the store. Perhaps it's not the smartest way but nobody is perfect. I can spend your money a lot smarter than you can any day, right? I can't judge someone for at least feeding them, even if it is expensive and the same stuff over and over.
3 people like this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
26 Apr 08
Well I think for some it is because they cant get to the store or are elderly and cant cook easily for themselves.
4 people like this
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
26 Apr 08
We dont have that here.. I've never even heard of it. but i would find it hard to believe those people need foodstamps if they are willing to waste them on high priced meals rather then buy 5 meals for the price of that one meal off the truck. That's just silly. . but alas.. there have been times when i have gone the same route.. well not quite.. but similarly, Have 20 bucks to my name and be too lazy to walk to the store and make and cook a meal so i order pizza.. i'm bad. . But i always have SOMETHING in the cubard to make or else i wouldnt have wasted the 20.. even if it is n't the most desirable meal!
4 people like this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
26 Apr 08
Oh, it has been years since we bought anything from them. When the kids were young we used to buy a lot of stuff but I cant even remember what we bought. I think about it every time I see one of the trucks go by.
4 people like this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
26 Apr 08
We had the Schwan's trucks here in London, Ontario for a few years when I first moved here 10 years ago. I love their foods! But you're right... the cost was outrageous for some things. As far as I know they aren't here anymore. At least not in my area.
Many of the products were similar to what M&M meat shops offer, so I would do some comparison shopping. But my favourite product to get from them were their mozzerella sticks! YUM!!! Toss them in the oven, and they came out just like the deep fried ones at restaurants. I really enjoyed their ice cream (mint chocolate chip always being my favourite). My father used to really like their frozen breads that you would thaw and bake yourself, and would buy their mini pizzas for himself and my oldest son Andrew to share for lunches.
I don't agree with them accepting food stamps, because although the quality is supreme, they also offer a LOT of "junk" food (like the ice cream and mozz sticks).
4 people like this
