America (and San Diego County) has some nutrition problems: Too many of us are obese. At the same time, too many of us need help staving off hunger. Too many of us are poor. And too many of those who are eligible don't take advantage of federal food assistance (the old food stamps program, which now uses a debit-card system referred to as the Electronic Benefit Transfer card).

So given that set of contrasts, are there any changes we can make that might help?

Here are several things worth thinking about:

First, in his book "In Defense of Food," journalist Michael Pollan (in part) draws a correlation between our consumption of highly processed food and our increased rates of obesity and diabetes ---- the latter two conditions being distinct contributors to the high cost of health care.

For instance, he points out that more and more, high fructose corn syrup shows up in a host of products (such as your favorite carbonated soda). That means more people have access to cheap (and subsidized) calories, but as the phrase "empty" calories connotes, these are calories that don't bring much good in the way of nutrition.

Pollan argues that getting as close to the farmer as a consumer can get is likely to result in a better diet. His advice: "Don’t eat things that your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize." That means things such as Cheezy Whatsits, Instant Glopola and Fatty Meatlike Substance on a Stick.

We agree. We think it's worth encouraging the greater use of local produce markets and less consumption of these highly processed foods including sodas and many snack foods.

A second interesting thing is that the food stamp program debit cards are not accepted at most of our local farmers markets ---- only 15 percent of the 640 or so markets in the state participate in the program.

In moving from paper money to plastic a number of years ago, the food assistance program created a number of difficulties for these markets, which tend to be once-a-week affairs without permanent phone lines, cash registers, etc. The debit card needs a machine reader connected to a phone line or wireless network to work. The machine, lines and transaction fees all add to the operating costs that some medium to small markets couldn't support.

One solution would be for either the markets or the county to issue scrip or vouchers to those in the program ---- rather like re-creating the old paper food stamps. Another might be for counties to subsidize the markets' equipment costs as part of their effort to help their citizens needing nutritional assistance.

And last, while we're on the subject, wouldn't it make sense to restrict the food assistance benefit only to whole and nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables?

Let's chew that over for a while.