Food Deserts

With the amount of people currently staying home and ordering takeout in place of eating out, you might have taken time to wonder about the types of foods available to you.

Unfortunately, depending on where one lives, the food options may not be the healthiest, and in some cases the area can be classified as a food desert.

The American Heart Association graphic below broadly explains a food desert as an area in which there is a lack of access to healthy food at an affordable price.

Although the exact cut-off regions between a recognized food desert or not can change depending on how they are defined, those living without proper food access can experience negative impacts on physical health such as type two diabetes and obesity.

These circumstances tend to impact low-income, minority, and rural populations more than others but are also not limited to these groups.

Having limited access and being unable to afford what healthy foods may be available can combine and drastically reduce diets to whatever is available, such as popular fast food chains that seem to be everywhere.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, those with lack of transportation or who may live far from typical stores are even more limited because they cannot easily leave their surrounding area to go and purchase healthier foods, or go and pick up more nutritious takeout.

HealthyPeople.gov analyzes deeper issues with inconsistent food access, citing that Hispanic and black neighborhoods tend to be more likely to not have as many chain grocery stores and, in extension, less food variety in comparison to neighborhoods with different demographics.

However, no matter the demographic, this restricted access can ultimately lead to unhealthy eating patterns that reinforce health disparities like those previously mentioned. More pressingly, it can also reinforce structural inequalities that contribute to these demographic differences.

Also, these behaviors can be learned by children that can also develop health issues that could become dangerous. Because of this, being aware of challenges and groups associated with food access may help us see when it might be time to advocate for change.

More information and links to the graphics!

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/access-to-foods-that

https://www.comptonchamberofcommerce.org/greater-compton-region-food-desert

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Advocate/VoicesforHealthyKids/Food-DesertsInfographic_UCM_475874_SubHomePage.jsp?appName=MobileApp

What do you think?

Let us know here.

1. What are some steps you can take to help populations in need have better food access?

2. What are some creative ways you know how to navigate spaces with limited healthy foods? (This can be a simple but healthy recipe, a tip to make foods last longer, etc.)

Spotlight Writer

Erika Mendez, Fundraising Director

Hi! I’m a third-year from central California majoring in Psychology and Social Behavior and Public Health Sciences! Last year I was an intern for Habitat and joined the board this year as Fundraising Director. I’m currently spending lots of time on Canvas, Zoom, and Netflix, but when the world is as open as it can be I like to run, and go to bookstores and on coffee trips! I hope you’re all having a great quarter!