Swamped by a Paucity of Nutritious Choices: A Deep Dive into Food Deserts
Residing in an Area Devoid of Nutritious Food Affects Nearly 19 Million Americans: Understanding Food Deserts
Let's cut the crap and talk about the real deal: millions of Americans living in food deserts. These aren't your typical barren wastelands. Instead, they're areas lacking reliable access to quality, affordable, unprocessed meals, making healthy eating a luxury rather than a basic right.
Due to increased obesity rates in the United States linked to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, understanding how food deserts impact our diets is crucial. While personal habits play a role, access to nutritious grub is key in shaping these habits and fuelling obesity [1].
What's a Food Desert?
Simply put, food deserts are neighborhoods that lack a full-service grocery store or large supermarket. The USDA Economic Research Service defines these communities as "low-income and low-access" [2]. Here's the breakdown: areas with a poverty rate of 20% or higher and a median family income below 80% of the area's average are considered low-income. Additionally, if at least 500 people or 33% of residents live more than a mile from a supermarket in urban settings or over 10 miles in rural ones, the area is classified as a food desert [2].
Where Do Food Deserts Crop Up Most Often?
In 2008, the United States Congress tasked the USDA with mapping out food deserts and their effects on our health. The research revealed that the majority of food deserts target low-income neighborhoods and predominantly affect Black and Hispanic communities. This is the result of factors like gentrification, deindustrialization, disinvestment, redlining, and corporate food systems that prioritize profits over access [3].
Field Studies: Food Deserts in Hartford, Connecticut
Let's analyze a specific case, Hartford, Connecticut, where food access issues have been extensively examined. Despite having supermarkets and farmers' markets, they are mostly found in wealthier, white neighborhoods. Consequently, full-service grocery stores have become rare in Hartford's low-income areas and predominantly Black communities. This phenomenon is known as supermarket redlining, where large grocery chains avoid or leave low-income, primarily African American and Hispanic neighborhoods [3].
Food Apartheid, Food Insecurity, and Food Swamps: Shedding Light on Food Inequality
While we mentioned the term "food desert," you may have encountered others in conversations related to food inequality: food apartheid, food insecurity, and food swamps. We'll briefly outline their definitions:
- Food Apartheid: Coined by food and racial-justice advocates, this term highlights the systematic segregation and marginalization that underlies food deserts.
- Food Insecurity: A broad term that refers to households or individuals with limited or inconsistent access to enough nutritious food to support their health.
- Food Swamps: Neighborhoods with an abundance of unhealthy food options, despite the lack of nutritious ones.
The Health Impact of Food Deserts
Food is a significant driver of obesity rates in the United States. Studies show that socioeconomic status and educational level are strong predictors of dietary habits, with food deserts exacerbating these disparities. Without access to nutritious grub and knowledge about nutrition and health outcomes, people often opt for cheaper, less healthy options, which can lead to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. On top of that, these communities frequently face medication access issues, creating a vicious cycle [1].
Surviving a Food Desert: Practical Strategies
Living in a food desert poses real challenges for healthy eating, but there are ways to make the most of limited resources:
- Incorporate plant-based foods: Opt for frozen or canned vegetables without added salt or sugar, preferring frozen fruits for affordability and longevity.
- Find protein sources: Protein-rich foods like canned tuna, eggs, and dry beans can keep you fuller longer and help support muscle maintenance.
- Minimize processed foods: Opt for the least-processed options you can find. Choose whole-grain bread or brown rice over their refined counterparts, and drink water instead of sugary drinks for weight management.
- Buy in bulk: If possible, purchase shelf-stable items like brown rice, beans, lentils, or oats in bulk for cost savings and longer shelf life.
- Utilize convenience stores creatively: If there's no full grocery store nearby, many corner stores offer affordable snacks and meal options like hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, canned soups, or nuts.
- Grow what you can: If you have access to a community garden or some outdoor space, grow your own herbs or vegetables to reduce your reliance on processed grub.
- Tap into local food initiatives: Some farmers' markets or urban farms accept SNAP benefits, making fresh produce more accessible for low-income families. Explore sliding-scale options or partnerships with food banks to access fresh food.
- Lean on local food banks and pantries: Some food banks collaborate with local farms and grocery stores to provide fresh food, dairy, and meat. Some also offer "healthy food boxes" with fresh produce and meal kits.
Combating Food Deserts: Actions for Those Outside Them
Addressing food deserts requires more than providing food. If you don't reside in a food desert, consider the following to help level the playing field:
- Share surplus food: Donate excess food to local shelters or food banks to reduce waste and help reduce food insecurity.
- Participate in gleaning programs: Some farms and organizations collect leftover crops to distribute to those in need. If there's a gleaning program in your area, volunteer to fight hunger and waste.
- Support food banks and local food pantries: Donating money, food, or your time to food banks helps expand their work. Offer financial support, food donations, or volunteer your time based on your circumstances.
- Volunteer and advocate for policy change: Support policies that address food insecurity and reduce barriers to healthy food access, such as zoning changes for grocery stores in underserved areas or supporting food justice initiatives. You can also volunteer for programs.
Tackling food deserts goes beyond policy reforms and individual actions. It requires addressing the underlying systems that create and perpetuate inequality and working together to build sustainable, equitable food systems to benefit all residents [4].
Resources Connected to Food Justice Solutions:
- Double Up Food Bucks
- AmpleHarvest.org
- National Black Food & Justice Alliance
- Wholesome Wave
- WhyHunger
- Food First
- Community Food Advocates
- Healthy Food America
- Food Policy Networks at Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
- National Right to Food Community of Practice
- Chef Ann Foundation
- Roots of Change
Stay informed, get involved, and lend a helping hand to overcome food deserts in our communities. After all, everyone deserves equal access to healthful food.
[1] USDA. (n.d.). Impact on health & public health. Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-access/food-deserts/[2] USDA. (2021). Data & maps. Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/[3] USDA. (n.d.). Causes of food deserts. Retrieved from https://www.aicr.org/cancer-prevention/nutrition/meal-planning/food-deserts.html[4] Ryan, B. M. (2017). Food deserts, food swamps, and the food environment: implications for obesity prevention and health equity. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1390(1), 61-76. Retrieved from https://www.annalsnyas.org/doi/10.1111/nyas.13599
- Access to fitness and exercise facilities, science-backed nutrition resources, and sustainable food-and-drink options are essential for combating obesity and improving overall health, especially in food deserts, where residents often lack access to healthy, unprocessed food.
- In the context of food deserts, understanding the importance of nutrition and making informed decisions about food-and-drink choices becomes critical for managing weight and promoting health and wellness, particularly when faced with limited options for fresh produce and whole grains.
- Fitness and exercise, coupled with science-supported nutrition practices, played a vital role in weight management, yet without access to healthy food choices, people living in food deserts often turn to quick fixes like fast food or unhealthy snacks, exacerbating weight issues and contributing to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
