Healthy Food in Neighborhoods
Healthy choices start with healthy options
Healthy children and healthy communities require access to nutritious foods. Unfortunately, many neighborhoods today, particularly those in urban and rural communities, do not have access to affordable, high quality, healthy foods. These areas are known as food deserts.
Lack of access to healthy foods significantly impacts the health of children and their families and increases obesity rates across the age spectrum. Because of the significant ways in which access to healthy foods can affect residents' health and quality of life, communities are battling food deserts on many fronts.
One approach is to bring grocery stores to underserved communities. Local, state and federal initiatives are gaining support by focusing on the health benefits and economic development that a store can bring to a community, improving the quality of life for all of its residents. If a full-service grocery store is out of reach or isn't economically feasible, neighborhoods may choose to work with existing corner stores to encourage them to provide fresh produce and healthy staples.
Another approach to improving access to healthy foods is establishing a farmer's market. These markets provide the opportunity for community members to sell and purchase the best in fresh, local produce. Communities around the country are also helping low-income residents shop at farmer's markets by encouraging vendors to accept SNAP (food stamp) and WIC benefits.
A community garden or urban farm can also serve a neighborhood. Growers can establish CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs, co-ops, or farm stands that allow community members to purchase their products.
Whatever the approach, making healthy foods accessible is an essential part of the fight against childhood obesity.
Case Studies
This national program supports efforts in underserved communities to increase availability of healthy, affordable food in small neighborhood stores where they would otherwise be unavailable.
The establishment of the Rosedale Farmer's Market in Kansas City, Kansas, has brought a vital source of fresh, affordable, local foods to the neighborhood, energizing efforts to eat healthy.