How can we make affordable food more accessible to people in poor neighborhoods?

Make Healthy Food Affordable and Accessible

1. Establish a Food Policy Council.
2. Increase enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
3. Support the sale of local foods across the community by offering incentives and encouraging the establishment of farmers’ markets.

What’s the phrase for areas with lots of people that lack stores selling fresh foods like fruits vegetables and eggs?

Some researchers have used the term ‘food swamp’ to characterize neighborhoods with an abundance of small stores.”

How do you eat healthy if you live in a food desert?

Tips for getting nutritious food in a food desert

1. Choose frozen produce. Studies show that frozen produce has the same nutritional quality as fresh produce.
2. Load up on pantry staples.
3. Make big-batch stews.
4. Preserve your food.
5. Seek out community gardens.
6. Make your own kitchen scrap garden.
7. Share your story.

How could we improve access to healthy food in our community?

There are numerous ways to think about increasing neighborhood access to healthy foods. These could include developing and promoting local policies, developing nutrition programs, establishing new locations for offering healthy foods, etc.

How can we improve healthy eating?

Bring partners together to:

1. Assist small retailers with purchasing healthy foods at lower costs by using cooperative buying agreements.
2. Link local food hubs to organizations that sell or serve food in low-income communities.
3. Share how partners overcome barriers to healthy food access.

Does everyone have access to healthy food?

Many Americans lack regular access to healthy, affordable foods. Supermarkets provide the most reliable access to nutritious and affordable produce, and their presence is an important indicator of a community’s physical health and economic vitality.

What does a lack of access to good food mean for the health of the American family?

For many Americans, the ability to access grocery stores that sell healthy food is a non-issue. The Food Trust reports that more than 39 million Americans are affected by the “grocery gap,” which contributes to levels of obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases that are higher than average.

What are possible solutions for helping people who live in food deserts gain access to fresh fruits and vegetables?

Community-based solutions to improve access to affordable, healthy foods in food deserts include local markets, community gardens, surplus food sharing programs, federal food assistance programs, and food pantries.

How can we fix food deserts?

Food Desert Solutions

1. Establish bus stop farmers markets.
2. Support community gardens.
3. Improve public transportation options.
4. Implement dollar store restrictions.
5. Consider food co-ops, nonprofits, and government-run supermarkets.

Why are neighborhoods at risk for food insecurity?

Residents are at risk for food insecurity in neighborhoods where transportation options are limited, the travel distance to stores is greater, and there are fewer supermarkets. Lack of access to public transportation or a personal vehicle limits access to food.

What are the strategies related to food access?

The strategies related to food access include a mobile farmer’s market that sells locally grown produce and accepts SNAP benefits, community gardens and park improvements, and a strong coalition of committed community members representing multiple sectors, including government, business, health care, and school districts.

What are the barriers to accessing healthy foods?

“Barriers to accessing healthy foods include: lack of transportation, finances, time in regards to store hours, weather, and food deserts and availability of nutrient-dense foods within a reasonable proximity.”

Why don’t low-income families buy healthy foods?

Because healthy foods often cost more than junk foods, many low-income families simply don’t make enough money to purchase them regularly.