You may have heard the term "Food Desert" to describe certain areas of the nation, both rural and urban. You may even live in one of those areas yourself. A food desert is an area that has a distinct lack of access to fresh foods, especially produce. If your area has at least a 20% poverty rate and you live in an urban area and have to travel more than a mile, or are rural and have to travel more than 10 miles, you are probably living in a food desert.
While doing research for this new series, I came across lots of websites that explain what a food desert is, but not what to do if you live in one. Site after site described food desert areas, but none offered real, usable advice for those living in a food desert. There is a very real lack of information for the family that is overworked, underpaid and living in a place with little to no access to fresh food. I hope by doing this series we can share concrete ways to eat as healthy as possible using the resources we have available to us.
The two most annoying tips I kept seeing over and over in the few places that did try to offer some advice were to find a farmer's market and to start a garden. I have never seen a farmer's market in a low income neighborhood. They are always set up on the edge of ritzy neighborhoods where soccer moms can drive up to it, grab a coffee or bubble tea and wander around looking at all the beautiful food. The tip to start your own garden only works for those who have access to dirt. I absolutely advocate for growing your own food, even if just in a pot on your balcony, but this advice is just so unrealistic for all those living in rentals and apartments with no access to balconies or ground. Even having a balcony doesn't guarantee you can grow something if you are on the wrong side of the building. Also, neither of these pieces of advice take into account a lot of the factors that go along with living in a food desert at all, one depends on having good transportation and the other needs access to your own ground and time. All three of those things are in short or nonexistent supply in an economically disadvantage area. It was quite disheartening to have these unhelpful tips come up over and over when what I really needed were tips on how to eat healthy with the foods you actually have access too.
I did manage to find one website put out by Dignity Health Medical Center that actually included a few other ideas. I copied and pasted their tips below:
There are a number of ways you can ensure that you're eating a healthful, balanced diet if you live in a place where you have to make the most out of the rare grocery store trip:
- Buy fresh when you can. If fresh produce is on sale, stock up! Root vegetables can be stored in a cold, dry place -- such as the refrigerator or an unheated basement -- for months.
- Buy frozen produce. Frozen fruits and vegetables are fantastic choices for those living within food deserts. The freezing process maintains nutritional value and you can store the produce for months.
- Take a multivitamin. If you think you may not be eating enough fruits or vegetables, start taking a multivitamin with minerals to ensure you're getting the vitamins and minerals you need.
- Choose the right packaged foods. By reading food labels, you can make healthier packaged food choices. Look for foods that have no more than 600 milligrams of sodium and 12 grams of sugar per serving.\
I am excited by this new series and look forward to any comments you want to share. Do you live in a food desert? What tips do you have for eating healthy? Favorite recipes? Have you ever tried having groceries delivered or ordered food online? Share your tips here!
Pasta with Tomatoes and White Beans
- 8 ounces of uncooked pasta
- 2 cans Italian Diced Tomatoes, do not drain
- 1 can Canellini Beans, or other white beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 can Spinach or other greens, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon of Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
- 1/2 cup of Parmesean Cheese
Comments
Post a Comment