Food deserts: Definition, effects, and solutions
Food deserts are areas in which individuals have limited access to nutritious and inexpensive food due to geographical limitations. This might be due to a lack of financial resources or the need to go further to locate nutritious meal alternatives. People who live in food deserts may be at increased risk for diet-related illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease because they lack access to nutritious foods. Multiple government agencies are currently sponsoring efforts to prevent regions from becoming food deserts as well as to enhance people’s access to food in areas that have already been declared food deserts by the USDA.
Areas where individuals have limited access to a range of nutritious foods are referred to as food deserts.
The USDA defines a food desert as an area where the poverty rate is greater than or equal to 20 percent, or where the median family income does not exceed 80 percent of the median family income in urban areas, or 80 percent of the statewide median family income in nonurban areas, as defined by the federal government.
In metropolitan areas, at least 500 persons, or 33 percent of the population, must reside more than one mile from the nearest big food store in order for the requirement to be met.
Between 2000 and 2006, the USDA identified approximately 6,500 food deserts.
11.5 million of these persons have poor incomes, making about a quarter of the total.
- Populations that are either extremely huge or extremely sparse
- Low income
- Significant levels of unemployment
- Insufficient access to transportation
- A small number of food shops that provide fresh produce at a reasonable price
The survey also points out that rural areas in the Western, Midwest, and Southern regions of the United States are far more likely than rural areas in the Northeast to be classified as food deserts. This may be due to the fact that rural regions in the Northeast tend to be closer to metropolitan areas where food shops may be found. According to the analysis, rural regions with expanding people may be at a lesser risk of becoming food deserts in the near future. Experts have not yet achieved a consensus on the features of the populations who live in food deserts, which is a significant problem.
Researchers have found that some low-income districts have a higher number of food stores and that they reside closer to these stores than persons from wealthier backgrounds, according to the analysis.
It is the absence of mobility in rural regions that is the most important predictor of food insecurity.
Furthermore, because experts have not established a consensus on the features of communities impacted by food deserts, additional study is required.
Such analyses may aid policymakers in identifying places that are at danger of becoming food deserts, allowing them to put in place measures to improve access to nutritious foods. Maintaining a nutritious diet entails the following steps:
- Consuming a diverse range of foods from all dietary categories while keeping calorie consumption under control, minimizing intake of saturated and trans fatty acids, added sweets, and excess salt is recommended.
Foods that are considered healthy by the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans include the following ingredients:
- A range of fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Fat-free or low-fat dairy products
- Protein-rich meals, such as:
- Seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes, nuts and seeds, and soy products are all good choices.
It is possible that people who live in food deserts have restricted access to supermarkets and other food shops that sell nutritious and reasonably priced items. Healthful meals are sometimes available in convenience stores and tiny grocery stores; nevertheless, they are frequently out of reach for persons on a fixed budget. People who live in food deserts may consequently be more reliant on food merchants or fast food restaurants that offer a more cheap but limited choice of items to supplement their diet.
As a result, diet-related diseases such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease might occur more frequently.
- Obesity is on the rise, as is the prevalence of diabetes, as are other weight-related diseases, particularly in youngsters.
Numerous food deserts also have limited or costly access to health-care resources. In turn, this has a detrimental impact on the health of the individuals who live in these neighborhoods. People use a variety of phrases to express the availability of food to a community. Other instances are discussed in greater detail in the sections that follow.
Food swamps
A food swamp is defined as a place that gives ample access to nutritious and inexpensive food while also providing an oversupply of less nutritious food alternatives. Food swamps are more widespread than food deserts in Canadian metropolitan areas, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
Food mirages
A food mirage is a term used to describe a situation in which individuals live in close proximity to grocery shops that provide a range of nutritious foods but are unable to buy such goods. As a result, people must go further to acquire nutritious foods that are also within their financial means.
Food insecurity
Food insecurity is defined as having restricted or insecure access to food as a result of a lack of financial resources. Families and individuals with limited financial resources may find it difficult to buy nutritious diets. In the United States, policymakers are actively seeking ways to enhance access to nutritious meals in food deserts around the country. The Community Food Programs Competitive Grant Program provides funding for long-term food projects that assist low-income communities in gaining access to nutritious and culturally appropriate diets and lifestyles.
Among the concerns that the Community Food Projects hope to solve are the following:
- Increasing the availability of nutritious, locally sourced meals by implementing the following strategies:
- Affordably priced grocery stores and marketplaces, as well as backyard and community gardens, as well as food aid programs
- Encouraging healthy eating habits by providing education and training on food production, preparation, and nutrition
- Enrolling eligible residents in government nutrition programs
- Increasing access to local farmers markets
- Promoting safe and fair farm worker conditions
- Supporting sustainable agricultural practices that protect the environment, water supply, and habitats
- Assisting food industry entrepreneurs
- Celebrating and honoring diverse food cultures
- Encouraging resiliency in the face of adversity
The term “food desert” refers to a region where people lack access to nutritious foods. They are a huge problem that affects millions of individuals in the United States and throughout the world. According to experts, those who live in a food desert are at a higher risk of developing obesity, diabetes, and other weight-related diseases.
Community Food Projects are attempting to enhance food systems in areas that are considered food deserts. The overall goal of the organization is to assist in increasing inhabitants’ access to nutritious foods.
Food Deserts*
In recognition of the problem with the term “food desert,” which according to the USDA is defined primarily by proximity to food providers without taking into account other factors such as racism, cost of living, people being time and cash poor, cultural appropriateness of available foods, people’s ability to grow their own foods and so on, the Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.) has developed a model that takes into account all of these factors.
- Food Apartheid and Food Oppression are more appropriate phrases, according to the Food and Environment Project, but because food desert is the term that is most widely used, we have chosen to use it as our title.
- The Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture recently issued a report for Congress that found that 2.3 million persons (or 2.2 percent of all US families) live more than one mile distant from a supermarket and do not have access to a vehicle.
- However, economic forces have driven grocery stores out of many cities in recent years, making them so few and far between that a single person’s food shopping trip may require taking multiple buses or trains.
- As demonstrated by the Food Empowerment Project’s study, “Shining a Light on the Valley of Heart’s Delight(PDF),” it is easy to ignore towns that are located in food deserts when depending solely on statistics gathered by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Thus, a municipality with no supermarket and just two corner grocery stores that sell booze and food would be considered to have two retail food outlets, even though the variety of foods served may be relatively restricted and consist primarily of fast food.” Residents of food deserts may also have difficulty locating foods that are culturally appropriate for them, and dietary restrictions, such as lactose intolerance, gluten allergies, and other food sensitivities, may limit the food options available to those who do not have access to larger chain stores that offer a wider variety of foods and ingredients.
In addition, research have indicated that urban residents who shop for food at small neighborhood businesses spend between 3 and 37 percent more than suburbanites who shop for the same things at supermarkets, depending on the commodity.
For example, whereas the total price of fruits and vegetables in the United States climbed by over 75% between 1989 and 2005, the overall price of fatty meals decreased by more than 26% during the same period.
While unhealthy eating may be more cost-effective in the short term, the long-term consequences of limited access to healthy foods are one of the primary reasons that ethnic minorities and low-income populations have statistically higher rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other diet-related conditions than the general population in the United States.
Only twenty years ago, type 2 diabetes was almost unknown among those under the age of 40.
Among recent years, the incidence of type 2 diabetes has increased across all demographic groups; however, the highest increases have been seen in black and brown populations.
These are also the populations that are most likely to live in food deserts, and studies have shown a clear link between food insecurity and an increase in the number of people who develop diabetes.
In order to explain this discrepancy, researchers emphasize that the high-calorie foods that are most readily available in food deserts put residents living in these areas at greater risk for diabetes in the first place, and that having limited access to healthy foods also makes it more difficult for them to manage diabetes once they are diagnosed with the disease.
One of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease is a diet rich in unhealthy fats and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is characterised by the sorts of food that are typically accessible in food desert areas.
As a result of the higher incidence of obesity in food desert regions, even children and adolescents living in those areas are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (both now and when they reach maturity), according to the American Heart Association.
As part of the “Let’s Move” campaign to address childhood obesity, First Lady Michelle Obama has set a goal of eliminating food deserts by 2017, with a $400 million government investment centered on granting tax benefits to supermarkets that establish in low-income neighborhoods as a part of the program.
Chicago– In food deserts, more than 500,000 persons (most of whom are African-American) live, and an additional 400,000 live in communities where there are a disproportionate number of fast food businesses and no grocery stores nearby.
Along with offering fresh and organic fruits and vegetables, bulk whole grains and beans, and soy-based meat substitutes, some of these stores (such as Fresh Family Foods, located on the city’s South Side) also provide cooking and nutrition classes to educate the public about making nutritious food choices.
- Because fewer fast food restaurants were available, there was a greater demand for more and better food options.
- So far, these measures have been successful in bringing the first new grocery to South L.A.
- New York City is a city that has a lot of things to offer.
- Increased rents and shrinking profit margins have caused supermarkets throughout New York City to close in recent years.
- Since 2008, the city has been operating its Green Carts initiative, which has been distributing inexpensive fresh fruits and vegetables to impoverished communities while also offering employment opportunities for vendor participants.
- What can I do if I live in an area where there is no access to food?
- To begin, it’s a good idea to talk about alternative choices, such as producing your own food or collaborating with local businesses to provide healthy, vegan meals.
You can also contact out to others who have worked on this subject if you want to learn more.
The Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture published a report in 2009 titled Bryan provided this information on August 25, 2017.
“Neighborhood features linked with the location of food shops and food service establishments,” by K., S.
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine published its first issue in January 2002, with pages 23-29.
(Robert D.) (editor).
173.ttp: The following URL: https://books.google.com/books?id=NAcmSchlTOYC pg=PA173 lpg=PA173 dq=It+has–been+shown.
The date is June 12, 2008.
The LaSalle Bank commissioned the research.
” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2 diabetes: Causes.” CDC National Center for Health Statistics.
and Mortality.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2011 Diabetes Fact Sheet from the Mayo Clinic.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The number of newly diagnosed cases of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is increasing among children and teenagers.
According to a report published on December 6, 2017, the number of newly diagnosed cases of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is increasing among children and teenagers.
Basics was accessed on the 6th of December, 2017.” The American Diabetes Association has a website.
“Bringing Healthy Fare to Big-City ‘Food Deserts.’ Diabetes Predictions for December 2009.
and Mortality.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011.
Publications of the Harvard School of Public Health, 2015.
The Office of Minority Health.
lvlid=19(3/05/11) The Office of Minority Health.
Obesity.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report in 2008 titled “Everyone took a stand.” The White House Blog, published on February 20, 2010.
“Examining the Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Chicago,” a research project in which The study was commissioned by LaSalle Bank and completed in 2006.
“Would a Walmart be able to alleviate the food insecurity issues in West Oakland and Nashville?” The Los Angeles Times, 5 October 2010.
Kim.
The New York Times, August 12, 2008.
The New York Times published an article on January 15, 2011.
A report published in The New York Times on March 20, 2009, with the sq=food percent 20deserts st=cse(4/02/11).
“Measuring food deserts in New York City’s low-income areas,” New York City Department of City Planning, 2008.
“Measuring food deserts in New York City’s low-income communities.” Page 697 to 700 in Health Place, March 2011. Vol. 17(2), page 697 to 700. Jeff. “Can other cities follow New York’s lead in introducing vegetable carts into food deserts?” The New York Times published an article on March 11, 2010.
dessert
Pop Culture is a popular topic of conversation in the entertainment industry. The final course of a meal is called a dessert. Cake, ice cream, pudding, or fresh or cooked fruit are all common dessert options in the United States. Dessert is typically served after dinner. Foods traditionally served at the end of a British meal include nuts, fruits and/or dessert wines, while those served at the end of a French meal include fruit, cheese and wine; in both Britain and France, a more elaborate meal would include a sweetcourse that would be served before the dessert offerings.
- Other rich desserts based on eggs, milk, and fruits are also popular among the population.
- Sweet puddings and rich cakes flavored with rosewater, honey, and almonds are available in Indian cuisine.
- The consumption of intricate confections as snacks rather than as part of a meal is common in Japanese and Chinese cultures.
- You’ll find out by taking this quiz.
- On tables adorned with flowers and architectural fancies in sugar and pastry, hundreds of creams, tarts, fruits, cakes, pastries, puddings, jellies, and meringues were served to guests.
- Nicholasy—iStock/Getty Images nicolesy Sweet dessert dishes necessitate the consumption of sweet beverages.
- At the conclusion of the dinner, liqueurs and brandies are available in both sweet and dry varieties.
Groceries were hard to find for millions. Now it’s getting even worse
New York is the capital of the United States (CNN Business) Because of the coronavirus, it has become more difficult for everyone to purchase food and other necessities, particularly under stay-at-home orders, social distance standards, and restricted delivery slots for online grocery delivery services. In fact, millions of individuals in the United States were already battling with food insecurity before to the outbreak of the epidemic, and the situation has only become worse for them since then.
According to the USDA’s most recent data, an estimated 39 million individuals, or 12.8 percent of the population of the United States, resided in “poor income and low access regions” in 2015.
A “significant”portion of the population is considered to dwell in an area if they live more than a mile from the nearest supermarket or grocery shop in urban regions, or more than 10 miles from the nearest supermarket or grocery store in rural areas. At least 20 percent of the population lives in poverty, and the median family income is either less than or equal to 80 percent of the statewide median family income. Despite the fact that the phrase “food desert” has no formal definition, such locations are usually referred to as such.
- Grocery stores have reduced their operation hours as a result of the epidemic.
- Traveling during the epidemic is a source of concern for certain elderly or more vulnerable groups.
- According to statistics from the business Urban Footprint, the number of Georgians who currently live in “food insecure” areas has increased by 69 percent since the outbreak of the pandemic began.
- According to the data, the number of inhabitants living in food insecure areas has increased by 43 percent, 36 percent, and 118 percent in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Kentucky, respectively, as a result of the increase in unemployment.
- 23.5 percent of Baltimore residents resided in a region with inadequate access to healthful foods in 2018, according to the city’s census data.
- As a result, she has been shopping at convenience stores and bodegas, where “the selection is limited and the costs are expensive,” she explained.
- According to a study conducted by the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, lower-income minority communities had less access to food shops than comparable white neighborhoods.
‘Online grocery shopping is not equal’
Public health experts believe that, in addition to job loss or a decrease in income, other variables during the pandemic have made it more difficult for people who are already suffering with access to low-priced meat and veggies. Food costs have risen, putting a strain on the finances of low-income people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of groceries increased by 2.6 percent in April, the most month-to-month rise since 1974. Egg prices increased by 16.1 percent, meat prices increased by 3.3 percent, and the cost of fruits and vegetables increased by 1.5 percent.
- According to the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, around 38 million Americans relied on food stamps in the previous fiscal year.
- As a result of the epidemic, the Agriculture Department has rushed to expand the use of food stamps online by allowing additional states to join on to the program.
- In states that do allow beneficiaries to spend their benefits online, their options are typically limited to Amazon(AMZN) or Walmart(WMT), both of which have gaps in their grocery delivery services in areas where they do not carry goods.
- According to Caitlin Caspi, associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School, “access to online grocery shopping is not equitable.” USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue received a letter last week from Rep.
As Bishop pointed out, “of the allowed shops, only two are national chains, and only one of those national chains has the ability to reach our most remote towns.” As food insecurity increases as a result of the epidemic, towns, food banks, schools, and community organizations are attempting to come up with innovative solutions to the problem.
It is attempting to increase citizens’ involvement in the food stamp program, which allows for online purchases in the state of Maryland, and is trying to do so.
19 Fruity, Chocolate-Rich, and Creamy Healthy Desserts
As Winona Bynum of the Detroit Food Policy Council explained, “the public school system, as well as many charter and private schools, continue to provide meals to children, and some of our urban farmers and chefs have joined forces to prepare meals for people in their neighborhoods who are in need of food.” The city of Baltimore has devised a plan for dealing with emergencies. It is attempting to increase the number of citizens who participate in the food stamp program, which in Maryland allows for online grocery shopping.
Teen-run bakery makes vegetable desserts to serve ‘food desert’
On every coast in the United States, hundreds of towns are categorized as “food deserts” by the Department of Agriculture, which means they have limited access to fresh vegetables, fruit, and grocery shops. These “food deserts” are typically found in low-income neighborhoods, where grocery shops are located far away from residential areas and many residents do not have access to a vehicle. Several years ago, the Amherst Wilder Foundation published a report stating that Minnesota was one of the ten poorest states for availability to healthful food.
- Additionally, for people living in lower-income homes, the cost of fresh, nutritious meals can be prohibitively expensive at times, compounding the difficulty of accessing these items.
- A plan was hatched four years ago by Leensa and nine of her friends to guarantee that children and adults in her community could not only eat fresh veggies, but also enjoy them.
- The bakery is entirely operated by teens.
- “The kids didn’t really enjoy veggies, so it was the beginning of the effort to convince them to eat their vegetables,” Jacobi Simmons, 18, said of his experience working at Green Gardens.
- According to NBC News After meeting in a community center cooking class that also included nutrition and gardening instruction and was organized by national community planning and development non-profit Urban Strategies, the adolescents came up with the concept for a bakery.
- The students, on the other hand, quickly began to build a business plan in class, eventually obtaining a $10,000 grant for their initiative.
- Where there was previously a “food desert,” the youngsters are now growing veggies for use in their sweets.
- Despite the fact that Green Garden does not yet have a physical location, the company has sold nutritious treats online, at farmers markets, festivals, and even catered events.
Food has been the vehicle through which the adolescents have connected to a much greater and broader scope in their community “Esther Shin, president of Urban Strategies, stated that the non-profit organization would continue to work with the teens as long as the Green Garden continues to flourish.
- It was decided to divide the earnings into thirds, with one third going back into the firm, another third going toward salaries, and the other third going back into the general fund.
- They also run a youth development program, which helps around 100 middle school students learn how to bake, garden, and the fundamentals of running a successful business.
- However, thanks to a recent $100,000 grant, they are hopeful that they will soon be able to purchase their own commercial kitchen.
- Jasmine Salter, 17, who assists with the preparation of the veggies, stated that even on the day her father died, she continued to come to work at the bakery, believing it to be one of the few constants in her life.
“It seems like a second home. It’s like one of the only things that is consistent in my life right now. So it’s like, “You’re welcome,” or something like that “” she explained.
Definition of DESSERT
Des·sert|di-ˈzərt The most basic definition of dessert is: sweet food served after the main course of a meal. Desserts with a lot of sugar are not her favorite. a chocolate dessert (desserts) See More Illustrations Dessert will be provided with a cup of coffee or tea. Dessert consisted of vanilla ice cream and apple pie. Hide
Full Definition ofdessert
1: a typically sweet course or dish (such as pastry or ice cream) that is often given towards the conclusion of a meal 2 In the United Kingdom, fresh fruit is served following a sweet meal.
Where does the phrasejust desertscome from?
1: a typically sweet course or dish (such as pastry or ice cream) that is often offered towards the conclusion of a meal. fresh fruit presented after a dessert meal in the United Kingdom
Examples ofdessertin a Sentence
Desserts with a lot of sugar are not her favorite. Dessert will be provided with a cup of coffee or tea. Dessert consisted of vanilla ice cream and apple pie. More information may be found here. For dessert, you can select either butterscotch pudding or blueberry buttermilk biscuit bread pudding, both of which are recent examples on the web. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, December 21, 2021 For dessert, a spicy orange chocolate bark will keep things tingling and interesting. 17th of December, 2021, Lindsey Perkins, Bon Appétit When it comes to dessert, Kim is creating his own wacky version of the traditional Korean ice cream known as the pig bar.
- These decadent pumpkin, cranberry, and chocolate muffins are rich with chocolate and may be served as a dessert after a hearty dinner.
- —Chelsea Davis, Forbes, published on December 10, 2021 Stop by the ice cream truck presented by Dedicated Senior Care for dessert after you’ve finished lunch.
- When it comes to dessert, search for housemade gelatos, such as one studded with chunks of the fresh biscotti that Acquerello sends customers home with after their meal (or, ask for the off-menu affogato with malted vanilla gelato).
- 29, 2021.
- Please provide comments.
First Known Use ofdessert
1600, in the sense that has been defined atsense 1
History and Etymology fordessert
The term “serve” comes from the Middle French verb “desservirto” (to clear the table), which comes from the Latin verb “servire.”
Learn More Aboutdessert
Middle French, fromdesservirto clear the table, fromdes-de- +servirto serve, from Latinservare (to clean the table).
Kids Definition ofdessert
:a sweet dessert that is consumed towards the conclusion of a meal
Bakery and Dessert
Our extensive assortment of bread and dessert selections for breakfast, lunch, and supper is a favorite with operators. There are a variety of baked goods available in numerous categories, including breads, pastries, pies, cakes, and other desserts – including true Italian delicacies – that may be purchased unbaked, par-baked, or already baked. Our extensive assortment of bread and dessert selections for breakfast, lunch, and supper is a favorite with operators. There are a variety of baked goods available in numerous categories, including breads, pastries, pies, cakes, and other desserts – including true Italian delicacies – that may be purchased unbaked, par-baked, or already baked.
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40 Decadent Dessert Recipes for When Your Sweet Tooth Is Insatiable
What should you do if you want to lose weight yet dessert is the most important meal of the day but you want to lose weight? The WW program allows you to see the scale drop while still indulging in sweet treats such as cookies, cupcakes, ice cream, and whatever else your sweet tooth craves. Remember, eating well is about achieving a balance, whether that means choosing ZeroPointTM items so that you have place in your Budget for a brownie or anticipating the need for cake during a birthday celebration.
- And although buying a sweet treat from the supermarket or bakery is perfectly acceptable (after all, you’re on the go!
- Take, for example, freshly baked cookies that are dripping with melty, gooey chocolate.
- There isn’t any such thing.
- You’re in for a treat, to say the least.
- You’ll be able to thank us afterwards!
Chocolate Recipes That Are OMG Good
Chocolate that is rich and luscious is always a fantastic choice. We are confident that you will like these delectable dessert recipes.