In the United States, we consistently
promote healthy eating but many Americans continue to make poor eating choices.
This is because many Americans do not have the necessary resources for making
healthier food choices. In many low-income areas, the large supermarket and the
specialty food retail stores are non-existent. The options for healthy food
choices are limited, with convenient stores and small grocery stores being
their primary source of food. And options for eating out do not include as many
upscale or healthier restaurants, but instead have a wide variety of fast food
chains. I believe that people living in low-income areas will continue to make
unhealthy choices until they have better options available. In contrast, both
middle- and high-income areas have more access to healthier food options. In
these areas, larger supermarkets have healthier food options and specialty
grocery stores, such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, are more prevalent. In
addition, Americans who have higher incomes are more able to afford the
healthier food choices as well.
In
low-income areas, healthy eating is limited to options provided by smaller
grocery stores and convenient stores. Smaller food stores, including
convenience stores, carry a relatively higher percentage of processed foods
than chain supermarkets do; the food is generally of lower quality and is
typically more expensive than that found in supermarkets (Dimitri & Rogus,
2014). Also, these smaller locations usually do not offer a wide range of
healthy foods, fresh produce, and organic foods due to higher costs and less
available shelf space. Supermarkets are nearly non-existent in low-income
areas, and they have greater availability of healthier products than do
convenience stores or many small grocery stores (Zenk et al.,
2014). In addition to
the limited number of supermarkets in low-income areas, those that are found in
these areas have different store compositions and offer less healthy food
options. Research shows that the food environment, or the availability of food
stores in a neighborhood and the types and prices of products they carry, has a
particularly substantial influence on diet quality for low-income individuals
(Dimitri & Rogus, 2014). Why supermarkets and specialty food retail stores
are not as widespread in low-income areas is a valid inquiry. I believe that
businesses are less likely to populate a low-income area because they believe
their profits will be considerably less. Businesses make their location
decisions based on profit potential; fewer chain stores are located in
low-income areas due to relatively high development costs, high crime rates,
and high security costs (Dimitri & Rogus, 2014).
Even when
looking at what types of restaurants there are, the low-income areas have a lot
less high quality places to eat rather than middle- or high-income areas.
Studies have also found higher portions of fast-food restaurants in low-income
areas compared to more affluent areas (Dimitri & Rogus, 2014). Low-income areas have a variety of different
fast food chains around them which makes it easier and more affordable to eat
at low quality restaurants. Most fast food chains have limited healthier food
options compared to high quality restaurants that offer a wide variety of
healthy choices. As, a consequence of their proximity to fast-food restaurants
and small food stores, low-income, minority groups tend to consume fewer fruits
and vegetables and have higher rates of obesity than wealthier individuals
(Dimitri & Rogus, 2014). Those who
live in low-income areas are going to be more likely to make unhealthy and bad
food decisions because of convenience and what they have grown-up around in
their areas.
In contrast,
those who live in middle- or high-income areas have a wide variety of
supermarket and specialty food stores that are easily accessible. Additional
evidence supports that supermarkets are important resources for healthy eating
(Zenk et al., 2014). These stores offer more healthy food options than the
smaller food chains. That is, not only do non-White and
low-income communities often have fewer supermarkets and more convenience
stores than White and higher-income communities, they also have lower relative
availability of healthier alternatives even within stores that are present
(Zenk et al., 2014). Additionally, individuals in medium- and high-income areas
are more likely to afford the healthy food choices. Those who come from
high-income areas are more prone to make healthier food decisions and can
easier maintain a healthy diet.
Another factor that
seemed to impact low-income areas is the price of healthy foods and that the
pricing is always changing on healthy foods. Part of the problem is the cost of
healthy food and that the price of fresh fruits and vegetables is high (and
rising) relative to high-calorie processed foods (Dimitri & Rogus, 2014).
When people on low budgets are buying groceries, they sometimes have to choose
quantity over quality just so they can have enough food to feed their families.
Considerable research demonstrates that healthier foods and beverages, such as
low-fat dairy and whole-grain products, are less available in Black, low-
income, rural, and central-city communities than in White, higher-income, and
urban and suburban communities (Zenk et al., 2014). The problem is when
low-income areas don’t have supermarkets or food retail stores it makes it hard
for people to make good food choices because it’s very inconvenient when there
are none close by.
Many low-income families are looking for meals that are
fast and cost efficient. When you work long hours or several jobs then you are
going to try to make a meal that is quick and easy. Since Americans tend to be
pressed for time, convenience holds particular importance for many consumers
(Dimitri & Rogus, 2014). Most food that you are able to be make that is
fast and easy isn’t always necessarily going to be good for us but usually is
more affordable. Compared to more affluent consumers, low-income consumers are
more price-sensitive, but similarly time-constrained (Dimitri & Rogus,
2014). Those who are middle- or high-income have multiple supermarket locations
and specialty stores that are convenient and they can find health foods at a
reasonable price.
Unfortunately, since most supermarkets and food retail
stores want to optimize their profits and do not believe that low-income areas
are optimal, the individuals in this areas will have to petition or fight for
availability of these stores. If the local or state government would pass a
bill that larger companies, such as supermarkets, could not discriminate by
income, then healthy food options would be more readily available to everyone.
This would create jobs in addition to offering these areas better food options.
I feel that if we do not give people access to healthier foods, then people
will continue to eat what is available.
In addition, if we offer everyone, including those in low-income areas,
healthy food options, the health of the nation will continue to get better. We
may even have a decrease in obesity and medical conditions from poor eating
habits.
REFERENCES
Dimitri, C., &
Rogus, S. (2014). FOOD CHOICES, FOOD SECURITY, AND FOOD
POLICY. Journal Of International Affairs, 67(2), 19-31.
Zenk, S. N., Powell, L.
M., Rimkus, L., Isgor, Z., Barker, D. C., Ohri-Vachaspati, P., &
Chaloupka,
F. (2014). Relative and Absolute Availability of Healthier Food and Beverage
Alternatives Across Communities in the United States. American Journal Of
Public Health, 104(11), 2170-2178. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014-302113
Hector A. Godinez
ReplyDeleteBlog Response #1: “Income and Healthy Eating” by Krista Woldeit
After reading this blog post, I felt that I could strongly relate to the idea that many Americans are making poor eating choices because of their income and the areas that they live in. Growing up in the Southside of Chicago, I lived on a busy street of a neighborhood that consisted of working class people of hispanic and european descent. In close proximity to my house, I could easily walk across the street for some hot dogs at a stand, walk down 1 block to eat some pizza, and walk 2 blocks down to buy measly items at a convenience store that we would run out of. All of these places would not create a healthy lifestyle for a family of low income. I was fortunate enough to have two hardworking parents that were able to afford to take a trip once or twice every 2 weeks and pick up high quality groceries.
If we had to drive a long distance to access groceries from stores such as Whole Foods or Trader Joes, we would make the sacrifice but there were other stores such as Jewel Osco and a Mexican supermarket. At these two grocers, we had access to a vast amount of healthy food. I disagree with the idea that it was due to race and feel that the decisions have to be made by the individual family if they are willing to promote healthy eating. I understand that Whole Foods and Trader Joes are stores that are located, mostly in higher income areas have a more vast amount of healthy products but the main products like vegetables and fruits could also be bought in low-income areas. In more urban and areas near the city of Chicago, it is clear that there are a significant amount of small convenient stores and this makes the people that are not willing to walk or drive further, lazy and that is what leads to the unhealthy eating. Unfortunately, there is a population of people that have severely low income and it is understandable that they cannot receive the proper nutrients on a daily basis but at least some healthy food could be provided to promote a healthy eating environment for their families.
The efforts to promote healthy eating in low income areas can be made and this could only happen through pushing our legislators to introduce tax incentive policies to supermarkets. This could develop more efficient and affordable systems in which people could have greater access to healthy food. From watching television, it was nice to see that some people are making a strong effort to provide fresh foods to low income families and for the Chicago public school systems, through the use of “Urban Farming”. I agree that the supermarkets such as Trader Joes and Whole foods are discriminating towards the low income neighborhoods, not due to race but because these low income families will not bring them the profits of a high income neighborhood. Stores like these are not necessary to promote healthy eating but people need to make the decision to create a healthy eating style at home, despite their income. Obesity and low income are strongly correlated but this is just a statistic that could be changed by advertising ways of eating healthy without having to spend an immense amount of money for families of any background.