Description
Healthy eating is a critical problem in numerous communities across the country, where low-income neighborhoods are often described as food deserts. There, the combination of economic constraints, distance to full-service supermarkets, and unreliable access to transportation make it difficult to acquire healthy, affordable foods. Research has dispelled the myth that education is the primary barrier to healthy eating in food-insecure areas. However, the limitations introduced by poverty and lack of access make it difficult to prioritize nutrition within purchase optimization. Individuals in these food environments must not only consider dietary quality when making food choices, but also overcome a combination of other compounding factors. These factors include: fewer retailers where low-cost foods can be purchased; access to consistent and reliable transportation; transportation time; and other contextual constraints, such as available food preparation appliances. This poster presents the outcomes of our early ethnographic work to understand the needs of our community users.
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