Chowin' Down in a Food Desert: A Guide to Life with Limited Fresh Food Access
Over 19 million American residents reside in areas characterized as food deserts, a term describing regions where healthy and affordable food options are scarce or inaccessible.
Let's get real about the state of healthy eating in the US. While you might be trying to eat frogs and kale, many Americans don't even have the luxury of choosing between the two.
Obesity is a pressing health issue, and it's no secret that it's connected to higher risks of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and specific cancers. But what if access to healthy foods isn't a choice for everyone?
Millions of us are living in food deserts—neighborhoods where fresh produce, lean proteins, and affordable, minimally processed food are as scarce as hens' teeth (don't worry, we'll cover where we can find those, too). For many, it's a brutal daily reality that turns healthy eating into a luxury.
In this guide, Hers takes you on a journey to understand what food deserts are, how they popped up, and what actions you can take. Whether you're living in one or not, this is info you need to help yourself and others.
So, What Exactly is a Food Desert?
Food deserts aren't just empty fields or desolate wastelands. They're communities lacking something crucial: reliable access to affordable, nutritious food.
The term might have originated a few decades back when researchers began to investigate how structural inequality impacts our food choices. Today, the US Department of Agriculture defines these areas as low-income, low-access. In other words:
- Low-income areas have a poverty rate over 20% or a median family income at or below 80% of the regional average.
- Low-access areas are communities with over 500 residents or more than 33% of the residents living at least a mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than 10 miles in rural ones.
A neighborhood is a food desert if it doesn't have a supercenter, supermarket, or large grocery store in the vicinity—places where fresh vegetables, proteins, and pantry staples are readily available. No full grocery store? No food paradise for you.
Where Are Food Deserts Most Common?
In 2008, Congress asked the USDA to map out the locations of food deserts and their impact on public health. Turns out, we've got a big problem. These areas are overwhelmingly concentrated in low-income neighborhoods and disproportionately impact Black and Hispanic communities.
This isn't all about geography—it's policy-driven. Food deserts are often the result of gentrification, deindustrialization, disinvestment, redlining, and corporate food systems that prioritize profits over access. So, don't be surprised if your local food desert feels more like a reflection of policy choices than geographical accidents.
Digging Deeper: The Impact on Health
It seems like healthy eating should be a no-brainer, but in a food desert, you've got your work cut out for you. Diet is one of the biggest drivers of obesity in the US, and socioeconomic status and education level are significant predictors of food choices.
Living in a food desert only makes these disparities worse. Without access to fresh, nutritious food or information about nutrition and health outcomes, it's tempting to rely on cheaper, less healthy options, which can lead to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Worryingly, many of these same communities suffer from pharmacy deserts, where access to medication for chronic conditions like hypertension and type 2 diabetes is scarce. This sets up a vicious cycle of poor diet and untreated health problems.
Surviving and Thriving in a Food Desert
The challenges of healthy eating in a food desert are real, but there are ways to navigate this terrain.
Here are some practical strategies that can help keep nutrition front and center, no matter where you live:
- Load up on plants. Fresh veggies can be tough to find, but frozen or canned options without added salt or sugar serve the same nutritional purpose. Similar advice for fruit—frozen options could be more affordable and last longer.
- Find sources of protein. How about some canned tuna, eggs, or dry beans to keep those taste buds satisfied and keep you full for longer? These protein-rich foods support muscle maintenance. Stick with minimally processed options that fit your budget and what's available in your pantry.
- Minimize processed foods. Choose the least-processed options you can find. Think whole-grain bread or brown rice over refined versions. Water over soda? Can help with weight management since sugary drinks are full of empty calories.
- Go big with bulk purchases. When possible, buy items in bulk. Brown rice, beans, lentils, or oats can last for ages, providing nutrients and saving you money. If bulk isn't an option, consider larger packs of non-perishable items to save dough.
- Get smart with convenience stores. Don't write off your neighborhood corner store just yet. They might have cheaper snacks and meal options like hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, canned soups, or mixed nuts.
- Grow 'em yourself, if you've got the space. Urban gardening can be a small-scale solution to getting fresh produce for yourself. If you've got a patch of soil or room for window boxes, give it a go.
- Connect with local food initiatives. Some farmers' markets accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. If a sliding-scale fee or partnership with a food bank helps you access fresh food, look into those options.
- Contact local food banks and pantries. Many food banks provide produce, dairy, and meat. Some offer healthy food boxes or meal kits. If you're in need, don't hesitate to reach out to these resources.
Tackling Food Deserts: Steps for Onlookers
Addressing food deserts is about more than just giving out free sandwiches. Here's how you can help:
- Share the surplus. You ain't hoarding if you share, are you? If you've got extra food to spare, donate it to local shelters or food banks to make sure healthy food reaches those who need it.
- Join a gleaning program. Some farms and organizations recover leftover crops to share with those in need. Find one in your area and get involved.
- Support food banks and food pantries. Many food banks rely on donations and volunteers. Provide financial support, food donations, or give some love with your time.
- Volunteer and advocate for policy change. Support policies that improve access to healthy food, like zoning changes for grocery stores in underserved areas. Get behind initiatives that promote food justice.
Closing Thoughts: Food Deserts Ain't All Bleak
Food deserts are about more than just the distance to the nearest grocery store. They're the result of systems that have left many neighborhoods with fewer healthy, affordable food options. These areas disproportionately impact economically disadvantaged communities, and the impact reaches beyond health, affecting education and economic opportunities, too.
If you're living in a food desert, remember that healthy eating is still within reach. It may require more effort, creativity, and resourcefulness, but tools like SNAP-accepting farmers' markets, local food pantries, and community-driven initiatives exist. You deserve access to nutritious food, and help is available.
If you don't live in a food desert but want to help, let your voice be heard. Advocate for policies that bring grocery stores and funding to underserved areas. Support programs and initiatives that promote food justice.
Ready to take action? Check out these awesome organizations:
- Double Up Food Bucks
- AmpleHarvest.org
- National Black Food & Justice Alliance
- Wholesome Wave
- WhyHunger
- Food First
- Community Food Advocates
- Healthy Food America
- Food Policy Networks at Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
- National Right to Food Community of Practice
- Chef Ann Foundation
- Roots of Change
Now, go forth and make a difference! And remember, knowledge is power, so keep learning and sharing.
This story was produced by Hers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
- While the pursuit of healthy eating with unconventional choices like frogs and kale may be a reality for some, millions of Americans struggling in food deserts face limited access to nutritious and affordable food, turning healthy eating into a luxury.
- Policy choices such as gentrification, deindustrialization, corporate food systems prioritizing profits over access, and redlining result in the creation of food deserts, which are communities defined by the US Department of Agriculture as low-income and low-access, marked by the absence of supermarkets or large grocery stores.
- Given the lack of access to fresh, nutritious food, residents of food deserts often make compromises on their diets by relying on cheaper, less healthy options, leading to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, as diet is one of the biggest drivers of obesity in the US where socioeconomic status and education level play a significant role in shaping food choices.
- Tackling food deserts requires a multi-faceted approach involving both individual efforts, such as exploring local food initiatives, strategizing for proper nutrition, and growing one's own produce, and collective actions, including sharing surplus food, supporting food banks and pantries, volunteering for policy change, and advocating for zoning changes and programs promoting food justice to make healthy food accessible to all.
