Healthy Foods Map

Mainstream media is now calling attention to “Food Deserts”. A food desert is best described as “an urban district with little or no access to foods needed to maintain a healthy diet, but often served by plenty of fast food restaurants. ‘Access’ is considered in three primary areas:

Physical access to food retailers can be difficult if the shops are distant, the shopper is elderly or infirm, the area is hilly, public transport links are poor, and the consumer has no vehicle. Healthy food retailers within walkable distance may be difficult to access if the shop is across a busy road, difficult to cross with children or in an area of crime risk. Proximity of the residents to the food retailer in addition to the landscape of the environment are significant factors to consider, particularly in low-income areas.

Financial access is difficult if the consumer lacks the money to buy healthy foods (generally more expensive, calorie for calorie, than less healthy, sugary, and fatty 'junk foods') or if the shopper cannot afford transportation to remote shops selling fresh foods and instead uses local fast food outlets. Food Stamp acceptance sites are also important to promote in the form of a directory, however, with retailers such as convenience stores encouraging use of food stamps at their location, it is important to teach people healthy food choices and value of the meal as it relates to nutrition.

Mental attitude or food knowledge of the consumer may inhibit the motivation to access fresh produce. Lack of knowledge pertaining to: cooking, nutritional value of food, and the impact of food on the human body are barriers to leading a healthy lifestyle.

In short, whether you are addressing obesity, food insecurity, or hunger, there is a need for substantiating access to healthy foods along with understanding community resources (and barriers) pertaining to healthy food access.

MCYSPA is currently designing an on-line map and directory of food retailers offering healthier choices. The goal is to first employ Emory University’s Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey (NEMS) then plot where these resources exist as they relate to the community profiles. Ultimately this web-site will be available to the public in the form of an interactive education tool.