Food has been around for as long as there has been humans, but over time food has become more than just a means of survival. It is used as a form of expression, family time, art, religion, and a sacred experience for many. It seems as though in the recent years of social media, many people have embraced healthy eating and living- of course something that is truly revitalizing and better for our bodies. Many self-proclaimed “health freaks” have thousands of followers on social media and snap pictures of their daily freshly squeezed juices and personal training routines. This new trend of “healthy living” has isolated a lot of people rather than appealing to the masses of people who are interested in making a change.
Many people have developed a sense of superiority through their eating habits whether it be restricted to only organic, raw, locally grown, or some other personal criteria. I have seen people quickly judge other people for eating processed foods or lesser healthier options and feel “repulsed” because they hate to see other people making poor eating choices when they have better options available.
The problem isn’t that people aren’t aware that they are making bad health choices with the foods they eat, but sometimes they simply don’t have the will, time, or drive to consciously make an effort to change, even if they do have the resources. There is also no denying that the multibillion dollar fast-food industry attracts to the average working person that feels they have little or no time to make their own food. It is clear that a reform and revolution to our food industry would be helpful and heathier for everyone, but of course it is easier said than done because of the political mess that is often entangled with food companies whose influence is everywhere.
But for others, bad health choices are due to much more than just a lack of time, drive, and really is due to the lack of options.
Low-income and food-insecure people are especially vulnerable to overweight and obesity. Those people who suggested going to local farmers markets to get fresh produce can say this with ease because they have access to them. In low-income neighborhoods, there is actually a lack of full-service grocery stores and farmers markets. As a result, residents who don’t have access to transportation must buy food at local convenience stores and shops that have limited fresh produce. In general, healthier foods are more expensive than their sugary, refined, and readily available counterparts in low-income neighborhoods. When healthier foods are available, they are of poor quality and therefore lessens the appeal to the consumers. Lower-income communities also have more fast-food restaurants with food that is mainly high in calories but low in nutrients, in turn leading to weight gain.
Food isn’t the only factor, but the fewer opportunities for physical activity is another proponent of obesity. Lower income neighborhoods have fewer activity resources, such as parks, bike paths, and recreational facilities. Crime and traffic are also factors that prevent physical activity in low income communities and make children and adults more likely to stay indoors, which is no surprise that people who live in unsafe neighborhoods are at an even higher risk for obesity.
Another situation that occurs in low-income neighborhoods is known as “feast or famine” which is a problem amongst mothers who sacrifice their food intake and nutrition so that their children don’t go hungry, but puts them at a risk for obesity. Families who are living in poverty have such high levels of stress because of pressures related to low wage jobs, food insecurity, poor housing, and violence. All these stressors contribute to unhealthy eating and links to obesity.*
Although it seems that emphasizing superfoods to promote health would be beneficial, it has contributed to the problem of “food gentrification.” Take our country’s superfood kale- it has claims to be one of the healthiest foods around and has significantly increased in popular because in truth, labeling something as a “superfood” is really a marketing scheme. Ever since kale has been promoted to superfood in 2011, the price of kale increased by 25%. But driving the prices up makes buying these products even harder for families. People who are food insecure spend almost 80% of their earnings on food alone, and price increases make their burden to buy food even harder to bear and another way that we are worsening the war on the poor. Many believe that those that do gentrify have nothing to do with the equation and that it is simply a reaction to our government. Of course, there should be government subsidies ensuring that no one has to deal with starvation- beginning with the basic idea of redistribution of resources considering there is enough food to feed everyone in the entire world despite the fact that over 1 billion people are starving.
Deciding to maintain a “healthy” lifestyle most certainly requires dedication and focus. But it is an unseen privilege for many who don’t have a deeper understanding of the issue on a scale that encompasses people not in our everyday circles. There are initiatives like Corbin Hill Food Project that work with farmers from Upstate New York and groups in New York City to deliver fresh and local produce to Harlem, Washington Heights, and the Bronx. Their movement is based on “genuine redistribution of food, and community sovereignty.” If we want people to be healthier, then we must be a part of the movement to provide rather than to simply preach.
*All statistics are from the Food Research and Action Center