Today, Dianne (the R.D.) introduced the concept of food deserts. A food desert is defined as: any area in the industrialized world where healthy, affordable food is difficult to obtain. This concept plays into food secure and food poverty. So basically, being food secure yet having food poverty, is having healthy and nutrition food available but not being able to purchase it because it is too expensive. This is similar to what Dr. Richards at BYU has studied concerning the trend of homelessness and obesity. Food deserts introduces a new perspective.
A food desert is an area of well populated and well civilized people, yet the grocery stores available do not offer fresh produce. It is said that Chicago has up to 633,000 people that are living in these food deserts. They have plenty of access to food, but the typical foods offered are processed foods high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium, while lacking in essential vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. These people may not be hungry but they are malnourished.
So what is the solution? Food trucks!
Food trucks will travel far distances and bring back truck loads of fresh fruits and vegetables. It is an easy solution and should be implemented around the world as more and more food deserts are being found.
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