Check out this NYT article about efforts to bring fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthier options to corner stores / convenience marts in low income urban neighborhoods. Many residents of urban neighborhoods rely on mini-marts for the majority of their food purchases as chain grocers do not build stores in the communities and transportation options are limited. Public health types have labeled these communities as "food deserts" - areas with low availability of healthy affordable foods. Back when I lived in Baltimore, my teacher roommates said that the standard breakfast for many of their students was a bag of chips, little debbie or a candy bar and one of the little jugs of artificially flavored sugar water. They could pick it up on their walk in to school for a dollar.
Will these same kids start grabbing an apple over a pack of mini doughnuts? Not if there is no apple there to begin with.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
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