2.4.5 Monetary cost of food
Health eating can be expensive especially to the low income groups. The cost of food often contributes to the types of food that individuals will buy. This factor affects some groups in a population more than others. The price of food has been found to be a determining factor for food choices for the low socioeconomic groups that includes students, retired people and the unemployed group in the communities around the world (Johansson & Andersen, 1998).
It has been found in other studies that people who are in the low socioeconomic group generally consume less fruits and vegetables compared to those in higher socioeconomic groups (Anderson & Morris, 2000). This is shown by Mooney (1990) in a particular study in the
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The 1980s saw a migration in many shopping facilities which included the supermarkets, moving out of city and town centers in the UK (Pollard, 2002). That commotion caused the local and small retailers to either close down or rather increase their prices. The groups that suffer from this scenario are the low socioeconomic groups without transport since their families heavily rely on small retailers for their groceries. These families will either settle to pay higher cost of food or pay for transport to get cheaper foods which still require payment for transport to the supermarkets and therefore end up increasing the costs associated with food …show more content…
Many would agree that healthy food does not taste good than ordinary food stuff (Thompson et al. 1999). Dittus et al. (1995) found that a belief in the health benefits of fruit and vegetables may well increase consumption and found that an individual’s concern about nutrition is positively related to their dietary behavior. The study recommended that more advertising and encouragement of the benefits of fruits and vegetable consumption be done so as to increased fruit and vegetable intake.
2.5 Fruits and vegetables consumption and diseases
It is only recently that people have noticed the significance of fruits and vegetables in their diets and also the role they play in prevention of diseases (Hyson, 2002). This recognition of the health benefits is well documented to enable individuals to make informed decisions when it comes to taking good care of their health. According to Hyson (2002) ‘the current evidence collectively demonstrates that fruit and vegetable intake is associated with improved health, reduced risk of major diseases, and possibly delayed onset of age related indicators.’
2.5.1
In “The Pleasure of Eating” Berry suggests people do not take the time to know the facts of what they are eating. People now do not want to take time to cook a meal, but instead want a fast meal to eat quickly in a busy day.(Berry) Not only does this show less appreciation for healthy foods, but it is allowing processed foods to become popular and allowing them to sell more, damaging people's health. And this is exactly what the food industry wants. (E-1)The food industry's main concerns are not the quality of their foods, they do not care about the ways it affects our health, instead they worry about volume and price.(Berry)
Companies have focused on trying to grow exponentially on their income rather than caring for their customers health. Consequently, this affects families with low income as their only escape is more calories for their children. He asks, “where, exactly, are consumers-particularly teenagers-supposed to find alternatives?” This question ask the readers as he raises the question of accessibility and affordable food. Fast-food is less expensive, faster to get, and simple to buy, perfect target for
After learning the truth about our country’s food systems, I have become more skeptical of mass produced foods and the processes the animals go through to become the food we eat today. Good and healthy food is very important to myself and to my family. Food means a lot in my family. A meal is an essential part of each day. While sipping my delicious soup, that my grandparents would make for my me
This shows the impact on how important it is to make a priority in eating and making well balanced meals. Being able to see the history in how eating habits have changed generation to generation gives an insight on what we need to change. Many people such as Mark never ate a fresh vegetable until 19 years old. This shows that there is a big gap in eating balanced and healthy meals because of the mass production of frozen and canned foods. Mark Stated that, “it cut down on the variety of food we ate” (Mark Bittman 2007 Ted Talk, transcript 10:17).
In the article, “What to Eat,” by M. Nestle (2006), she analyzes some of the tactics used by many grocery stores to expose customers to the most merchandise as possible, in order to increase the store’s profits. Nestle has done an extensive investigation of the methods and research used to create the perfect grocery store layout, and how these methods affect consumers. To be specific, many grocery stores place the most common food departments in the back because it has the greatest flow of traffic, or the most common impulsively bought items in the front of the store where they can be seen when entering and exiting (Nestle 2006). Supermarket design is all about product selection and placement, shelf locations, and eye catching displays. Often, slotting fees help decide which products get better placement, because those products are paying for their spot in the store.
Nowadays in America, we are encountering problems with our food system. The way it’s being processed is affecting everyone. From youngest to oldest, farmers to lawyers and smallest to biggest animal. Consumers are made to believe that they are buying and eating healthy foods , but the labels that led them to believe that are not completely honest. The essay “Escape from the Western Diet” written by Michael Pollan is an explanation of the theories of the western diet.
In recent decade, the United States has seen supermarkets continuously get filled with packages labeled with things like “Low sodium” or “No Trans Fats.” Companies stick these labels on their food to match the current fads of what is good for you and what is not. In his essay Unhappy Meals, Michael Pollan advocates a return to natural and basic foods, and deplores nutritionism. Pollan argues that nutritionism does not actually tell people what is healthy or not, and that the only way to be sure you are eating healthy is to eat natural, fresh food.
When prices rise, consumers often move to cheaper, less-nutritious foods, increasing the risks of micronutrient defects and other forms of malnutrition, which can have long-term unfavorable effects on people’s health, development and productivity. Hunger
For example, food insecurity is considered a major social determinant of health. Food Insecurity occurs when people do not have access to adequate and nutritional foods necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle (Lombe et al, 2016). There is a direct relationship between one’s social economic status and the type of food they can afford. Households living below the poverty line lack the resources financially to afford healthier or organic food alternatives. What is more, they may not have the means of transportation to get to those supermarkets where healthier foods are sold.
Obesity is a prevalent issue within the United States. “According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) (2009-2010), approximately 69% of adults are overweight or obese, with more than 78 million adult Americans considered obese”. Today’s society is inundated with a firestorm of information regarding the types of foods that are healthy and will decrease obesity. The most prominent voices in today’s food culture, primarily the wholesome-food movement, believe eating unprocessed food is the only way to live long, healthy lives free of obesity. However, journalist David H. Freedman argues that individuals should not fall prey to these false misconceptions.
But why? Pollan suggests that how we eat is just as important as what we eat. And that is the other thing that Americans don’t think about. Claims about being healthy aren’t the only way that food marketers draw our attention. There’s another one- convenience.
Two factors that contribute to health disparities among ethnic groups is the lack of access to fresh food and the infrequency of health care coverage within ethnic groups. Within the poorer communities where the populations are those of ethnicity they may not have the same access to grocery stores as those non-ethnic groups residing outside of the lower income regions. By not having access to grocery stores they do not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and are forced to purchase foods that are processed since they have a longer shelf life. Processed foods in most cases are not as healthy as fresh foods and there is a tendency to purchase foods that are considered junk food or items that are unhealthy. These unhealthy food choices
“Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food” (Hardy, 2006). The Greeks followed this idea by the philosopher Hippocrates, but today’s society does not take the message seriously. A majority of people eat harmful foods and do not receive the nutrition they need to stay healthy. There are a number of reasons why nutrition is lacking. A lot of teens and college students eat snacks that are not healthy such as chips, pop, candy, etc.
This means that healthy food it’s not really that expensive it’s just people making wrong decisions in wrong choices of their eating habits. That means that poor eating habits are just excuses because in some cases it’s not a economic reason. The income gap affects food choices is it in the sense that people are not driven to pick up a healthy organic lettuce or a healthy organic carrots, people that are struggling with money may have stress eating disorder so they look for food stable saturate them and often end up buying some mac & cheese or some frozen dinner plates.” If you’re living from paycheck to paycheck and on a limited budget, you’re probably more likely to skip the organic vegetables and reach for the boxed mac and cheese instead”-Mike Collins.
The lack of a grocery store can have a huge impact on the success of a town, as the stores bring in valuable revenue and tax dollars to help the community. The success of many rural grocery stores depends on communication from owners and customers who recognize that grocery stores are a huge part of their community. Rural grocery stores are a dying breed and both local store owners and locals need to come together to uphold the tradition that many of these stores represent. The price increase in the rural grocery stores is driving away valuable customers for these businesses and something needs to be done to try and slow the flow of people to cities. Solutions that the businesses could employ include working with other businesses in their areas, pooling resources to create smaller transportation costs, and buying locally to help lower prices and boost the local