During some recent research on Childhood Nutrition & Obesity, I came across a new term. It describes areas of cities and communities where there are no grocery stores and no stores of any kind that sell little, if any, fresh fruits or vegetables. The term is “Food deserts” (that’s not “dessert” as in apple pie)… and this does not refer to a Third World country; it’s here in the United States and in Central Florida! These are typically lower-income neighborhoods with many people not having dependable transportation to get to stores. It highlights one of the challenges and reasons why inadequate nutrition and obesity can coexist. If you don’t have access to healthy foods and you’re surrounded by convenience stores selling snacks and candy and circled by fast food restaurants as your accessible alternative – chances are the odds are against you getting adequate nutrition. Combine the above with low awareness of and little physical activity; it’s a recipe for disaster. Someone said…”It’s easier to buy a gun than a tomato in these areas.”
A quote from an article on the topic of childhood obesity and lack of adequate nutrition said…”This may be the first generation of children in American history that will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.” I thought it was a mistake; this couldn’t be true, not in America. How can this be?
There are just over 100,000 children living in Central Florida who live at the poverty level or below; and the number is growing. USDA just released in November sobering results of hunger among children: “The figure (amount of childhood hunger) in the United States has grown by more than 40% since 2000.”
All of this and even more evidence point us to the fact that getting nutritious foods to children is absolutely critical; they are in circumstances beyond their control. If you’re interested in helping one of our Kids Cafes or Food Back Pack programs that deliver to nine elementary schools; please contact us. We continue to be part of the solution to a very large problem.
Dave Krepcho
President/CEO
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
