What barriers do low-income communities face to achieving good nutrition?
Achieving good nutrition can be a challenge for anyone, but is especially challenging in low-income communities. When forced to stretch limited resources to cover all basic needs, it is not always possible to afford adequate food for oneself and one’s family, let alone adequate nutritious food. Food access can be another major hurdle. Low-income areas often have disproportionately fewer supermarkets than more affluent areas, sometimes resulting in “food deserts.” In supermarkets or food stores that do exist, patrons are often faced with limited selection and poor food quality. Furthermore, the unhealthiest food choices are often the cheapest and the most heavily marketed in low-income areas. Even when healthy foods are made accessible, lack of familiarity with certain foods and lack of food preparation skills can be additional barriers to achieving good nutrition.
