Growing up in Metro Detroit, I've seen so many people struggle not only with affording food, but with healthy eating. It is known by most that it's cheaper, faster, and easier to eat fast food than it is to cook healthy and nutritious meals everyday. But why is that? Most people in low income communities don't have the time to cook meals everyday, as they're forced to work ridiculous hours just to stay afloat. Most of the people I know in my community work anywhere between 40 and 60 hours a week. How can you expect someone to have the energy to be able to provide themselves multiple nutritious meals a day when they barely even have time to relax?
Then there are so many people who do have the time, energy, and motivation to cook for themselves, but they don't know where to start. That is what I want to focus on most. The lack of education that is provided to poorer communities is systematic, it is built like that to keep the poor on bottom. At my high school, I barely learned anything about nutrition and health, and I definitely did not learn how to provide for myself.
"As a recent poll by The New York Times found, 71 percent of the public thinks granola bars are healthy, while only 28 percent of the hundreds of nutritionists surveyed agreed with that assessment." (npr.org)
"About three-fourths of the population has an eating pattern that is low in vegetables, fruits, dairy, and oils." and "Most Americans exceed the recommendations for added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium." (health.gov)
"Just 1 in 10 adults meet the federal fruit or vegetable recommendations" (cdc.gov)
According to The 2018 Food and Health Survey by The International Food Information Council Foundation, only 3/10 Americans know about MyPlate, only 1 in 6 understand the difference between natural caffeine and added caffeine, and 30% Of those in fair/poor health say they often choose less healthy options because of cost, double that of healthier Americans. (foodinsight.org)
There are so many unanswered questions that people face when it comes to healthy eating, and most cannot afford to see a nutritionist or dietitian in order to get these questions answered. So why aren't more people taught valuable information on healthy eating and sources where they can get information? Why do most insurance companies not cover nutrition and dietary advice? Why is healthy eating considered a luxury, when it is a necessary tool to survive?
We need to start educating each other more, we need to push for better education and better resources for our communities. Everybody needs to know about MyPlate. Everyone deserves access to healthy living, regardless of who they are or how much they earn.
For now, the best advice I can give you is to visit choosemyplate.gov for information on healthy eating, and if you are able to, find a introduction class on nutrition and healthy eating, or check out a book from the library. Understanding what your body needs and how to get those things is one of the most undervalued, valuable things in life.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1116-fruit-vegetable-consumption.html
https://foodinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-FHS-Report-FINAL.pdf
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