Journal Article10.1007/S10460-009-9191-Z
Environment influences food access and resulting shopping and dietary behaviors among homeless Minnesotans living in food deserts
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TL;DR: To promote healthier dietary intake and weight status, community-based interventions and city planners should aim to increase access to food through improved food availability and food access within the shelter environment and surrounding community.
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Abstract: Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to investigate how shopping behaviors and environment influence dietary intake and weight status among homeless Minnesotans living in food deserts. Seven focus groups (n = 53) and a quantitative survey (n = 255), using the social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework, were conducted at two homeless shelters (S1 and S2) in the Twin Cities area. Heights, weights, and 24-h dietary recalls were also collected. Food stores within a five-block radius of the shelters were evaluated for the price and availability of foods and compared to the Thrifty Food Plan’s market basket prices (MBP). Results showed that almost 80% of the sample was overweight or obese, with women consuming less than the recommended level for the fruits, vegetables, and milk food groups and excess for the fats/oils/sweets food group. Focus groups and participant surveys indicated that the shelter infrastructure and surrounding community influenced the types of foods available, food store access, and the foods purchased and consumed. Participants relied on food assistance programs, including food stamps, to supplement their food supply; however, some felt the high food prices at neighboring stores limited food choice and that food stamps did not adequately cover food costs. Results from the food store survey found the majority of food prices exceeded Midwest or national MBP. To promote healthier dietary intake and weight status, community-based interventions and city planners should aim to increase access to food through improved food availability and food access within the shelter environment and surrounding community.
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Citations
Measures of the food environment: A systematic review of the field, 2007-2015.
TL;DR: To strengthen research examining the relationship between the food environment and population health, there is a need for robust and psychometrically‐sound measures and more sophisticated study designs.
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•Posted Content
Where Do Americans Usually Shop for Food and How Do They Travel To Get There? Initial Findings from the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey
Michele Ver Ploeg,Lisa Mancino,Jessica E. Todd,Dawn Marie Clay,Benjamin Scharadin +4 more
- 01 Mar 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared food shopping patterns of SNAP households to non-participant households and food-insecure to food-secure households, and found that WIC participants were more likely to use supercenters as their primary store.
184
Health behaviors and infant health outcomes in homeless pregnant women in the United States.
TL;DR: Additional insight into homelessness in the perinatal period is provided and information on ways to direct interventions aimed at improving the health of homeless mothers and infants is provided.
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Shopping Behaviors of Low-income Families during a 1-Month Period of Time.
TL;DR: The results suggest limited economics throughout the month may hinder families' ability to consume a varied, nutrient-rich diet, which may have an impact on future health status.
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Maternal health behaviors and infant health outcomes among homeless mothers: U.S. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) 2000-2007.
TL;DR: Characteristics of homeless pregnant women choosing to participate in the Women, Infants, and Children Program are consistent with the requirements for program participation for women in general.
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References
Fruit and vegetable access in four low-income food deserts communities in Minnesota
TL;DR: Results of the food inventory show that foods within the communities were costly, of fair or poor quality, and limited in number and type available, supporting complaints verbalized by focus group participants.
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TL;DR: Identification of perceptions, barriers, and promoters of healthful eating for low-income and minority populations may be useful for tailored intervention planning and family-based interventions and food assistance programs may be more successful in promoting healthfuleating for selected segments of the population.
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TL;DR: A wide assortment of standards for nutrient intake, such as the 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances, the Food Exchange System, and the Food Guide Pyramid, can be found in this paper.
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