Beyond the Plate: Addressing the Real Barriers to Nutrition in Low-Income Areas

Nutrition and food insecurity is a layered discussion, especially when it comes to low-income communities where food insecurity is a constant challenge. Food insecurity can be defined as lacking access to sufficient and quality foods to meet basic nutritional needs. Over 47 million people in the U.S. experienced food insecurity in 2023. Discussing nutrition is not only about having a well-balanced plate but also about recognizing food availability, affordability, and social context within communities. Navigating these conversations requires far beyond nutritional knowledge. Several economic, social, and geographic barriers impact food insecurity. To create long-term changes in the nutrition-related outcomes within these communities, it’s important to offer practical approaches rooted in a deep understanding of community members’ lived experiences and challenges.

What Are the Barriers that Impact Nutrition and Food Insecurity?

Economic Barriers
​In 2022, 55% of food-insecure households in the United States had at least one adult working full-time. Employment doesn’t guarantee food security, as many full-time employees still struggle to afford nutritious meals due to low wages. Additionally, 5.3% of Americans work more than one job. Multiple jobs and long hours leave little time for cooking nutritious meals and grocery shopping, leading to excessive reliance on convenient options like fast food and frozen meals.

Social Barriers
Food insecurity among children was six and half times as prevalent for households headed by an adult with less than a high school diploma as for households with an adult holding at least a 4-year college degree. Lack of quality education can negatively impact nutritional choices as people may be unaware of healthier options or what a well-balanced diet looks like.

Geographic Barriers
Over 6% of Americans live in an area with limited access to affordable and nutritious food, and 2.2% of American households live more than a mile from a supermarket and do not have access to a vehicle. Food deserts (areas with a lack of convenient access to supermarkets with fresh produce) force those in the vicinity to rely on less healthy options.

How Can Public Health Professionals Address the Barriers that Impact Nutrition and Food Insecurity?

1. Acknowledge economic challenges and time constraints.
Recognize that financial issues, such as low wages or working multiple jobs, will affect how people choose what to eat. Offer affordable and convenient solutions, like low-cost and quick recipe ideas, meal prepping, or using affordable but nutrient-dense ingredients like beans and frozen vegetables.

2. Educate with empathy.
Many who lack nutritional knowledge do so simply due to the lack of access to it. Approach this challenge by using simple and relatable language to offer base-level nutrition knowledge that encourages people to make healthier choices. Start by teaching how to read food labels or the aspects of a well-balanced plate, using accessible foods.

3. Address food deserts.
In food deserts, there is little to no access to nutritious produce. Encourage using canned or frozen fruits and vegetables, which are often more affordable and have a longer shelf life. Promote community resources that may not be as well known, like food pantries with nutritious produce.

4. Be community-specific.
Bring the community into the conversation to truly address their direct concerns. Involving community members in decision-making about local food programs or nutrition initiatives ensures that they are practical and relevant to the social context.

Addressing food insecurity in low-income communities is about much more than just talking about eating healthy. It’s about addressing the lived experiences and struggles that shape people’s food choices. These conversations need to be compassionate and practical while suggesting real solutions that fit into the lifestyles of people living in food-insecure communities. By listening to the community and involving them in our health education, communication, and promotion efforts, we can encourage and facilitate the ability of people to make healthier choices. This kind of change won’t happen overnight, but through open-minded and understanding conversations, a difference can be made.

By: Ojasvi Joshi