In our national conversation about what it means to eat nutritiously and take care of our bodies, concepts like “eating a healthy, balanced diet” are often far more complex than simply avoiding the consumption of certain foods deemed “bad.” When all conversations about nourishing ourselves are reduced to “just make healthier choices,” we overlook how factors like economic status and food access can make those choices more difficult for our friends and neighbors, or take away their choices entirely.
To better understand these complexities, we’ve tapped our in-house expert, Food Bank of the Rockies’ Nutrition Manager, Jonelle Addabbo, MCN, RDN, to talk about food security, the health risks associated with limited food access, and the potential benefits that can arise from increasing the availability of nourishing foods for our community members.
How Food Insecurity Affects a Nutrient-Rich Diet
Before digging into the health risks associated with limited food access, it’s best to familiarize ourselves with the concept of food insecurity, which the USDA defines as a “household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.”
Food insecurity is similar to hunger, but the two terms differ in that hunger is a physiological condition that affects a person immediately lacking in food. We have all been hungry at one point or another, but many of us have never experienced food insecurity.
A family who experiences reduced quality, variety, or access to nutrient-rich foods is considered food insecure, as is a family who has inconsistent access to nourishing foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, due to the lack of accessible, affordable food stores in the area that they live.
Negative Health Impacts of Food Insecurity
“Households experiencing food insecurity are more likely to be impacted by chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease,” explained Addabbo. “The lower a household’s food security status, the more likely members are to be diagnosed with a range of chronic conditions.”
Citing USDA statistics, Addabbo explained that adults living in households with very low food security are over 100% more likely to develop diabetes and 66% more likely to develop high blood pressure than their food secure neighbors. Adults experiencing food insecurity are also more likely to live with multiple chronic disease diagnoses, experience lower quality of life, have a decreased life expectancy, and have increased healthcare costs over their lifespan. These negative health risks can be compounded for our community members who live with chronic diseases.
“Food insecurity can contribute to poorer health outcomes if neighbors are unable to follow a nutritious eating pattern or afford their medication,” Addabbo shared. “For example, if a person living with diabetes cannot afford to fill their insulin prescription, they may compensate by decreasing how many carbohydrates they eat, including nutrient-rich fruits and grains. This might lead to long-term deficiencies and other health complications.”
How Food Banks Can Help People Access Nourishing Food
Hunger-relief organizations like Food Bank of the Rockies provide nourishing food to our neighbors within their respective communities free of charge, making it easier and more convenient for people experiencing food insecurity to access a variety of nutrient-rich foods.
To make sure that the food being provided by these organizations meets a high standard of nutritional content, nutrition experts like Addabbo utilize evidence-based national resources like the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and the Healthy Eating Research (HER) guidelines.
DGA guidelines inform Food Bank of the Rockies’ approach toward food sourcing, program planning, and the distribution of a balanced variety of foods from all five food groups — fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, and dairy — to support nutritious eating patterns.
The HER guidelines, in contrast, are a standardized metric supported by Feeding America (the network of 200 food banks of which Food Bank of the Rockies is a part) that helps further sort foods into categories based on the quantity of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar items contain.
“Because overconsumption of these nutrients over time is linked to increased chronic disease risk, including heart disease, we strive to distribute foods that contain less of them,” explained Addabbo. “We focus on sourcing foods that provide a variety of health-promoting nutrients, including protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.”
Food Bank of the Rockies prioritizes nutrient-rich items such as vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and dairy alternatives, plant and animal protein, and oils to our community members through our programs like mobile pantries and Totes of Hope™ for kids, as well as our 800+ Hunger Relief Partners. In addition to these staples, Addabbo says the Food Bank also provides condiments, herbs, spices, and cooking staples to support neighbors in flavoring foods and creating meals to fit their preferences. It’s all part of the organization’s mission to provide a variety of nutritious, culturally responsive foods.
“When nutritious foods taste good to us and are easy to incorporate into our lives, we are more likely to eat them!” Addabbo said. ”This contributes to a heart-healthy eating pattern over time, with room for the flexibility that life demands.”
Food Bank of the Rockies also consults with community members to help determine what types of food will be most conducive to people’s wants and needs. For example, people without access to a stove or refrigerator would be unable to preserve or prepare certain foods.
“Households with refrigeration access may want more fresh produce and eggs, while unhoused populations may prefer lower-sodium packaged foods that don’t require preparation,” Addabbo explained. “Tuning-in to our communities’ needs and barriers to food access helps us identify what gaps we can help fill.”
All these steps are taken to ensure that as many of our neighbors can experience the benefits of eating a nutrient-dense diet as possible. According to Addabbo, the positive outcomes of regular food access and a nutritionally balanced diet can be immensely positive and felt in the short- and long-term.
“Eating more nutritious foods can almost immediately result in increased energy levels, improved mental focus, and more stable moods,” Addabbo said. “Over time, our bodies also tend to thank us for feeding them well. We may notice increased immunity, better memory and brain acuity, improved digestion, stronger bones and muscles — including our most important muscle, the heart! — higher quality sleep, and improved mental health.”
Inspired to help ensure all of our community members have access to the nourishing foods they need to thrive? Make a donation today.
