Health News
The White House says First Lady Michelle Obama will make a major announcement tomorrow afternoon about her Task Force on Childhood Obesity's recommendations to make healthy, affordable food more accessible to all Americans. Using the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Desert Locator, community journalists can localize this story.
A food desert is a low-income census tract where a substantial number or share of residents have low access to a supermarket or large grocery store. Many rural areas are considered food deserts, and the USDA locator not only has data that can inform a story, but maps that can illustrate it. Reporter Tonya S. Grace of the Todd County Standard used it to localize the Healthy Food Initiative, a partnership between the U.S. Treasury, the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To read her article, click here.
- Study Finds Nutritious Food Costs More In Poor, Rural Areas, Suggests That Snap (food Stamp) Policies Be Changed
A study has found that nutritious foods are more expensive in impoverished rural counties than in urban counties, a phenomenon that doesn't help public health officials who teach healthy eating as a proven, effective strategy to prevent chronic diseases...
- Rural Children Are More Likely To Be Obese, But Rural Communities Have Several Strategies To Fight The Problem
Children living in rural areas are about 25 percent more likely to be overweight or obese than children in urban areas, studies show. Rural communities have come up with several strategies to battle childhood obesity, Sarah Lifsey and Karah Mantinan report...
- Webinar On Local Food Projects Is Set For 2 P.m. Wednesday
An online tool that features the local and regional food projects in the works across the country, as well as case studies that show successful partnerships between producers, businesses and communities, will be unveiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture...
- Plate Is Replacing Food Pyramid As Guide To A Balanced Diet
A segmented plate is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's new icon for what to eat. It will replace the long-used food pyramid, which critics say is confusing. It makes clear a general consensus of nutrition experts about what amounts of what...
- Michelle Obama, Burgers, And Fries
by Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom Perhaps you?ve heard the recent media outcry that First Lady Michelle Obama ate a hamburger, fries, and a shake. Could this be the same First Lady who has an organic garden, eats her fruits and veggies, and advocates for healthy...
Health News
Access to healthy food: A local angle is available on a national event tomorrow, and here's a Kentucky example
Update, July 21: First Lady Michelle Obama announced Wal-Mart and other retailers plan to open or expand 1,500 stores in the next five years in areas that do not have access to fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods. "Make no mistake about it. This is a big deal. It is a really big deal," Obama said. Nearly 24 million people, including 6.5 million children, live in these areas, which have been coined food deserts. Wal-Mart plans to open 275 to 300 stores in urban and rural areas by 2016 and expand "food options in more than 700 food deserts," The Huffington Post reports.
- Study Finds Nutritious Food Costs More In Poor, Rural Areas, Suggests That Snap (food Stamp) Policies Be Changed
A study has found that nutritious foods are more expensive in impoverished rural counties than in urban counties, a phenomenon that doesn't help public health officials who teach healthy eating as a proven, effective strategy to prevent chronic diseases...
- Rural Children Are More Likely To Be Obese, But Rural Communities Have Several Strategies To Fight The Problem
Children living in rural areas are about 25 percent more likely to be overweight or obese than children in urban areas, studies show. Rural communities have come up with several strategies to battle childhood obesity, Sarah Lifsey and Karah Mantinan report...
- Webinar On Local Food Projects Is Set For 2 P.m. Wednesday
An online tool that features the local and regional food projects in the works across the country, as well as case studies that show successful partnerships between producers, businesses and communities, will be unveiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture...
- Plate Is Replacing Food Pyramid As Guide To A Balanced Diet
A segmented plate is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's new icon for what to eat. It will replace the long-used food pyramid, which critics say is confusing. It makes clear a general consensus of nutrition experts about what amounts of what...
- Michelle Obama, Burgers, And Fries
by Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom Perhaps you?ve heard the recent media outcry that First Lady Michelle Obama ate a hamburger, fries, and a shake. Could this be the same First Lady who has an organic garden, eats her fruits and veggies, and advocates for healthy...