Food Deserts: Finding Healthy Foods Wherever You Are

For millions of Americans that live in urban areas, finding healthy food can be quite a chore. In fact for many people, going to the store to buy a piece of fruit or a salad could require traveling several miles away from home. This is the case for urban populations that live in food deserts, a term that has developed to describe cities that are void of healthy eating options.

In food deserts there are plenty of options of food to eat, but the food is processed and often un-nutritious. Many food deserts will have plenty of fast food options, but the food stores are smaller and lack a produce section. Instead, the shelves are often filled with potato chips, hot dogs and bags of candy. This type of environment can make it incredibly difficult to lose weight. It is important to talk to your bariatric surgeon in Pembroke Pines about ways to develop healthier eating habits, despite the lack of nutritious food options in your area.

This is an important issue for many people who are trying to lose weight in North Miami. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, large parts of Pembroke Pines and Miramar are classified as food deserts. This means that many individuals in these areas do not have easy access to healthy foods.

If you live in a food desert, there are a number of things that you can do to incorporate more healthy foods into your diet. Talk with the store owners or managers of local food marts and tell them that you want more produce. Get your community involved and let them know that if they bring in produce, you will buy it. You can also try growing your own food in your backyard, or check out local farmers markets. Living in a food desert can make it more difficult to eat healthy, especially if out of sight really does mean out of mind. However, by paying more attention to what you want on your plate you can eat healthier and lose weight.