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The Availability, Affordability, and Quality of Healthy Food Options in an Urban Local Food Desert

Kelly, Jazmone E.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4455-3160
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1479816298389627

Abstract Details

2016, MS, University of Cincinnati, Allied Health Sciences: Nutrition.
Objective. To determine the availability, affordability, and quality of healthy food and beverage options in an urban food desert. Design/Setting. Observational study of food offerings in food retail outlets located in an urban food desert as designated by the United States Department of Agriculture. Method. Five retail food outlets were identified within a one-mile radius from the centroid using various mobile applications. These outlets were visited and the Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey completed at each site. The availability and price of 12 foods/food groups in both regular and healthier options was noted. The twelve foods/groups were milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen or canned vegetables, meats, meat alternatives, beverages, breads, grains, cereals, and chips. The quality of fresh produced was assessed based on appearance. Analysis. Descriptive statistics using SPSS (version 22) Results. The retail food outlets were classified as chain/supermarket (N=1), convenience store (N=3), or food mart (N=1). The overall availability score for the healthier food options was moderate in 3 stores and poor in two stores. Fresh fruits, oranges and applies, were available at two stores. Fresh vegetables, cabbage and tomatoes, were available at one store. The quality of fresh produce was poor. Regular and 2% milk were available in most food retail outlets; however, no skim or 1% milk was found. Meat was available in two food retail outlets; however, no lean cuts or regular cuts of beef were found. Regular cuts of chicken were found in two out of the food retail outlets. Lean cuts of chicken were not found within any food retail outlets. Bread was found in four out of the five food retail outlets. The selection of bread was limited in most food retail outlets with white bread more available than whole wheat bread. The prices of food items were frequently not posted near or on the foods. Conclusion. In an urban food desert, few healthy offerings were available for 12 foods/food groups. When fresh produce was available, the quality was poor. Unless transportation to food retail outlets with more choices is available, meeting the Dietary Guidelines would be very challenging to residents of this urban food desert.
Debra Krummel, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Seung-Yeon Lee, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
70 p.
Nutrition
Food Desert; Food Enviroment; NEMS-S

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kelly, J. E. (2016). The Availability, Affordability, and Quality of Healthy Food Options in an Urban Local Food Desert [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1479816298389627

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kelly, Jazmone. The Availability, Affordability, and Quality of Healthy Food Options in an Urban Local Food Desert. 2016. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1479816298389627.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kelly, Jazmone. "The Availability, Affordability, and Quality of Healthy Food Options in an Urban Local Food Desert." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1479816298389627

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1479816298389627
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.