Nutrition equity can lead to healthier communities
By TammyAnderson-Wise TheCOVID-19pandemicexposedchal- lenges at all levels of society, including for people impactedbywhat somecall the“in- equality pandemic.” Public health experts
foods fromall food groups. There are many ways to eat healthful- ly, and acknowledging and embracing cultural preferences toward food choic- es, especially in communities of color, is also critical. A s we c e l eb r a t e and emb r a c e California’s ethnic, cultural and other di- versity, it’s important to also recognize disparities in offerings of nutritious foods in different communities. By doing so, we canwork to ensure that all people can ac- cess nutritious and culturally appropriate foods regardlessof race, education, gender, employment, ability or where they live. Achieving nutrition equity will require collaboration amongmany stakeholders, including community leaders and experts in nutrition, health and education. At the Dairy Council of California, we are taking action through the Let’s Eat Healthy ini- tiative, which brings together educators, health professionals, change-makers and community leaders tochampioncommu- nity health. Let’s Eat Healthy aims to teach, support and inspirehealthy eatinghabits andhelp make healthy, wholesome foods accessi- ble and affordable to all. Leaders in food andagriculturecancollaborate inbuilding healthier communitiesby joiningLet’sEat Healthy at HealthyEating.org/Join. By inviting cross-sector collaboration and appreciating the influence of eth- nicity, culture, religion and education on food choices, the movement empowers healthier communities by finding realistic solutions toaddressdisparities inaccess to education and high-quality, wholesome foods—two areas that can impact lifelong health and success. (TammyAnderson-Wise is theCEOof the DairyCouncilofCaliforniaandmaybecon- tactedatAndersonT@dairycouncilofca.org.)
Nutrition educa- tion programs can establish healthy eating
and organizations concerned about the availability of nutritious foods are shining a light on the fact that low-income popu- lations areexposed to health risks at higher rates than other populations. These challeng-
patterns for children and
influence their academic and lifelong success.
Tammy Anderson-Wise
es are often concentrated inmarginalized communities that historicallyhave less ac- cess tonutritious, culturally relevant foods, education, health care and technology. Making nutrition equity a reality across California’s varied communities relies on organizations and sectors all working to- gether to embrace cultural diversity, ac- knowledgedisparitiesandadaptapproach- es to ensure all children are supported to growhealthfully. As an organization dedi- catedtoelevatingthehealthofchildrenand families, Dairy Council of California looks forward toworking alongside our agricul- tural community in this effort. For many children, access to nutrition education, healthy food and support for optimal nutrition is severely limited. In California, food insecurity impacts one in seven children, withmany lacking essen- tial nutrientsdue tounderconsumptionof fruits, vegetables and dairy foods. Federal and state nutrition assistance programs designed to boost access to nu- tritious foods like thosegrowninCalifornia provide a critical safety net for communi- ties inCalifornia and beyond.
Access to high-quality foods including fruits,vegetables,milkanddairyproducts is especially important. Research shows that eating patterns established at an early age influence academic and lifelong success. Foodandbeveragechoicesaffect risk levels for obesity, hypertensionanddiabetes. In2021,California tookboldsteps to im- prove food access for young people when it became the first state in the nation to of- fer free school meals for all children. Gov. Gavin Newsom also expanded the state’s FarmtoSchool program, providing grants to schools to procure locally grown foods. This important programispart of the solu- tion to achieving nutrition equity. Millions of children and their fami- lies rely on federal nutrition assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Programand the School Breakfast Program. According to research, school meal participants overall consume more nutrient-dense foods such as dairy prod- ucts, vegetables, fruits andwhole grains. Identifying barriers to health and allo- cating resources to remove those barri-
ers are also a key part of nutrition equity. Addressing environmental conditions where people live, learn, work, play and gather iscritical because theyare intercon- nectedwithhealthyoutcomes forchildren, families and communities. Many underserved communities suffer froma lackof crediblenutritioneducation. Alongwithensuringaffordableandacces- sible nutrient-rich foods and beverages, nutrition education is important to sup- port the health of children and families. Children need evidence-based nutri- tion education to navigate through the large amount of information available in today’s tech-connected world. Nutrition education leads to informed eating deci- sions and establishes healthy eating pat- ternswhile increasingagricultural literacy and knowledge of how food gets from the farm to the plate. By advocating for science-based nutri- tion education that meets people where they are, food and agricultural communi- ties canenhanceknowledge, understand- ing and value for wholesome, nutritious
VOL. 49, NO. 11
March 16, 2022
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