Kent State Interns

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana is still underway. Among the numerous corporations helping the individuals impacted from this natural disaster the USDA's Food and Nutrition Services are working with officials to ensure that everyone has access to food. Many convenient stores and grocery stores are closed, making food unavailable to the people impacted by the hurricane. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) is allowing participants to purchase hot and ready-to-eat foods with their benefits until September 30th. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is going to provide two food packages in the month of September to seniors who participate in the program.  All schools located within disaster counties have been waived of the National School Lunch Program meal patterns and meal service time requirements. Schools in these counties also are to provide meals to all students at no charge and they will be reimbursed at the free reimbursement rate un...

Iron deficiency anemia is predominantly found in the population of low-income families and infants related to the their increase risk of food insecurity. This type of anemia can result in long-lasting developmental problems in infancy and early childhood. Additionally mothers can also experience side effects including increased weakness, tiredness, and loss of appetite.  This longitudinal study examined the relationship between the food security status of low-income families and the prevalence of anemia in children 18 months of age. They found that "56% of the infants were nonwhite, 19.9% of them lived in food insecure households and 4.8% lived in very-low food insecure households (Metallinos-Katsaras, 2016)."  The results also showed that 42% of infants living in food insecure households were more likely to develop anemia at the age of 18 months compared to infants living in a food secure household.  Infants between 12-18 months of age who live in a low-income h...

                The initial observations gathered by Mallinger and Kerby (2016) are not unlike many other studies concerning farmers’ markets, community gardens, and school gardens.   Those that benefit most are consistently homogeneous groups of white, middle- to upper-class consumers.   The lower-class minorities are often denied the benefits of such programs due to lack of access and, ultimately, lack of education and acceptance.   This disparity leads to food injustice, in which race, class, and gender negatively influence the production and consumption of food within this population.   Without the consistent promotion of nutrition concepts and the provision of healthy food choices, these groups continue to ignore the role of nutrition in their lives and the lives of their children.                 In a...

Food waste has become an increasing problem worldwide. Food waste adds up to 2 billion tons per year worldwide. It can occur anywhere, from hospitals to households. We are all guilty of throwing away scraps of food. The consequences are not only monetary (wasting food that cost money), but environmental as well. For this reason, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced target date for reducing food was by 50% by the year 2030. The increase in popularity related to sustainability might be a driving force in the right direction. By focusing on this issue today, we can help solve the question of how we are going to feed an increasing population in the future. There are many things that lead to food wasting. Some examples include oversized portions at home and at restaurants, grocery store purchases larger than what can be consumed, and low food costs. No one wants to run out of food. Whether you are hosting a family gathering or running a 5 star restaurant, you always...

We have all caved to the candy bar starring at us during a long wait in the checkout line at the grocery store. Typically, checkout lanes contain candy and sugar filled beverages intended to be picked up on impulse. Their bright colored packaging jump out at us while we are waiting to pay. Supermarkets play into the behaviors of their costumers by specific placement of these items. About forty-six percent of impulse purchases are made in checkout lanes. A new trend making its way into stores is replacing the junk food in these checkout aisles with more nutritious and healthful food options. The trend has already started in some European countries, but there are plans from other US chains to begin implementation later this year. In 2014, the United Kingdom started experimenting with healthy checkout lines. They have begun 100% candy free checkouts. One store saw a 20% increase in foot traffic in their candy free checkouts as compared to their traditional checkouts containing ca...

The original intention of the Farmers’ Market was to bring fresh, local produce to those seeking a homegrown, nutritional boost.   These markets, designed to benefit the farmer, the consumer, and the earth were considered mobile enough to help thwart food insecurity in neighborhoods identified as food deserts. Food deserts earned their moniker from the lack of healthy, affordable food sources available to residents within a safe and accessible distance from their homes.   These areas are deficient in grocery stores, supermarkets, and, according to a recent study conducted in Washington State, farmers’ markets, leaving residents to rely on convenience stores and gas stations for nutritious food purchases. Dispelling common misconceptions that farmers’ markets aid in reducing food insecurity, the study by Sage, McCracken, and Sage (2013) identified several locational disparities between food deserts and farmers’ markets stating that those who benefited most from these f...