Food for Thought 1

Food for Thought: What solution can be reached to combat the food crisis and nutrition gaps in

low income communities?

Joseph Hernandez

Senior Research Seminar

Mr. Tempinski

March 25, 2016

Food for Thought 2

Abstract

This action research project examines the issue of food poverty/ food insecurity in the low

income community. By examining the challenges of acquiring a healthy, nutritious diet a possible

solution can be presented to fill nutrition gaps in the low income community. Previous research

stated that the three main barriers which surround a healthy and nutritional food diet includes

cost, accessibility and knowledge. This study took a qualitative approach by examining how

these barriers relate to three low income families cases from different backgrounds and sizes in

Los Angeles through interviews, open discussion and observation. The results suggest that along

with other factors, ultimately the lack of fresh produce and education are creating food deserts

that would not be normally seen in other communities. By providing the proper education, these

high risk families will be able grow their fresh produce and harvest year around causing them to

become self-sufficient and self-aware of their own dietary needs.

Food for Thought: What solution can be reached to combat the food crisis and nutrition gaps in

low income communities?

Food for Thought 3

The purpose of my research is to identify what these barriers surrounding a healthy and whole

nutrition look like. My question asks for a solution to this food crisis which has threaten the

health of low income communities. Much research has been done on of food deserts and the

nutrition crisis in these poor regions of the United States. This common research seems to

suggest that the poor are just pre destined to fail with the ever expanding fast food chains mainly

targeted at low income communities. These along with other factors like the high cost or lack of

fresh produce and accessibility issues have grown somewhat redundant when placing blame yet

almost nothing has changed. From personal experience I can validate these factors and see how

they contribute to the problem but there is still a clear disconnect from the bigger issue. The fact

is that we live in a society where healthy nutritious food is a luxury. Everyday many Americans

are faced with the challenge of sacrificing the basic necessities of a healthy nutritional diet with

the cost of basic living which in many cases means basic survival. The privilege of being able to

afford wholesome food and having markets that sell produce that isnt modified or used with

pesticides isnt as prolific in a lower socio-economic demographic.

1. Feunekes GIJ, de Graaf C, Meyboom S and van Staveren WA (1998) Food choice and fat

intake of adolescents and adults: associations of intakes within social networks. Preventive

Medicine 27: 645-656.

Feunekes GIJ, de Graaf C, Meyboom S and van Staveren WA (1998) found that there were

difficulties in achieving a balanced healthy diet in lower income communities like the inner city
Food for Thought 4

and urban areas in the United States. They referred this dilemma as a food poverty or food

insecurity. The three main barriers which surround a healthy and nutritional food diet included

cost, accessibility and knowledge.These factors have lead to the development of areas known as

food deserts. A reliance on energy-rich, nutrient-poor foods is a consequence of lack of money to

buy wholesome foods. They also found the price gaps between healthy foods and nutrient poor

foods also appears to be greater in low-income areas. They highlight the lack of proper cooking

facilities in the home increases the need to eat convenience or take-away food, that have a

potentially higher energy density. They finally presented that a lack of knowledge or too much

conflicting information on diet and health, lack of motivation and the loss of cooking skills can

inhibit buying and preparing meals from basic ingredients. Experimenting with cooking is a

luxury that low-income groups can ill-afford.Education level and income determine food choices

and behaviours that can ultimately lead to diet-related diseases.The factors they presented

influencing food choice are not only based upon individual preferences, but are constrained by

circumstances that are social, cultural and economical.

2. Black, R.E., Allen, L.H., Bhutta, Z.A, Caulfield, L.E., de Onis, M., Ezzati, M. et al. (2008).

Maternal and child undernutrition: global and regional exposures and health consequences. The

Lancet, 371: 243-2 soci.

In the studies conducted by Black and party income poverty (due to unemployment, low wages,

or lack of education) can lead to household food insecurity, inadequate care.They found that

people of low socioeconomic status are most vulnerable to food insecurity since purchasing
Food for Thought 5

power serves as a main determinant of the ability-to-afford nutritional food sources. Households

that cannot attain nutritious foods due to income poverty are most associated with the inadequate

diet and disease that leads to malnutrition.

The findings resulted in severe malnutrition which leads to many disease-related consequences,

and effects on morbidity, mortality, and disability all contribute to increased healthcare costs. In

their analysis low-income households usually spend the majority of total household income on

food. In these cases, even the lowest out-of-pocket health care service can severely diminish the

remaining income to be used for food supply, further perpetuating the issue of food insecurity.

Health Care costs are high, transportation costs to health facilities accumulate, and taking days

off work means lost productivity and lost wages. In Conclusion, their studies showed that

undernutrition is a major underlying cause of illness and disease, and one that contributes to

additional healthcare spending.

3.Bradshaw, T. Theories of poverty and antipoverty programs in community development. Rural

Poverty Research Center, Working Paper No. 06-05(2006) de.

Bradshaw connected poverty and malnutrition to demonstrate the complexities in identifying

major determinants of health as they relate to food. He explained that without a direct cause or

consequence of malnutrition, the development of effective interventions to improve health and

nutritional status poses as an even greater challenge. He proposed that to gain a better

understanding of the complexities involved in the attainment of adequate nutrition, it is helpful to

Food for Thought 6

explore the existing body of research and development that has gone into finding solutions for

some of the greatest burdens in global health.

4. Victora, C.G., Adair, L., Fall, C., Hallal, P.C., Martorell, R., Richter, L., et al. (2008). Maternal

and child undernutrition: consequences for adult health and human capital. The Lancet,

371(9609): 340-357

Victoria and party explored the importance of learning about healthy nutritional practices due to

several positive implications for a students physical well being. They incorporated studies that

have shown that food habits learned at an early age are hard to influence and change. They

concluded that without proper nutritional guidance, children are susceptible towards falling into

long lasting poor eating habits that may lead to a number of health risks, including childhood

obesity. Obesity not only has harmful effects on ones personal health, but can also cause

emotional stress, especially among children and adolescents. However, school programs

designed to educate and encourage children to make wise eating choices can help alleviate the

prevalence of obesity. And according to one incorporated study, the earlier individuals are

exposed to certain practices, the more likely theyll consider them a permanent aspect of their.

They proposed that possessing knowledge about food and its nutritional content is valuable at

any age, as people continue to make eating choices throughout the course of their lifetimes.

5.FAO/WHO, 1992a. ICN. World Declaration on Nutrition. Plan of Action for Nutrition

FAO,1996c. Technical Background Document. Volume 1

Food for Thought 7

FAO/WHO organization identified that nutritional status is a measure of the health condition of

an individual as affected primarily by the intake of food and utilization of nutrients. According to

the World Health Organization (WHO), health is not only the absence of disease but a state of

complete mental and physical wellbeing in relation to the productivity and performance of an

individual. They proposed that good nutritional status can only be realized and sustained when

individuals within families and communities are food-secure. Food security has been defined as

access by all people at all times to the food needed for a healthy life (FAO/WHO, 1992a).

The research that has already been conducted will point this study in the direction towards

clearly identifying barriers surrounding wholesome nutrition. It will educate bring awareness to

those who are affected by the food crisis many face poor communities that often feel like they

dont have a voice or a choice in what they consume when attempting to practice a

healthy/nutritional lifestyle This research is not only important to myself but also to my peers

since the topic of nutrition and food security affects all people on a global scale. Personally it

affects my family and the community in the inner city/urban area. The topic of social economics

regarding nutrition is an essential topic to explore due to the fact that it ultimately determines the

quality of life and success.

Methodology

Subjects or Participants

Three main providers of families in low income communities from the Los Angeles

County to South Bay areas, ranging sizes from three to five members were chosen based on

personal relationship my family has with the subjects. No incentive was given to participants
 Food for Thought 8

other than the opportunity to help solve an issue and improve quality of life for their children

when answering truthfully.

Table 1

Participant Description
Ms. Gonzales Ms. Gonzalez is a thirty-eight undocumented resident from Mexico with
two young boys ages 11 and 14 residing in the Westlake area, both of which
are U.S. citizens. She earns about seven thousand dollars a year with no
benefits or government assistance She was indifferent coming into this
project. She knew she was the inspiration to research such topic and most
likely felt obligated to participate due to previous relation with family.
While answering the questions, her body language expressed discomfort
but eventually opened up. Ms. Gonzales story was a crucial part in
determining this research topic. She is not only an inspiring woman but also
an embodiment of the daily grind that thousands of single mothers in urban
community go through to provide for their children in every aspect of their
lives with the resources she has obtain thus far. She often struggles to make
ends meet including putting food on the table. She often finds grocery
shopping in her area a tedious experience filled with sacrifices and unfair
selection. She admits that among those sacrifices, nutrition and health are
often compromised for other expenses like rent or transportation. She often
finds herself conflicted knowing that her children are at a higher risk of
disease than others since she cannot always provide the most nutritious
food every day of the week.
Lloyd Lloyd is a twenty-five-year-old U.S. citizen earning about fifteen thousand
dollars a year working as a janitor in a theatre. He lives in WestLake with
no kids nor family in a studio apartment on Manchester Blvd. He was very
hesitant but felt obligated to due to personal relationship and personal
beliefs about duties as a member of society. He struggles to pay his rent
most months or even eating three times a day. Most days he finds himself
eating at local fast food joint or microwavable soups. Recently he has
noticed changes in his physical and mental state. He is often lacking energy
and feels constant fatigue. Also recurring pain in his stomach that he would
usually ignore has becoming more frequent and progressively getting hard
to oversee. It is difficult to acquire nutritious food due to the demographics
of the area he lives in. Almost every block has a plaza containing fast food
chains with little not much options or healthy alternatives. His budget does
not allow him to purchase fresh harvest and many times needs to
compromise his health just so he has enough to eat. Even with his food
stamps (EBT) there is just not enough for him to evenly spread out a
healthy nutritious diet. He explains how the closes establishment with fresh
produce is about forty-five streets west from his home. A desire for drastic
 Food for Thought 9

change in lifestyle for the benefit of his overall health and wellbeing is
evident but does not know how (with his budget) to secure this sort of
drastic change.
Mr. Fletcher Mr. Fletcher is senior citizen living on his retirements funds which is
running out at an alarming rate. Because of this he was forced to make
sacrifices and cuts to his budget. He moved to Westlake MacArthur from
Frogtown to keep up with his finances but still has trouble with expenses
regarding wholesome and nutritional food. I meet Mr. Fletcher while
volunteering at a food banks which he often relied on. Through casual
conversation he would mention how much organizations like this assist in
providing him and others in the community to obtain food. He likes to often
express his gratitude and reach others in the community receive this
service. He likes stay proactive as often as he can when comes to civil
duties. He also wants to practice this in his own nutritional life. Although
he is very grateful for the service the food banks all over the country are
conducting, he is no longer able to receive these contributions as frequently
because of the high sodium and carbohydrates that most of the items
contain. More specifically the microwavable noodles and can soup. Due to
lack of contributions of fresh harvest he must often buy these himself on
public transportation. As his age progresses he describes the acclamation of
pain in his joints and bones throughout the years but plans to faces these
challenges head on anyway he can. His character was genuine and filled
with hopeful positive vibes that inspired me to continue my research.

Materials

An app on my smartphone that is used to record voice was used to record responses to

interview questions. During these sessions I used Microsoft word to enter notes or interesting

responses. These two methods were really easy to use and with internet access allowed me to

review my recordings and other data at any time with the most accessible device at any time

through the course of this research.

Procedure

Choosing to conduct interviews was self-evident when exploring this topic because the

only way to truly obtain the appropriate data needed to understand this issue and to find a
Food for Thought
10

possible solution was to get people open up and share. Not only was this process difficult for the

participants but also for myself because of the trust that to be established between both ends.

Even though the trust was more bestowed upon me I felt a certain responsibility to help the

participant through this research. It wasnt so much a weight on my back but clear light at the

end of the tunnel that seemed very distant as the interviews progressed. Eventually the

participants felt comfortable with discussing these details of their lives which was pretty

surprising and benefited my research greatly.

Within the next week, I was able to finalize the interview questions. After conducting

three interviews over the course of two weeks I reviewed the responses. Reviewing and

analyzing the responses I had trouble figuring out how to display these responses and what

excessive information to cut out. The following week, my mentor Ms.Ripsime and I went over

the responses collected. She suggested making a simple table chart and together we picked out

the most related responses and cut out any repeated statements. Another barrier in this process

was making sure I didn't cut out any response that related to an aspect of the topic regarding the

food crisis in low income communities. Then I got the permission of the participants to publicize

their responses with an alias.

By the next week, I was able to meet again with my mentor Ms.Ripsome who is a

nutrition specialist and active member in the community regarding accessibility of nutritional
Food for Thought
11

food for the poor. We discussed the meaning of these findings and what can be done to combat

this form of inequality that seems to be overlooked.

Interview Questions/Discussion Points

1. Do you feel like you have enough choices regarding what you eat

on daily basis?
2. How accessible is fresh harvest and produce from your home?
3. How far is the nearest establishment which carry fresh produce?
4. Does your income allow you to purchase produce at these markets

or any other markets you know of?

5. What resources do you know of that assist in obtaining any

produce or harvest? How effective are they?

6. How many times a week are you able to consume any type of

produce? Do feel like this is a sufficient amount for your body's nutritional needs?
7. What does the food you consume throughout the week look like?

How do these foods make you feel and what type of energy do you feel they give you?
8. Are you familiar with your body's nutritional needs or are

conscious of your health?

9. How does culture, customs or family heritage play a role in what

you consume?
10. What role do you think nutrition plays in correlation to your

successfulness in life?

Table 2: Responses to interview question as a whole.

Participant Questions

s
Food for Thought
12

Ms. Well, I always have choices when it comes what I eat, I just feel like the

Gonzales spectrum is limited. I live on a very tight budget which

limits what I can eat. I usually like to have at least 5 fruits

or vegetables a week in the house. To acquire these, I take

the train then two buses North of downtown Los Angeles.

There is this outlet style grocery store that has a lot of

produce for prices I can afford. I usually like to set aside

about 20 dollars a month for fresh produce. The only con

about this establishment is that their produce is not always

of the best quality. The Ralph's in downtown L.A. would

be the closest place to my home that carries produce.

Even though this would be most convenient I cannot shop

here because I often find the price of harvest to high and

just doesn't fit my budget. Most times I get most the food

for my sons and 1 at the food pantry at the food bank at

Immanuel Presbyterian Church. They help me obtain a lot

of things we consume like beans, lentils, microwaveable

foods, juice and some produce. This resource has been

Food for Thought
13

essential since I too find myself using these resource

when I dont have enough money to go the grocery store.

I try to consume at least 3 or more fruits myself and

basically force my two boys to eat one every day here at

home and at school. Many times I give them my portions

because I am afraid it will effective their development. I

personally dont believe I consume enough foods

containing the right amount of nutrition for me. I feel that

at most times I dont get enough nutrients. Food with

nutrients are often sacrificed and replaced with more

affordable foods that help me budget. Throughout the

week I eat Oatmeal or eggs for breakfast with my

children. I like having a good heavy breakfast I usually

accompany these main courses with milk if, if any left for

a two-week period, or fruit. Of course these sides only

apply to myself if there is any left after feeding my two

boys. When a complete breakfast is available it usually

gives a healthy energy to start my day at work. For lunch I

Food for Thought
14

usually pack myself a peanut butter sandwich a nature

valley bar. This as well gives me more energy to complete

my tasks at work but then Ill get hungry again and I'll

buy a burger at the nearest Carls Junior or tacos at Jack in

the Box. This satisfies my appetite for the time being but I

already know Im going to be hungry around four again

so I just wait until I pick my boys at 7 from their program.

From there we usually go home and Ill prepare some

beans or heat some can foods I get from food pantry like

soups or sausages. The times that we run out of thing to

prepare we usually buy food at the fast food restaurants

nearby like McDonalds, KFC and Carls Junior. I do this

until I going to the grocery store fits in my budget for the

following week to come. Yes, Im familiar with my

dietary needs and try to be conscious of my health. I

wont lie, I've grown custom to this countrys infatuation

with fast food I have a taste for these types of food. Im

conscious of my health and what I put in my body but

Food for Thought
15

ultimately what I eat is based on budget and convenience

to my home and work. Well, cultural I am accustoming to

eating greasy foods. I guess Ive had a taste for it, my

parents cooked with a lot of grease and theirs as well. I do

truly believe good nutrition is important and is in

complete correlation with success in life. Thats why I try

to push it in the boys anytime I can.

Lloyd No, not really. All up and down the boulevard I live on all there is are

fast food places like Mickey D's, Church's Chicken, Chinese food and

taco stands. I guess its only natural since all these establishments cater

to what seems to be local taste around here. Produce is advertised at

some of local small business stores but most the time quality is not good

and usually overpriced. If I want to get fresh fruits I have to take the bus

to the nearest Johns Groceries Store which is about a 30 minute right not

including the amount of time it takes the bus to arrive at the stop by my

apartment. My income allows me to supply myself with produce for a

time, and then its kind of on and off throughout the month. I know there

are food pantries but the nearest one to my home is always packed and

its first come first serve. Also most of fresh produce runs out the fastest
Food for Thought
16

and then all there is microwaveable soups and pastries. I would say I

consume on average about 4 fruits a week. I would eat a lot more but

sometimes my check is smaller than I calculated so Im constantly

adjusting and making sacrifices in which my nutrition suffers the most.

Throughout the week I have a breakfast that consists of coffee and a pop

tart or cookies. Milk too most of the time. Then for lunch I either have

grilled cheese packed or I buy something at the taco stand. Lately I have

been skipping lunch entirely then buying a big combo meal at Tams, a

fast food place that sales burgers. The other time I'll prepare some

chicken or heat up some can food. The majority of the things I consume

are processed basically. I feel like the energy I get from these foods give

me quick rush of energy but I eventually crash hard end up feeling like

crap. Im aware of my body's nutritional needs I just choose what is most

convenient and what fits in my budget. Sometimes Ill try to make up for

the nutrition gaps by catching up with fresh produce and other

wholesome foods but I really dont think that makes a difference

especially since Im not really able to do so often. Growing up with my

mother eating fried chicken and other greasy foods seemed be a common
Food for Thought
17

occurrence, even the way we bonded which happened in those moments.

I wouldnt say it had a huge influence but I do find myself counting the

same path. I understand now my mother would make these sacrifices.

She never wanted to leave me with an empty stomach. I think what you

eat is a huge factor in success in daily living. For example, when I eat

nutrition filled meals I get a comfortable energy that really equips me

complete my goals for the. Unfortunately having at least some sort of

food in me is better than having nothing at all.

Mr. I do believe I have choices regarding what I consume on several

Fletcher occasions throughout the week. Some days I do not and have to stick

with an arrangement that accommodates my budget. By my apartment

there is a food pantry organization at a church called Immanuel

Presbyterian. They often provide me with can food, soups and produce

like apple, oranges, spinach and tomatoes. I am fortunate that many

times my income me not to sacrifice nutritional needs even if they may

be costlier than other foods. I am usually able to consume fresh harvest

about 4 times a week maybe 5. I know I should be consuming more

which is a recurring goal of fine that I try to accomplish. On those days I

try and complete my nutritional standards but the only difficult thing is
Food for Thought
18

being able to acquire these products since near my neighborhood not

many places sell fresh produce. I take public transportation to the nearest

grocery store with fresh fruits and veggies. This is usually about an hour

long trip due to inconsistencies in bus arrivals and distance from the

stops. Many times at the food pantry they run out of produce and whats

left are the items with high sodium which I cant risk putting more than

suggested amount in my body due to my health. So it's not always an

option but I still use this resource. Well I like to prepare an omelet or

oatmeal in the morning with either milk or hot tea. For lunch I take my

fruit servings if possible with pinto beans or ham sandwich. Or

sometimes I'll have microwaveable chicken nuggets. For dinner I eat

some veggies with chicken breast from the nearby market. When I run

out of those things I usually go to a small restaurant. It's a family owned

Central American restaurant with reasonable prices and accommodates to

my health and nutrition needs. Almost all popular dishes from region

contain a lot of grease, salts and fats. A Lot of foods are just seasoned

and dipped with those things. Fortunately the owner makes

recommendations for me by saving me the dishes with least of salts,fats

Food for Thought
19

and grease with helps me my eating schedule more flexible to my

budget. The plates I usually get there are rice with pork or chicken meat.

Sometimes I get burritos and tacos. I feel like the food from the small

restaurant gives me good energy. The only negative part is that it makes

me feel a little bit bloated or irregular. Also on occasion acid reflux and

heartburn which my doctor has told me to watch out for. The energy

from the foods I prepare at home like the roasted and seasoned veggies

or cut chicken makes me more alert and aware if anything. Yes, I am

aware of my body's nutritional needs. I visit my doctor at least 3 times

every 6 months. I grow up eating mostly at home. Its influences what I

eat today since I cook A lot at home so mother taught me all I know. I

use the same styles and techniques she used when cooking on a budget

herself. I guess the culture of eating at home most nights have made me

more prone to eat out many times since I didn't when I was younger.

Well, appropriate nutrition ultimately corresponds with survival at this

point in my life. As a senior citizen the choices I make determine the

quality of my life so having my appropriate nutrition standards meet is

truly essential.
Food for Thought
20

In the low income community of Westlake MacArthur about 62 percent of residents do not have
high school education or higher and about 55 percent earn less than 25,000 dollars a year. All
participants fall under this category. All participants except Ms. Gonzales finished high school.
In addition, stores in low-income carry mostly lower quality healthy foods which were seen
evident in most of all of the businesses which sold grocery along Pico to Alvarado Street. These
high percentages are alarming because they do not reflect those in middle class communities.
These "food deserts" are not seen in areas outside low income community

Results

Surprisingly each three of the interviews conducted became discussions and participants

elaborated on every point. Having the questions presented as discussion points benefited my

research allowed myself to really dissect some areas that has seemed unclear or unexplored and

also made participants more comfortable resulting in precise data regarding the food crisis in

low-income communities. These question were constructed to identify patterns in nutrition lacks

with the constant variable of environment and income. In doing so I am able to find factors

contributing to nutrition gaps and present a possible solution. to see how nutrition and

accessibility looks like in the participants everyday life. The following research shows

similarities among participants with regards to factors linked with malnutrition.

Discussion & Conclusion

The results in table 1 revealed how pursuing a healthy nutrient filled diet looks like in the

low-income community of Westlake while research highlights similarities between the

participants and current education, quality of food and income levels in the area of Westlake

MacArthur. Initially my hypothesis was that residents in low income communities obtain less
Food for Thought
21

wholesome and nutritional foods due to lack of resources and availability issues. These factors of

affordability and accessibility are recurring topics when talking to the participants. It is a

similarity they share but these cruel factors did not stop them from trying to obtain nutrition

when they could. When considering budget, resources and accessibility I was able to come up

with a possible solution. After extensive research and how other communities confronted these

issues I was able to meet with the supervisor of Urban Community Gardening Jose Ballista at

UNIDAD park located across the street of Hermosa Park. There is a small space reserved in this

park specifically for cultivation. After recent laws passed pertaining regulation of cultivation in

Los Angeles it is now legal to privately cultivate and grow fruits and vegetables. Many

organizations that provide resources to low income communities have been given reserved

spaces all across Downtown Los Angeles's parks to cultivate produce. After meeting with

Mr.Ballista we able make community members aware of this valuable resource this is needed.

The solution I present to the participants is growing their own food to become self sufficient.

Each participant seemed pretty excited. Floyd seemed a little hesitant since he didn't know if you

have the time to cultivate and was intimidated since he had never grown anything before. He also

believes that it would be too time consuming. So after hearing this all three participants and I

were able to accommodate his needs with the help of other community members who use the

same space. All participants share the space at UNIDAD park in downtown Los Angeles to
Food for Thought
22

cultivate their own fruits and vegetables. Due to the massive water usage and other costs they are

being assisted by organization coordinators that specializes in field. They use a Tower Garden

System (TGS). This system is soil-less and due to its vertical aeroponic design, uses 90 percent

less water than soil-based farming. The plants grown are supervised and thrive on purified water

and micro nutrients. Crops being grown require fewer fossil fuels and create a platform for

community members to deliver local to create revenue, and provide sustainable foods in their

area. Based on other communities that have implemented this system this system while facing

the same factors. Not only does this benefit community members but on average contribute about

9,000 dollars a year in tax revenue. Based on recent projects these gardens saves between 75 to

380 dollars per season. Also local agriculture conserves resources. Studies also show that

community gardeners provide themselves and family with more nutrition filled diets apposed to

non gardening families.

Reflection

Coming into this research I must admit I had somewhat of a bias regarding the factors

contributing to the inaccessibility of nutritious food. Starting this project in Junior year I was

extremely passionate about this issue regarding the food deserts in my area and the

socioeconomics surrounding nutrition. Growing up my family and I were effected by the factors

presented times. A Lot of the research was done as a Junior and more was added senior year.
Food for Thought
23

Originally my research paper was just exploring the factors that made it difficult for members in

the low income community to access nutrition but after reading over it countless times and

discussions with my mentor Ms.Ripsime I came to the conclusion that the solution would also be

presented my my research. I feared that my paper would surround itself around research already

conconducted. What the research did was see how the percentages related to the participants who

lived in these areas. When discussing with the participants I learned things about myself that I

didn't know. I learned that I have an ability to sometimes really connect with people. Before this

project I wouldn't really consider myself as a social person but through research I've noticed a

growth in speaking skills. I learned that if I really listened to my participants I could really

dissect and pull apart the issue because ultimately the answers where in them since they have the

most experience with the issue. I also learned why these resources like the food pantry often

failed to reach out to their community. Less contributions containing nutritious food as but more

foods with substances that threaten development. Upon reflecting on this project I realized that I

should have started the solution section much earlier. This would have have allowed me to make

more observation and have more data to compare. I could have compared the costs and labor vs.

benefits. This would have made for a more complete analysis since I would have data from two

sides of the issue. Also it may have made the research centered around the solution with more

supporting data.
Food for Thought
24