Community Nutrition Project For Collier County

For most Americans, the word poverty means insufficient access to to housing, clothing and nutritious food that meet their needs for a healthy life. A consequence of poverty is a low socioeconomic status that leads to being exposed to poor nutrition. Since food and dietary choices are influenced by income, poverty and nutrition go hand in hand. There are many important factors that threaten the nutritional status of poor people. The number one factor is not having enough money to buy food of good quality and quantity. Not having enough money can have a profound impact on the diets of low-income people. Limited financial resources may force low income people to make difficult decisions about what kind and how much food to buy. Limited

Diverse groups in American society are often the most marginalized and therefore the most vulnerable to issues that undermine the fair and uncomplicated pursuit of health and wellbeing. One of those issues is the lack of access to affordable healthy food and, in many cases, the inaccessibility to food in general. Areas where affordable and healthy foods are largely unavailable are called food deserts and the members of the diverse groups that live in such areas or that have access to very little food at all often develop a sense of food insecurity. One of the groups that is increasingly impacted by food deserts and food insecurity is the nation’s elderly population which is, by most standards, defined as those individuals aged 65 and older. The following paper investigates this phenomenon by addressing the elderly population of Ada County, Idaho as representative of this diverse and often disenfranchised population. The paper investigates the issue of food deserts and food insecurity that threaten the health and wellbeing of the elderly in the context of the various elements of social determinants of health that contribute to their development and persistence. The paper also includes proposals for individual and population-based strategies to improve access to healthy and affordable food by this population as well as improve the health and wellbeing of its members.

Over 8.2 million seniors over the age 60 face the threat of food insecurity, up 78% from a decade ago affecting one in seven seniors. The rise in food insecurity is primarily seen among senior Americans with income less than $30,000 or one to two times the poverty level. Younger seniors between the ages 60-69 are becoming more likely to become food insecure than older adults, due to early retirements and not being able to rely on Social Security or Medicare until they reach 65. Elder malnourished patients experience 2 to 20 times more complications and 100% longer hospital stays. Good nutrition is vital to helping America’s 34 million seniors to stay healthy,

Traditionally, nutrition programs were targeted to the indigent and poor populations in developing countries. Many of today's Americans are malnourished also, but they are inundated with unhealthy foods and require a multidisciplinary approach to nutrition education. What would be the three most important points to include in a public nutrition program? Provide current literature to support your answer and include two nutritional education community resources.

The Quad Cities Area adult population generally fails to meet the USDA’s recommended dietary guideline of consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, with only 35.7% reporting meeting these guidelines (Professional Research Consultants, 2015). This policy analysis will review current community efforts within the Quad Cities area that are concentrating on improving fruit and vegetable consumption of area adults. Additional policy options to help increase access, knowledge and skills regarding fruit and vegetable consumption will also be reviewed in terms of strengths, weaknesses, feasibility, and economic impact.

For numerous amounts of people, fruits and vegetables may take a backseat to other foods such as junk food, but for many these healthy food choices are just not options. This is a very widespread issue that has swept the nation and the individual cities that formulate it. In particular, the lack of food security in Columbus, Ohio has had devastating effects for many residents, especially those who live in rural areas and the many underserved communities. These effects include being more prone to chronic diseases and unhealthy Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements. For adults “Twenty-five percent of Franklin County, Ohio, adults say they don’t eat five servings of foods and vegetables each day” (NLC). The residents of Columbus City should be able

The first article found was, “Socioeconomic Characteristics, Dietary and Lifestyle pattern, and Health and Weight Status of Older Adults in NHANES, A Comparison of Caucasians and African Americans”. The objectives of the study were to compare the socioeconomic, lifestyle, and health status of Caucasian (non-Hispanic whites) and African American (non-Hispanic blacks); to examine their food and nutrient intakes; and to compare their body weight status (Bowman, 2009). This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The data collected included, dietary intakes, physical activity, economic and health status. The subjects that were chosen in this study included 1,398 Caucasian adults and 354 African American adults age 65 and older that had complete and reliable dietary intake data on day 1 on the survey. The dietary dada was collected using an interviewer- assisted, 24 hour recall method. The socioeconomic

The United States is experiencing social issues related to food insecurity and hunger. Current research states that older adults are especially vulnerable to food insecurity. In a study published in the Journal of Urban Health states, “Among the 14.6% of American households experiencing food insecurity, approximately 2 million are occupied by older adults” (Chung, Gallo, Giunta, Canavan, Parikh, & Fahs, 2011, p. 1). Since the year 2011 the Athens Community Council on Aging reports, “Almost 9 million older adults in the United States are at risk for hunger, and Georgia is 8th in state rankings for older adult risk of hunger” (2014, p. 1). Fortunately, in North America, hunger seldom reaches

Gardens offer science and mathematics lessons in enjoyable, hands-on situations that permit children to “think with their hands”. Gardens help teach communities and endorse sustainable, local foods while also providing critical science and mathematics lessons to elementary students. Gardens also teach children life lessons such as patience and accountability as they nurture plants. Research done by the University of Alabama demonstrates that children’s participation in gardens leads to healthier food choices, more compliance to try or eat vegetables, improved plant knowledge, greater interest in learning, and increased reading and math standardized test scores. Students who participated in gardening had a six percent lower body mass index, an average of eleven percent higher standardized test scores, and twenty-seven percent more vegetable consumption (Grider). For many students, school can be a uninteresting but required exercise where paying attention and retaining information becomes a tedious endeavor. When an active teacher decides to teach science through gardening and hands-on experience, they will discover that students are more engaged with a higher voluntary participation rate. NWFSC should start a garden because of the possible learning opportunities that can be available to local elementary

In the United States the children and our elderly population are most vulnerable. A need that needs to be addressed is that older adults have a lack of income. This mean that older adults do not have much money for food, because they have a harder time finding work that is not too labor intense. A program that I propose that would service our older population would be provided meals to older adults in the community. The goals and needs that my service program would satisfied would be food insecurity and the goal would be to increase socialization and promote community involvement. A Congregate meals site in the local community center would serve low income to no income older adults who have a need for food. Congregate meals would provide a good warm and nutritious meal and it would address the hunger and food insecurity that many older adults are facing in many poor communities. I did independent research on similar programs and services that were similar to my service program.

The first item on the agenda was the “ Analysis of the Food Insecurity Lectureship by the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute.” Joanna Puddister-King led a discussion on the significance of information presented at the event. Several community organizations attended the meeting ( MS Food Network, Good Samaritans, Society for St Anthony, Jeremiah’s Bread, MS Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, etc.). They were extremely impressed by information they received and the panel discussion. They were also interested in our next events.

All students K-12 will be required to take at least one nutrition course per year in order to graduate. The class will entail lecture-style learning and hands-on activities by means of community gardens. WASD, in conjunction with the Future Farmers of America and the Wellsboro Master Gardening Club will start community gardens at each of the four schools. Students will gain first-hand experience growing fruits and vegetables while learning about their nutrient content. Throughout the duration of the policy, registered dietitians and nutritionists from Susquehanna Health, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital, and other local agencies will be invited to give special presentations.

Kid 's Gardening Classes for Summer 2008 are the perfect solution for an adventure for the young gardener in your home. Summer Camp for the Young Horticulturist is a great opportunity for kids to join their peers who also enjoy working in the garden and cultivating new life through growing plants. Having the ability to grow something is a special talent and kids with Green Thumbs know well the fulfillment of watching a plant grow from a seedling to a full-fledged plant. The Kid 's Gardening Classes for Summer 2008 provides a unique environment among others who love and enjoy the art of gardening under the tutelage of an experienced gardener. The Kid 's Gardening Classes for Summer 2008 will be held June 23rd through 27th between the hours of 9:00AM and 12:00PM. This particular class is designed for children between the grades pf 2nd to 4th. The fee for attendance in the Kid 's Gardening Classes for Summer 2008 is $150.00 per child. The Kid 's Gardening Classes for Summer 2008 include a well- rounded curriculum including learning to grow fruits, vegetables and flowering plants. Campers learn all the basics of gardening including learning about the life cycle of nature. Other important aspects learned in the Kid 's Gardening Classes for Summer 2008 include learning about nutrition as it pertains to fresh vegetables. Other learning aspects of the Kid 's Gardening Classes for Summer 2008 include campers learning how to start a raised garden bag, working with organic pest

Nutritional well-being plays an essential role in the overall health, independence, and quality of life of older persons as well as disabled persons. This nation has a responsibility to at risk populations such as the elderly. Today, there are close to 6 million seniors in the United States facing the threat of hunger. Some of these citizens were raised during the Great Depression, they went on to protect our independence in the Second World War and won the cold war. America's older citizens have been called the greatest generation by many. It is morally wrong that the citizens that built this country should suffer starvation in this land of plenty, which they helped to form. Our country

      At any age, nutrition is vital to maintaining health and enhancing quality of life.  However, achieving good nutrition can be especially difficult for the elderly, the fastest growing portion of America's population.  Many factors, including physiological changes, changes in nutritional needs, illness and physical limitations, food-medication interactions, depression and loneliness, and food insecurity are common causes of malnutrition in the elderly.  This paper will explore factors affecting elderly nutrition, provide suggestions for obtaining and maintaining good nutrition after age 65, and describe the services available to help the elderly meet their nutritional needs.