Healthy Bodega Initiative
March 16, 2016
Bodegas are a huge source of food in food deserts. However, there are very limited healthy options. … More Healthy Bodega Initiative
Tag: NYC
Addressing the Obesity Epidemic though Education
February 18, 2016
In Harlem, the root of the obesity epidemic lies in multiple factors. First, there is the issue of access. A survey (coming soon!) of the streets of Harlem shows that there is very limited access to supermarkets, farmers markets, and other sources of fresh foods. The primary source of food for low income Harlem residents … More Addressing the Obesity Epidemic though Education
Advertising and Obesity
January 30, 2016
We are drowning in obesity. Today, a third of the adults in the United States are obese. 17 percent, or 12.7 million children ages 2-19 are overweight. Statistics are ominous. By 2030, the obesity rate is projected to hover around 50%. The numbers on the obesity rate split-flap increase, as do those in media consumption. … More Advertising and Obesity
Green Carts: Pushing NYC’s way to a healthy future
November 19, 2015
In a city with limited space resources, taking commerce to the streets is normal. New York City is characterized by its street vendors, selling everything from hot dogs to books to used clothes, to art. However, there are more people wanting to sell on the streets, than there are actual permits. (Yes, one needs a permit to have his … More Green Carts: Pushing NYC’s way to a healthy future
The Meal Gap
October 16, 2015
In New York City, we measure distances by avenues and streets, the wait for the subway, or the amount of time spent hailing a cab. However, NYC’s official measure of food insecurity is the “Meal Gap,” which represents the meals missing from households with limited budgets for food. foodbank.nyc.org mapped out the meal gap in … More The Meal Gap
SNAP: An Overview
July 9, 2015
What is SNAP? In a nutshell, SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal assistance program that helps low-income people buy food, plants and seeds for nourishment. (USDA) These benefits are “wired” through electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards. More than 1.8 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP. Most however, don’t know that they’re eligible! … More SNAP: An Overview
What Is a Food Desert?
June 8, 2015
Good question. To answer that, first, I want to share a few statistics with you. In a survey published by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, it was shown that 65.4% of stores in Central Harlem, and 66.2% in East Harlem, were bodegas. Bodegas are small grocery-stores, with convenient hours and locations. However, bodegas … More What Is a Food Desert?
The Food Crisis in NYC: An Overview
June 8, 2015
New York City is known for its fantastic cuisine–you can find anything here. But is that safe to say for all NYC residents? It may seem implausible that NYC, foodie’s paradise, is the home of one of the most severe food deserts. Read an Urban Studies paper from Columbia University about the Harlem food desert right here.
The Harlem Food Project 