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Food habits of residents who live near corner stores (132.3)
Author(s) -
Young Taylor,
Swanson Ann,
Craven Tara,
Martin Donna,
Gibson Cheryl
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.132.3
Subject(s) - habit , environmental health , purchasing , healthy food , medicine , quality (philosophy) , food choice , focus group , marketing , geography , business , psychology , food science , social psychology , biology , philosophy , epistemology , pathology
Background. Working alongside small retail establishments, the Jackson County MO Healthy Corner Store Initiative aims to increase availability of healthy food items in communities with limited healthy food access. Food habit surveys were conducted in neighborhoods surrounding 4 targeted corner stores. Methods. Several strategies were used to distribute the food habit survey within the targeted areas, including mailed surveys, door‐to‐door canvassing, at focus group discussions, and online. Sample size estimates were calculated utilizing census data with consideration of abandoned and vacant households. Survey items included 24 questions about demographic characteristics and food behaviors. Results. A total of 423 food habit surveys were collected. The most important factors participants indicated when deciding where to purchase food were price (32%) and quality of food (26%). About one‐third of participants reported that they consumed only one serving of fruit and two servings of vegetables a day. Major barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption included price (40%) and spoilage time (41%). More than 60% of participants reported purchasing fruit and vegetables at least once a week, with 40% having to travel only 5 to 10 minutes to purchase items. Discussion. Overall, responses to the food habit surveys indicate that individuals are not eating adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables, although the vast majority reported not having to travel far to purchase items. Changing the perception of corner stores by offering a wider variety of low‐cost and high quality foods may enhance healthy food intake among residents. Grant Funding Source : Supported by CDC