Healthy Outlook Blog

Healthy Bodegas

By Britta Barrett | Posted June 17 2010

Food, Grocery Stores, Health Policy, New York City, Nutrition

A common issue for New Yorkers is the lack of good neighborhood grocery stores. Similar to other big cities, and most acutely in underprivileged parts, many residents have no other option than getting food from their local bodega, which generally stocks less healthy processed foods.

The stores regularly lack fresh produce, too, so customers may be forced to buy a bag of chips instead of a piece of fruit.

This situation can lead to a host of unhealthy eating habits, and higher rates of diabetes and obesity. Which is the inspiration for Healthy Bodegas, a project started by Red Jacket Orchards aimed at bringing healthy, local produce to underserved neighborhoods. The program takes food from their family farm Upstate, and partners with local corner stores who sell it in Brooklyn.

The project is reminiscent of the City-wide Healthy Bodegas Initiative, which provides healthier food options to 1,000 bodegas and gives helpful tips to make the best choices when you shop there.

Both of these initiatives show how small companies and city governments can make small, healthy changes that affect large groups of people. And they can easily be expanded to new areas or adopted in other cities.

What other ways might we create healthier food options in underserved neighborhoods?

ABOUT OUR BLOG

Our blog is a collection of thoughts and stories that serve as inspiration for what healthymagination is—a shared commitment to creating better health for more people. It’s written by the people behind healthymagination, as well as members of our advisory board and guest contributors from around the web.