A **food desert** is a geographic area where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food. This often occurs in low-income neighborhoods where grocery stores are scarce, and people may rely on convenience stores or fast food outlets that typically offer less healthy options.

Key characteristics of food deserts include:

- **Limited Grocery Stores**: Few or no supermarkets or fresh food markets.

- **Low Income**: Higher rates of poverty among residents, making it difficult to afford healthy food.

- **Transportation Barriers**: Lack of reliable transportation can hinder access to stores that offer healthy options.

- **Health Impacts**: Increased risk of diet-related health issues, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Efforts to address food deserts often include initiatives to improve access to healthy foods, such as community gardens, farmers' markets, and mobile food markets.

In Nashville, a **food desert** refers to specific neighborhoods where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food options, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables. This issue is often exacerbated by a combination of factors, including:

- **Low-Income Areas**: Many food deserts are located in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods where residents may struggle to afford healthy food.

- **Limited Grocery Stores**: Certain areas lack full-service grocery stores, making it challenging for residents to purchase fresh food. Instead, they may have access only to convenience stores or fast food.

- **Transportation Issues**: Some residents may not have reliable transportation to reach grocery stores that offer healthier options.

Efforts to combat food deserts in Nashville include community initiatives, partnerships with local organizations, and the establishment of farmers' markets and mobile food trucks to provide better access to nutritious food.

Brinley HinemanNashville Tennessean

Who eats and who doesn't? 

That's the question Middle Tennessee experts worked to answer Thursday night at the virtual Tennessee Local Food Summit annual conference. The organization advocates for better access to fresh foods and promotes farming. 

Attendees heard from university professors studying food insecurity, including Tennessee State University professor David Padgett and Vanderbilt University professor David Schlundt, both of whom have researched food availability in Nashville. 

Padgett found in 2003 that lower quality food stores were in predominately Black communities in Nashville. Schlundt confirmed the same when he created a map of food deserts in Nashville by relying on residence, store and census data. 

The map revealed a shocking statistic: 85% of residents in food deserts are Black. 

Padgett called the imbalance a "gross inequity."

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Schlundt identified four areas that have neighborhoods with food deserts: North Nashville, East Nashville, Edgehill and South Nashville. He said he couldn't find a better example of structural racism than this. 

What contributes to food deserts? Limited access to healthy food, transportation barriers and high levels of poverty, Schlundt said. 

Instead of grocery stores that are easily accessible, some neighborhoods have only convenience stores or corner markets. These types of shops don't always have fresh and healthy food.

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Padgett explained how lack of transportation creates "captive food populations" who are unable to travel far for food. He said relying on public transit to shop can add up to hours roundtrip, and that's without factoring in the time it takes to grocery shop.

And the coronavirus has only compounded Nashville's food disparity, said Shea Austin Cantu, who leads TSU's Community Nutrition Education Program. 

She pointed to how quickly soap and disinfectant wipes flew off the shelves during the beginning of the pandemic. Not only did people have to worry about having food to prepare, but they also struggled to do it safely. 

“There’s a disparity beyond food," she said.

Feeding America, a food bank nonprofit organization, projects that because of the coronavirus pandemic, almost 17% of Nashvillians lack food security. Based on 2018 data, the organization found that roughly 12% of Davidson County residents didn't have consistent access to food. 

Revitalizing a neighborhood with a community garden 

For Nella Pearl Frierson, growing food was just what she did to feed her family. But the way she kept her kids' stomachs full transformed into a neighborhood-wide initiative to bring fresh food to Brooklyn Heights.

Many of the neighborhood's residents are elderly and on fixed incomes. The closest grocery store is more than a mile away, leaving residents with few grocery options.

Frierson purchased vacant lots across the street from her home and transformed them into a community garden. 

“It's not just a garden," Frierson said. "It's the hub of the neighborhood.”

Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@tennessean.com and on Twitter @brinleyhineman.

Living in food desert areas can significantly impact health in several ways:

1. **Poor Nutrition**: Limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables leads to diets high in processed foods, which are often low in essential nutrients.

2. **Increased Obesity Rates**: The prevalence of fast food and convenience stores contributes to higher rates of obesity, as these options are often calorie-dense and nutrient-poor.

3. **Diet-Related Diseases**: Residents are at a greater risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension due to unhealthy eating habits.

4. **Mental Health Issues**: Food insecurity can lead to stress and anxiety, affecting mental health and overall well-being.

5. **Limited Health Resources**: Areas with food deserts may also lack healthcare facilities, making it difficult for residents to address health issues effectively.

Efforts to improve food access can help mitigate these health impacts by promoting healthier eating and improving overall community well-being.

Children living in food desert areas are particularly vulnerable to several negative effects:

1. **Nutritional Deficiencies**: Limited access to healthy foods can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients, impacting growth and development.

2. **Increased Obesity Risk**: A diet high in processed foods and low in fresh fruits and vegetables can contribute to higher rates of childhood obesity, which is linked to various health issues.

3. **Cognitive Development**: Poor nutrition can affect cognitive function and academic performance, leading to difficulties in learning and concentration.

4. **Behavioral Issues**: Studies suggest a link between poor nutrition and behavioral problems, such as increased hyperactivity and attention issues.

5. **Food Insecurity**: The stress of not having reliable access to food can lead to anxiety and emotional distress in children, affecting their mental health.

6. **Long-Term Health Consequences**: Children from food deserts are at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases later in life, perpetuating a cycle of health inequities.

Addressing food access in these areas is crucial for supporting the health and well-being of children.

This year’s Vanderbilt Child Health Poll shows that over 40% of Tennessee families report they are food insecure ― a similar proportion from last year. Most families (71%) say they have continued to change food spending habits due to high prices

Over 40% of Tennessee families with children say they are food insecure; 70% have changed spending on food

This year’s Vanderbilt Child Health Poll shows that over 40% of Tennessee families report they are food insecure ― a similar proportion from last year. Most families (71%) say they have continued to change food spending habits due to high prices.

The annual poll from the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy asked more than 1,000 Tennessee parents a series of questions on food security and the use of food assistance programs. In the poll, food insecurity was evaluated using a standardized questionnaire from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to the USDA, food insecurity occurs when “there is limited or uncertain availability of food or limited or uncertain ability to acquire food in socially acceptable ways.”

This year’s poll also found substantial racial disparities in food insecurity across Tennessee, with 49% of Black families reporting food insecurity compared to 40% of white families. Among families who have changed their food spending habits, 38% of Black parents versus 24% of white parents reported skipping a meal. There are also differences across grand regions of the state, with more food insecure families in West (49%) and East (43%) than in Middle (34%) Tennessee.

“The fact that 2 in 5 Tennessee families continue to struggle with food insecurity tells us that families need additional support to afford enough food. Ensuring that all children can access breakfast and lunch during the school day, which may be the only consistent meals for some, would be an important step toward supporting families and ensuring children have the nutrition needed to learn and thrive,” said Cristin Fritz, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Pediatrics at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and member of the Center.

Most recently, a bipartisan bill that would provide two meals to school-age children failed in a state House subcommittee on March 12.

“Food insecurity continues to be an enduring challenge for Tennessee children,” said Stephen Patrick, MD, MPH, a neonatologist at Monroe Carell and the William R Long Director of Child Health Policy. “When children are hungry, it hurts their ability to learn, play and grow. During the pandemic, we addressed food insecurity by providing free meals at schools. It was effective ― since these supports went away, we’ve seen food insecurity among Tennessee children rise. This is a solvable problem. No child should go hungry in our state.”

The Vanderbilt Child Health Poll is conducted annually in the fall and explores a variety of issues that impact Tennessee parents and their children. This year the Center asked questions about mental and behavioral health, insurance status, firearm safety and education concerns. The poll is funded in part by a grant from the Boedecker FoundationThey