Skip to content

Thanksgiving Week Q&A on Food Access and Security

Continuing our focus on food security and access, we have a Q&A with Arnell Hinkle, MPH, RD, CHES, executive director of CANFIT (Communities Adolescents Nutrition Fitness).  Arnell has been nationally recognized for her work providing culturally appropriate nutrition and physical activity education training resources emphasizing youth leadership.  Below is a brief excerpt of our conversation.

CTH Blog:
Arnell, why don’t we start with hearing about CANFIT, and how you are working to make sustainable change in low income communities and communities of color with regards to creating greater food access?

AH:
CANFIT was established in 1993 to bridge the gap between communities and policy makers when it comes to dietary and fitness issues for adolescents in lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color. Today, we focus on youth engagement; we see it as an investment in sustainable change. We have worked with kids who developed the Youth Food Bill of Rights. And one of our current efforts, called the MO Project, focuses on teaching youth to use social media to advocate for healthier communities.

CTH Blog:
In terms of food access, help us connect the dots. What are the links between food security and health? Between food access and this country’s obesity epidemic?

AH:
Here’s the bottom line: People need access to food that supports health. From my perspective, there are really two food systems in the United States – one for those with means, and one for those with fewer means. And for those with fewer means, the food that is easy to access tends to be fast food, highly processed foods, foods higher in fat, sugar and sodium, fewer fresh fruits and vegetables, and more foods that contain hormones or chemicals – some of which can be obesogenic. None of those things support health. A big step would be improving the quality of the foods available to those with fewer means through the emergency food system (e.g., food banks and pantries) and the federal food system (e.g., school lunches, meals for the elderly).

CTH Blog:
What are your thoughts on food access and security in a week like this, with a holiday so focused on food?

AH:
It’s a tough time. With unemployment and inflation, people have less to begin with. And when it comes to expenses, the food dollar tends to be more elastic. Things like rent and car payments – they are usually fixed. So it tends to be people’s food budgets that are affected. And even in a week like Thanksgiving, a lot of people are forced to buy less or buy food that is less expensive, but often less healthy.

CTH Blog:
So what’s a small step an individual can take that can lead to meaningful change?

AH:
Write or call your legislators. Let them know you’re concerned. Make your voice heard.

Read more about CANFIT’s story and its policy work on food- and fitness-related issues at canfit.org.

Back To Top