FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Today, Let’s Be Whole has announced their new food distribution program called the “Whole Foods, Whole Families, Whole Communities” which aims to create “food sovereignty” and address the need for fresh whole foods such as organic fruits and vegetables in underserved communities with very little access to healthy grocery store and dining options in South Los Angeles.
The team at Let’s Be Whole will continue to promote nutrition education, offer workshops about how to plan and build a garden as well as how to juice with whole foods. They want to encourage low-income populations to increase their fruit and vegetable consumption and to care for the earth by reducing their waste and turning food waste into rich organic soil and products.
Inequitable access to healthy food is a major contributor to health disparities and a significant public health concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adult obesity rates are 51 percent higher for African Americans than whites, and 21 percent higher for Latinos. Black and Latino children are more likely to become obese than white children. A large and consistent body of evidence supports the fact that many low-income communities, communities of color, and sparsely populated rural areas do not have sufficient opportunities to buy healthy, affordable food.
Fruit and vegetable consumption falls well below recommendations in much of the US, particularly among African American, Latino and low income populations. Minority families often reside in neighborhoods with few supermarkets or alternative healthy food options (e.g., farmers markets, community gardens), making fresh produce difficult to obtain. These neighborhoods are classified as food deserts and lack full-service grocery stores, increasing the difficulty and expense of obtaining healthy foods
In Los Angeles there are 2.3 times as many supermarkets per household in low-poverty areas compared to high-poverty areas. Predominantly white areas have 3.2 times as many supermarkets as black areas and 1.7 times as many as Latino areas. Decreased access to healthy food means people in low-income communities suffer more from diet-related diseases like obesity and diabetes than those in higher income neighborhoods with easy access to healthy food, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables.
According to the American Planning Association: “Disparities in food access are influenced by geographic, economic, and social factors, but also by a community’s food production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste recovery policies and practices. Food access is not simply a health issue but also a community development and equity issue. For this reason, access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food is a key component not only in a healthy, sustainable local food system, but also in a healthy, sustainable community.”
Understanding the above statistics, Let’s Be Whole is committed to do its part to solve the food scarcity problem by distributing organic foods to those in need. Visit www.letsbewhole.com for upcoming locations and days of distribution.
ABOUT LET’S BE WHOLE
Founded in 2015 by actress-producer-humanitarian, Nina Womack, Let’s Be Whole is a socially-responsible, alternative health brand committed to helping underserved communities become empowered through a holistic healing approach of wellness geared for an individual’s physical, psychological and spiritual well being. Their mission is to address disadvantaged communities health needs by empowering them to find a naturopathic balance between the mind body and soul. Let’s Be Whole explores ancient healing techniques, holistic medicine, and modern knowledge to inform and support people on their own personal journey to health.
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