Why addressing food insecurity and promoting local food

Why addressing food insecurity and promoting local food systems is good for the health of New Mexico Denee Bex, MPH, RD, LD, Tséhootsooí Medical Center

My story with local food Born & raised on the Navajo Nation Cultural & local food was always present growing up Working with grandmother in corn & squash field Butchering and preparing sheep Gathering with family on the weekends Learning traditional food practices from family

Social Determinants of Health in Nutrition Socioeconomic status Education Neighborhood Physical environment Employment Social support networks Access to health care Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. 1 Access to healthy food Access to clean water 1 The National Center on Nutrition & Aging. (2020). Nutrition, Food & Health Social Determinants of Health. Retrieved July 29, 2020, from https: //nutritionandaging. org/nutrition-food-health/social-determinants-of-health/

Social Determinants of Health in Nutrition in My Community Navajo citizens are disproportionately impacted by diet-related diseases. 3 in 4 Navajo residents express some level of food insecurity. 1 USDA defines the Navajo Nation as a food desert. 2 51% travel off reservation for groceries and travel 155 -240 miles round trip. 2 1 out of every 4 residents do not have access to indoor plumbing or electricity. 2 1 Pardilla, M. , Prasad, D. , Suratkar, S. , & Gittelsohn, J. (2014). High levels of household food insecurity on the Navajo Nation. Public Health Nutrition, 17(1), 58 -65. 2 Dine Policy Institute. (2014). Dine Food Sovereignty: A Report on the Navajo Nation Food System and the case to rebuild a self-sufficent food system for the Dine people. Retrieved from https: //www. dinecollege. edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/dpi-food-sovereignty-report. pdf.

How supporting local food shapes my practice 11% of New Mexico residents are AI/AN 1 Health professionals and policymakers are realizing increasing access to local food can improve health of individuals and community 2 Supporting local food initiatives is imperative to community health, especially for food insecure regions, to increase access to healthful foods. 1 United States Census Bureau. (2019). Quick. Facts New Mexico. Retrieved July 31, 2020, from https: //www. census. gov/quickfacts/NM 2 Lucan S. C. (2019). Local Food Sources to Promote Community Nutrition and Health: Storefront Businesses, Farmers' Markets, and a Case for Mobile Food Vending. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 119(1), 39– 44.

1 Lee, K. (2020, March 29). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from https: //www. latimes. com/world-nation/story/2020 -03 -29/no-running-water-no-electricity-in-navajo-nation-coronaviruscreates-worry-and-confusion-as-cases-surge 2 Morales, L. (2020, July 28). Navajo Nation Sees Farming Renaissance During Coronavirus Pandemic. Retrieved July 29, 2020, from National Public Radio: https: //www. npr. org/2020/07/28/895735482/navajo-nation-sees-farming-renaissance-during-coronavirus-pandemic

How supporting local food shapes my practice Improving access to local food via farmers markets was associated with increased f/v consumption. 1 Increasing access to local food and encouraging food insecure community members can be one way to address the SDOH. Recognize health is multi-faceted and must involve advocacy at social, economical, & political levels to improve community health and food environments. 1 Jilcott Pitts, S. B. , Gustafson, A. , Wu, Q. , Leah Mayo, M. , Ward, R. K. , Mc. Guirt, J. T. , Rafferty, A. P. , Lancaster, M. F. , Evenson, K. R. , Keyserling, T. C. , & Ammerman, A. S. (2014). Farmers' market use is associated with fruit and vegetable consumption in diverse southern rural communities. Nutrition journal, 13, 1.

Local food starts with the family