Whenever we try to encourage healthy behaviors, it’s important to look at the practical aspects of a solution. Remember the challenges health care workers in Third World Countries faced with compliance when they introduced drugs to HIV patients? It’s tough to take drugs on time without clocks.
Education is, of course, very important. However, nutritional education alone won’t insure that people will eat more fruits and vegetables. In many parts of New York City, fresh produce is simply not available.
“In low income neighborhoods, we know that it takes more time to build supermarkets. But we can get the carts on the streets right now” said Karen Karp, the food policy coordinator for the Bloomberg administration.
And the city is doing just that. The New York City council has approved a plan to put 1,000 vending carts in neighborhoods that have lacked access to fresh foods. There are already 200 carts on the street. The plan will ultimately provide 1,000 new jobs and allow residents of neighborhoods which have been called “food deserts” a healthy, cost effective source of fresh produce.
Let’s keep thinking outside the box. There are wonderful solutions to many of the challenges we face if we just see the big picture and think outside the box.
Customers Prove There’s a Market for Fresh Vegetables
Whenever we try to encourage healthy behaviors, it’s important to look at the practical aspects of a solution. Remember the challenges health care workers in Third World Countries faced with compliance when they introduced drugs to HIV patients? It’s tough to take drugs on time without clocks.
Education is, of course, very important. However, nutritional education alone won’t insure that people will eat more fruits and vegetables. In many parts of New York City, fresh produce is simply not available.
“In low income neighborhoods, we know that it takes more time to build supermarkets. But we can get the carts on the streets right now” said Karen Karp, the food policy coordinator for the Bloomberg administration.
And the city is doing just that. The New York City council has approved a plan to put 1,000 vending carts in neighborhoods that have lacked access to fresh foods. There are already 200 carts on the street. The plan will ultimately provide 1,000 new jobs and allow residents of neighborhoods which have been called “food deserts” a healthy, cost effective source of fresh produce.
Let’s keep thinking outside the box. There are wonderful solutions to many of the challenges we face if we just see the big picture and think outside the box.
Customers Prove There’s a Market for Fresh Vegetables