Healthy Eating Strategy #5

Our Healthier Communities Initiatives are built on the concept that local communities can work together to give all community members healthy choices and support the pursuit of healthy lifestyles. More than 160 Ys are working in collaboration with community leaders to make changes in policies and the physical surroundings in those communities so that healthy living is within reach for individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

Increase and Promote Healthy Food Options in Corner Stores

Corner stores are often the only available sources of food in low-income neighborhoods. Stocking healthy foods and promoting those healthy items through redesign of the store space and promotional signs can increase sales of healthy foods.

In low-income neighborhoods, corner stores are often the only readily available sources of food for residents. Research has shown that stocking healthy foods and promoting those healthy items in corner stores through redesign of the store space and promotional signs typically had a significant increase on sales of healthy foods (e.g., produce). Furthermore, with training and education, store owners showed increased willingness to stock and sell healthy food and a greater self-efficacy to do so. Interactive nutrition education sessions provided through corner stores increased healthy food intentions and healthy food preparation in customers. Together, these positive changes are expected to improve residents’ health.

References

1. Bodor, J.N., Ulmer, V.M., Dunaway, L.F., Farley, T.A., & Rose, D. (2010). The rationale behind small food store interventions in low-income urban neighborhoods: Insights from New Orleans. Journal of Nutrition, 140(6), 1185–1188.
    
2. Bolen, E., & Hecht, K. (2003). California Food Policy Advocates. Neighborhood groceries: New access to healthy food in low-income communities. San Francisco, California.
    
3. D.C. Hunger Solutions. (2010). Pushing vegetables, fruits on the corner. Howard University News Service.
    
4. Gittelsohn, J., Song, H.J., Suratkar, S., Kumar, M.B., Henry, E.G., Sharma, S., Mattingly, M., & Anliker, J.A. (2010). An urban food store intervention positively affects food-related psychosocial variables and food behaviors. Health Education & Behavior, 37(3).
    
5. Hartford Food Systems. (2007). Strategies that work: Healthy food retailers in Hartford’s neighborhoods. www.hartfordfood.org.
    
6. Healthy Corner Stores Network. (2010). Twenty corner stores selling produce in Detroit. Supermarket News. http://healthycornerstores.org.
    
7. NYC Healthy Bodegas Initiative. (2010). Healthy Bodegas Report, Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Center for Economic Opportunity. http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cdp/cdp_pan_hbi.shtml.
    
8. Song, H.J., Gittelsohn, J., Kim, M., Suratkar, S., Sharma, S., & Anliker, J., (2009). A corner store intervention in a low-income urban community is associated with increased availability and sales of some healthy foods. Public Health Nutrition, 12(11), 2060–2067.