KNIKA

One of the many goals of the Let’s Move campaign is to:

Make Healthy Food Affordable and Accessible

More than 23 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, live in low-income urban and rural neighborhoods that are more than a mile from a supermarket. These communities, where access to affordable, quality, nutritious food is lacking are also known as food deserts. Lack of access is one reason why many children are not eating recommended levels of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Food insecurity and hunger among children is widespread. A recent USDA report showed that in 2008, an estimated 49 million people, including 17 million children, lived in households that experienced hunger multiple times throughout the year.

Mayors and municipal officials can expand the availability of affordable, healthy food in their communities by taking the following steps:

• Offer incentives to new and/or existing food retailers to offer healthier food and beverage choices in underserved areas.
• Pass food policies that require food and beverages purchased with government funds to meet certain nutrition standards.
• Support the sale of local foods across the community by offering incentives and encouraging the establishment of farmers’ markets.
  • Encourage local food retailers and farmers markets to accept SNAP (food stamps) and WIC Program benefits.
  • Encourage local foundations to sponsor Electronic Benefit Transfer matching programs at farmers markets.
• Establish a policy to apply nutrition standards to all food sold (e.g., meal menus and vending machines) within local government facilities.
• Require access to free and safe drinking water in public places.
• Ensure that residents can access healthy and affordable food through public transportation—by realigning bus routes, providing free shuttles, or other means.
• Promote policies that support and protect community gardens. For example, mayors can work with local neighborhoods to convert blighted areas into green spaces that can be used for community gardens.
• Connect families with nutrition programs like SNAP and the emergency food system.
• Form a local food policy council or participate in an existing one.

To see more goals click the link: http://www.letsmove.gov/cities_and_towns.html