Shop Talk

Arugula no cure for food deserts-expert

Adam Drewnowski, director of the Nutritional Sciences Program at the University of Washington in Seattle, says the United States needs to take home economics into account as it battles childhood obesity and attempts to eradicate “food deserts”.

His comments come as first lady Michelle Obama has made it her mission to reduce childhood obesity within a generation. They also land  on the heels of a White House task force report that made several anti-obesity recommendations, including using cash incentives to bring more healthy, affordable food into the nation’s food deserts.

Food deserts, in general, are poor areas that are not served by traditional grocery stores.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 23.5 million people, including 6.5 million children, live in low-income areas that are more than a mile from a supermarket. Many of the people in that group are poor and about 1 million of them do not have access to a car. 

“Ensuring access to healthy, affordable foods is absolutely the way to go, however, access needs to be measured not only in terms of distance. It needs to be measured in terms of economic access,”  Drewnowski said.  “I think we’re making the assumption that if only a grocery store were closer, everyone would be eating fresh asparagus all day.”

While experts recommend eating the most nutritious foods — and some go further by encouraging more expensive fresh, local or organic items – Drewnowski said that for low-income groups, the focus should be on the most nutritious foods for the money.

He put together an Affordable Nutrition Index to help consumers identify such foods, which include carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, oranges and bananas. Also in the ANI are frozen and cooked fruits and vegetables as well as some prepared foods like select Campbell’s soups.

“The problems of obesity and poverty are linked and we cannot have middle-class solutions for the poor … By saying eat fresh this, fresh that, we encourage the poor to behave like the middle class,” Drewnowski said.  ”If there is a store going into a lower income neighborhood selling kiwi and arugula despite the best intentions, (improved access) is not going to happen.”

“I swear to wear J. Crew…”

Millions of Americans were cheering this morning as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, and one U.S. retailer was likely grinning ear to ear.      J Crew made an impression on the steps of the Capitol, as all three Obama females sported items made by the New York-based clothing company.       Michelle Obama waved to the crowds — and held the Lincoln Bible — wearing a pair of olive green gloves by J Crew, while daughters Malia and Sasha sported coats from the company’s kids’ line, Crewcuts, in periwinkle and “sweet guava,” i.e. pink.

It may have been the first time a U.S. First Lady wore J Crew in an official capacity, though Michelle Obama had already shown her affinity for the brand during Barack’s presidential campaign, opting for a yellow sweater and skirt ensemble during an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”        J Crew was also the choice of the Obama family at the Kids’ Inaugural Concert on Monday that featured performances by Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. 

The J Crew website in the afternoon of the inauguration flashed a “Congratulations to the First Family” message with no other mention of the free advertising provided by the Obamas.

But don’t go searching the website today for anything you liked. Those of us searching to buy a piece of the inaugural glamour will just have to wait, said a J Crew spokeswoman.      The pieces worn by Michelle, Malia and Sasha were designed specifically for the events, and won’t be available to the rest of us until fall.

For a story on the First Lady’s inaugural outfit, designed by Isabel Toledo, click here.

(Photo: Reuters)