According to the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC), a
community cannot be considered food secure unless the food environment provides
“nutritionally adequate, affordable, and culturally appropriate” food (Raja,
Ma, Yadav, 2008). I cannot help, but to look at this definition at a more microcosmic
level than what we’ve discussed in class. Currently, we are discussing food justice
on a community or neighborhood scale, but I wonder how many residents have dietary restrictions and are able to find
food that is affordable, nutritionally adequate and culturally appropriate within
close proximity to their residential area.
My culture is West Indian, specifically Jamaican. Living in
Tallahassee it is very difficult to find West Indian ingredients, thus I’m
dependent upon what’s available at Publix in the “ethic” isle. Conversely, I consider
myself a gluten-free diabetic. I’m technically not a diabetic by medical
standards, but I am at a heightened risk due to my familial history and having
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). While on my quest on learning how to use food
as a therapeutic for PCOS, I noticed my symptoms were aggravated when I
consumed gluten and food with a high glycemic index, hence the term gluten-free
diabetic.
I have learned to cope by mainly cooking at home because I
have greater control on the quality of the ingredients involved in making my
meals. However, there are times that I would like to be able to eat in a
restaurant and trust that I won’t have a reaction to the food consumed. I’m that
friend that always determines where we eat because of my dietary restrictions and
I really dislike it. Prior to patronizing a restaurant, I check whether the establishment
is listed on an app called “Find Me GF”. If it’s not listed then I examine the
menu for the availability of gluten free options. It is very difficult to
travel this way because I have to research the options that are accessible to
me within a close proximity, whether it is a grocery store, restaurants or fast
food establishments and determine if I will have the time and resources
available to cook.
I know this seems small in the grander scheme of things, but
I live with this every day. My choices as to where I reside are dependent upon the
resources that are accessible to me. I’m curious to know how do others cope
that have similar dietary restrictions, but reside in a food desert or swamp?
Coming to Tallahassee was definitely a shocker for me too, Patrice. Coming from South Florida, I can completely relate to your experiences in a Tallahassee grocery store. Being that I too am West Indian, my parents are from Haiti and I can testify to the difficulty in finding West Indian food ingredients in Publix's so-called ethnic aisle. The conclusion I came up with my freshman year was there isn't many West Indian folks up in Tallahassee, thus no (or lack of) demand equals no (or lack of) supply. I accommodated myself from their shortcomings by bringing stuff up from Miami with trips back home, whether or not I physically went to Miami myself.
ReplyDeleteTo comment on your familial experiences on PCOS, I think it is a wonderful and courageous thing to be conscious of your food despite if it is forced or willful. I think your efforts to avoid high glycemic foods and gluten is wise in the short run, specifically the long run because most morbidities do not show up until late adulthood. I do not believe you are "over-doing" it by policing yourself at restaurants or any other instances where food is involved because that is your body. How would others that face similar dietary restrictions cope in a food desert or swamp? I would imagine without great efforts to prepare (i.e. consistently keeping grocery items available in their home), it would be very, very difficult in complying with their dietary restrictions.