When one in seven people is going to bed hungry, you know that we have a serious food inequality issue on our hands. Here are some ways that you can help!
Today is Blog Action Day, and this year’s topic is inequality. Inequality is rampant within our food system, and what better day than today to talk about it?
Food inequality is about more than just hunger. If you’re a regular reader here, you know that food is about more than filling your belly. Here at Vibrant Wellness Journal, we are passionate about food that fuels good health and feeds our souls. But so many people worldwide can’t afford those fresh, healthy foods.
There are lots of ways that we can fight food inequality, so consider this list a jumping-off point. And I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
photo via L.A. Green Grounds
1. End food deserts.
Thanks to the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign, you’ve probably heard of food deserts: urban areas that lack access to fresh produce. These are neighborhoods or towns where a convenience store is the best option for food. The best way to fight food deserts is on the local level. Ron Finley’s efforts in south central Los Angeles are a good example of someone improving access to real food.
If starting a guerrilla gardening project isn’t quite your speed, you can still get involved! Community gardens are becoming more and more common, and you can help improve access to fruits and vegetables by volunteering at one in your area.
2. Try foodtweeks.
Foodtweeks is an interesting weight loss app that Mary Gerush wrote about over at Eat Drink Better. The gist is that foodtweeks suggests ways that you can swap lower-calorie foods into your diet. Foodtweeks that helps you track calories saved, and for every 600 calories, they will donate a meal to a local food bank.
photo credit: Alameda County Community Food Bank via photopin cc
3. Donate right to the food bank.
Of course, you don’t have to diet to donate to a food bank. I remember food drives from when I was a kid. We’d always scramble the morning-of to pull cans from the back of our pantry. Many food banks will accept fresh produce in addition to canned and frozen foods. Find one near you, see what they accept, and donate away! If they don’t take fresh produce, you can still donate. Choose healthier food like frozen fruits and veggies, canned beans, and boxed whole grains.
4. Eat vegan.
This is something that I got into more detail in with the inequality post I wrote on my personal blog, but a vegan diet can go a long way toward ending hunger and food inequality. Raising plants for food is more efficient than raising animals. We could feed billions more people if we ditched animal agriculture in favor of growing more fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and nuts.
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