In the heart of Baltimore, a startling reality lurks beneath the surface – a quarter of the city’s residents live in areas known as food deserts. These neighborhoods, often overlooked and underserved, lack access to affordable, nutritious food options, leaving many struggling to put healthy meals on the table. As a fossil fuels and climate reporter, I’ve long been aware of the urgent need to overhaul not only our energy system but also our food sector, which contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
The Climate-Friendly Diet Challenge
In 2019, a group of scientists published a groundbreaking study in the medical journal The Lancet, outlining a climate-friendly food plan that emphasized plant-based foods while allowing for modest amounts of meat and dairy. Intrigued by this concept, I decided to embark on a week-long experiment to determine whether this diet could be realistically followed by those living in food deserts, where access to fresh produce and whole foods is severely limited.
Navigating the Dollar Store Diet
Armed with a basic understanding of the planetary health diet – which calls for a balance of starches, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and small amounts of meat and dairy – I set out to shop exclusively at dollar stores for a week. These retailers have become a lifeline for many Americans as grocery stores continue to shutter at an alarming rate.
My first foray into the dollar store aisles was eye-opening. While I was able to find staples like rice, beans, and oatmeal, the selection of fresh produce was virtually nonexistent. I settled for canned vegetables, realizing that my nutrient intake would likely suffer as a result. As the week progressed, I found myself relying heavily on processed foods and struggling to meet the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
The Bitter Truth About Food Access
My experience shed light on the harsh reality faced by millions of Americans living in food deserts. The lack of access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods not only hinders their ability to follow a climate-friendly diet but also puts them at risk for a host of health issues. As Raychel Santo, a senior food and climate research associate at the World Resources Institute, points out:
Our food choices are largely shaped by the food environment around us, including which foods are available, affordable, convenient and desirable. Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy healthy, sustainable meals that nourish both people and the planet.
The solution, however, is not as simple as merely increasing the presence of dollar stores in underserved areas. While advocates are pushing for these retailers to stock fresher, more desirable healthy foods, the broader food system must undergo a significant transformation to ensure equitable access to sustainable, nutritious options.
A Call for Systemic Change
As I reflect on my week-long experiment, I am struck by the realization that following a climate-friendly diet is a privilege not afforded to everyone. The barriers faced by those living in food deserts are not merely inconveniences; they are systemic issues that demand targeted policy interventions and a reimagining of our food system as a whole.
It is time for policymakers, community leaders, and the private sector to come together and address the root causes of food insecurity and inequitable access. By investing in local food systems, supporting urban agriculture initiatives, and incentivizing retailers to provide affordable, healthy options, we can begin to bridge the gap between those who have access to sustainable diets and those who do not.
The path forward is clear: we must work towards a future where everyone, regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to make food choices that are both nourishing for their bodies and the planet. Only then can we truly say that we are eating for a sustainable future.
