Food Assets
The food environment has an impact on how people eat and how healthy they are. Larger numbers of fast food stores in an area result in people consuming more fast food (1), whereas better access to healthy food outlets may improve fruit and vegetable consumption (2) and overall diet quality (3) among adults. In the 2010 Hennepin County SHAPE survey, 29.5% of North Minneapolis residents reported eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables during the previous day, compared with 39% of all Minneapolis residents (4). Healthy food outlets are places where people can go to get fresh fruits and vegetables along with other healthy foods like lean proteins and whole grains. In North Minneapolis healthy food outlets include grocery stores, mini-marts, enhanced convenience stores, farmer's markets, and community gardens.
The food environment has an impact on how people eat and how healthy they are. Larger numbers of fast food stores in an area result in people consuming more fast food (1), whereas better access to healthy food outlets may improve fruit and vegetable consumption (2) and overall diet quality (3) among adults. In the 2010 Hennepin County SHAPE survey, 29.5% of North Minneapolis residents reported eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables during the previous day, compared with 39% of all Minneapolis residents (4). Healthy food outlets are places where people can go to get fresh fruits and vegetables along with other healthy foods like lean proteins and whole grains. In North Minneapolis healthy food outlets include grocery stores, mini-marts, enhanced convenience stores, farmer's markets, and community gardens.
Food Map
The map above, courtesy of the City of Minneapolis, displays where healthy food outlets are located and which residents lack access in all of Minneapolis, zoom in to view North Minneapolis specifically. Pay attention to areas which are not covered by a dark gray circle, these are areas where residents live more than 1/4 mile away from any healthy food outlet. As you can see, many of the food resources in North Minneapolis are community gardens, which may not be accessible to everyone depending on the garden's policies. You can also see that while areas closer to downtown have many enhanced convenience stores and grocery stores, the farther north you go there are areas that could benefit from more of these establishments.
The map above, courtesy of the City of Minneapolis, displays where healthy food outlets are located and which residents lack access in all of Minneapolis, zoom in to view North Minneapolis specifically. Pay attention to areas which are not covered by a dark gray circle, these are areas where residents live more than 1/4 mile away from any healthy food outlet. As you can see, many of the food resources in North Minneapolis are community gardens, which may not be accessible to everyone depending on the garden's policies. You can also see that while areas closer to downtown have many enhanced convenience stores and grocery stores, the farther north you go there are areas that could benefit from more of these establishments.
Resources
1. Boone-Heinonen et al. Fast food restaurants and food stores.
2. CDC. State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2013.
3. Laraia BA, Siega-Riz AM, Kaufman JS, Jones SJ. Proximity of supermarkets is positively associated with diet quality index for pregnancy.
4. Hennepin County. SHAPE Survey 2010.
1. Boone-Heinonen et al. Fast food restaurants and food stores.
2. CDC. State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2013.
3. Laraia BA, Siega-Riz AM, Kaufman JS, Jones SJ. Proximity of supermarkets is positively associated with diet quality index for pregnancy.
4. Hennepin County. SHAPE Survey 2010.