By Mackenzie Findeisen
- Two-thirds of children living in households with incomes less than 100% of the federal poverty level were food-insecure.
- Food deserts, areas that there is no grocery store within 10 miles, provide limited access to affordable, healthy food. This means that it is harder to find fully stocked grocery stores with fresh fruits and vegetables than it is to pull up to a fast-food restaurant. Food deserts lead to negative health consequences and increase the likelihood for obesity. Could we put some info on where there are food deserts in CO here to tie in this with the next number?
- Colorado is the most-fit state in the nation, yet 19% of Coloradians 18 years and older were obese (2007). Diabetes is currently the ninth leading cause of death in Colorado.
- The state’s child poverty rate jumped 73% between 2000 and 2006, according to the Colorado Children’s Campaign.
- Boulder Food Rescue redistributes food “waste” to agencies who serve the hungry, homeless, and low-income individuals in order to get fresh, healthy, and nutritious produce to those who need it the most here in Boulder, CO.
References
The Colorado Healthy Foundation. July 2010. Food Access in Colorado. “Challenges for Colorado” (3).