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Put an in to Food Deserts

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Submitted By njon1012
Words 1625
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Numerous American's believe obesity is a problem that just cannot be solved. No matter what fad diet or magic weight loss pill they try, they cannot seem to find a thing that will keep weight gain at bay. What many people do not realize is that the food they put in their mouths affects not only their weight, but the way their body and mind function. With the overwhelming amount of fast food restaurants taking place in towns all over this country, unhealthy eating becomes a habit for many people when in a crunch for time. There are 240,115 fast food restaurants in America alone and only 37,716 super markets in the US; this means that for every seven fast food restaurants there is only one grocery store in our Nation. So where are citizens to turn when looking for something to eat? When the odds are seven to one, statistically you'd be more likely to choose the fast food restaurants almost every time. By increasing the amount of healthier store alternatives in the US we can give Americans accessibility to more affordable, healthier options, and the equal choices the people of America deserve. For many people across America eating healthy is a difficult thing to do, because they do not know where to start. This becomes even more difficult when they do not have a grocery store near by in order to purchase healthier alternatives. Grocery stores offer fresher fruits, vegetables, and many now offer organic meats and milk. In the article “Escape from the Western Diet” by Michael Pollan he writes of how important it is for the health of American’s to eat a diet with less refined foods. Polan (2012) reports, “we should simply avoid any food that has been processed to such an extent that it is more the product of industry then of nature…though eating according to these rules will perforce change the balance of nutrients and amount of calories in your diet” (p. 438). In

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