Food and Agriculture in Indiana
What does it mean for people and communities to have a food and agriculture system that promotes well-being? It means that people have access to healthy food. "Access" means that healthy food is both available and affordable. A food and agriculture system that promotes well-being also means that people choose to eat healthily. Food can help communities come together and be part of creating a sustainable and healthy regional economy.
FOOD AVAILABILITY
How many people lack food security in Indiana?
What this measures: The percent of people who worry they could run out of food before they would have enough money to buy more.
Why this matters: People who worry they won't have enough money for food often choose cheaper foods that are less healthy for them. This can lead to obesity, diabetes and premature death. The stress of worrying about having enough food can lead to mental health and other chronic illness outcomes and higher costs.
What this relates to: Income inequality, health outcomes, costs.
Data source: Feeding America: Map the Meal Gap. Information about their methodology is available here.
How many people lack access to grocery stores throughout Indiana?
What this measures: The percent of people who live farther than one mile (in urban areas) or 10 miles (in rural areas) away from a supermarket.
Why this matters: Having a supermarket close by gives people easy access to healthy food. Places who don't have supermarkets nearby have higher rates of obesity and premature death.
What this relates to: Economy, segregation, health.
Data source: Food Environment Atlas, published by the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.
NUTRITION
How many adults in Indiana consume less than one serving of fruit per day?
What this measures: The percent of people that eat less than one serving of fruits a day.
Why this matters: Having five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is important for physical and mental health. Having less than one serving a day can lead to nutritional deficiencies, obesity, and heart disease.
What this relates to: Poverty, food access, health outcomes.
Data source: CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey.
How many adults in Indiana consume less than one serving of vegetables per day?
What this measures: The percent of people that eat less than one serving of vegetables a day.
Why this matters: Having five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is important for physical and mental health. Having less than one serving a day can lead to nutritional deficiencies, obesity, and heart disease.
What this relates to: Poverty, food access, health outcomes.
Data source: CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey.
Other Interesting Measures
FOOD AVAILABILITY
• Number of fast-food restaurants per 10,000 residents. Source: Datafiniti.
NUTRITION
• Percent of adults with obesity (BMI 30+). Source: CDC, BRFSS.
• Number of times per week (or % of meals) that household eats outside the home. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Statista.
• Percent of adults consuming <5 servings of fruit/veg per day. Source: CDC.
• Percent of adults with diabetes. Source: CDC.
• Average Number of times during the past 30 days adults drank regular soda or pop that contained sugar (do not include diet soda or diet pop). Source: BRFSS Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Module.