Dear Nutritionists and Health Food Experts,
Those of you- working in offices, academia, and on Instagram—let’s chat. I am the mom of two veggie-loving kids and I aspire to be one you. I applaud your desire to help others. Your PowerPoint slides at corporate events, your peer-reviewed publications, and your Insta Stories. I appreciate you.
However, if we are truly interested in helping people—getting to the root causes of obesity and the slew of chronic illnesses that plague nearly 117 million Americans—then please put down the calorie journals and listen up. We can’t keep preaching about will-power if we aren’t willing to talk about power inequities.
Let’s start with the acknowledgement that while chronic illnesses (largely preventable with diet and exercise) affects half of all Americans—the rates are disproportionately higher for Hispanics, Native Americans, and Black Americans.
This is not a coincidence. This. Is. Not. About. Willpower. This is about power inequities.
What does that mean? Well, power is essentially a means of control. So what kinds of things are in our control? Our line of work? Our work hours? Our pay? Where we live? Think about it. Be honest. What kinds of restaurants are zoned to your neighborhoods? How are your grocery stores stocked? What about in other neighborhoods?
I have seen Whole Foods advertise a pre-prepared fresh meal for under $20.00 but that’s a one-hour round-trip drive from my home. For many years the closest store in my vicinity has been Food Lion. They have fried chicken next to the check-out.
While I do not have the access or the disposable income to shop at higher end grocery stores (because nothing makes my heart sing like beautiful produce) I have been afforded the privilege of time. When my son was born, we could survive off of my husband’s paycheck while I made baby food from scratch. I could spend time reading up on ways to make kale and broccoli more palatable to growing taste buds, and the luxury to have it thrown in my face when it didn’t land. When my daughter was born (and staying at home wasn’t an option) I had the luxury of a mother-in-law who took my food concerns and cares to heart. I am not rich. But I benefited from privileges that many don’t have. So this is what is meant by power inequities, and these are not issues that can be overcome by willpower and health literacy alone.
So how do we overcome these inequities? As nutritionists, food experts, and the sports-bra-and-yoga-pants-wearing experts of Instagram, we need to start with the power inequities within our food system. And, if we are going to spearhead a change we need to familiarize ourselves with our past. Our food system began in the 1700’s with the introduction of commodity crops. Our largest source of wealth was entirely based on land seized from Native Americans and crops cultivated by enslaved Africans. By 1720 slaves made up 65% of South Carolina’s population. The structural system—of the labor of many benefiting the few—was set in place.
“But that was a long time ago…”
Ah, yes. Well, let’s forgo the study of epigenetics for now (particularly the health implications it had on our Native American children) and just look at the economic implications of our food system. While slavery was abolished a long time ago, the ability to own land and acquire wealth is still an issue today. In fact when Lincoln asked black leaders about what could be done to help repair the livelihoods of those enslaved, the answer was “land.” Owning land meant economic independence. While Lincoln did sign an executive order for reparation in the form of 40 Acres and a mule, it was immediately reversed after his assassination. Today, we still see practices banning or limiting minority groups from being approved for credit—particularly for farm subsidies.
“That’s a little dramatic…”
I wish I was being dramatic, but here’s the thing—farming—or better said, profiting from farming—is largely dependent on bank loans and government subsidies from the USDA. A typical farmer applies for a loan every year. With this loan, they are able to get access to farm equipment and supplies to prepare the land. If you receive a smaller loan than what you requested or if you receive it too late in the year, it will affect your bottom line. Unfortunately, the USDA has a blatant record of denying and under-funding minority farmers. That is why today, 95% of all farm owners are white. Moreover, since World War II, the US has imported migrant workers (most from Latin America) as a means of cheap labor. Migrants workers are barred from ever-changing jobs and often make subminimum wages. Today migrant workers make up 75% of all farm laborers, and that is an eerily similar structure to the beginning of our food system. So, when we see the high numbers of obesity and nutrition-related illnesses—in those most displaced by the food system—it’s time we address the power inequities with the same gusto we talk about willpower.
“Yeah…but what can I do?“
Well, you took the time to make it to the end of this post—so thank you! Awareness is step one. We can’t combat an issue that we don’t see. So, at the very least, help amplify this message. Read up on major food policies that affect the livelihood of so many, and take a look at who is profiting in your area. Let’s look at connecting farmers with school lunch programs. Let’s fight for convenient, fresh, healthy, foods to be as readily available to low-income areas as they are in high-income areas. Let’s rally for access, for livable wages, for diversity in farming. Let’s get active in food policy, let’s fight for food sovereignty—and then we can talk about willpower.
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