TEDxWindyCity -- Mari Gallagher -- Food Deserts

[@patdebonnett9544]

Dear Mari, Thank you so much for your Food Desert research and public sharing commitment on: TEDxWindyCity, reveling the negative impact on the quality of life of children and families in too many Chicago neighborhoods! Sadly, the "Food Deserts" problem yet remains the same in Roseland and too many Chicago communities! Mari, lets organize a tour and see for ourselves if conditions have changed or remain the same in other underserved neighborhoods! Mari, May God continue to bless you richly for your loving commitment, "speaking truth to power", since we first met and worked together 25 years ago in Roseland! Pat DeBonnett

[@coghlanfisher6475]

we just gonna ignore the fact that her mic is in that spot

[@melovescoffee]

Holy cow. I knew it was bad in some parts in US cities but this is beyond shocking. It's almost like a different planet. Here in The Netherlands, we have the opposite situation. Fastfood is difficult to find and full service supermarkets with all the bells and whistles are absolutely everywhere. There is a mini-mall in every single neighborhood, no exception. Cheaper ones in some, more upscale ones elsewhere, but usually a mix of both, but basically all providing good, fresh, healthy nutrition at an affordable price to all. The food deserts (food is not usually the biggest problem, they are often more like service deserts, which is a huge problem for the aging population) here are mainly in the very small rural towns but even they usually have some sort of co-op, mini supermarket, greengrocer and/or butcher. There usually just isn't a lot of product choice but it's all there and otherwise there is often a larger town a couple of miles down the road where everyone in the larger rural neighborhood does their shopping. It might be helpful to take a look at our model. Our scale is very different though, as our country is very small, very densely populated and very culturally mixed. Thank you, Mari. That was a real eye-opener.

[@ancientmum]

Lived in Chicago most of my life, now live in Washington state, big difference. Yes there is some concern about the business's who accept the EBT card, how ever, I do hope that it is not the intent to control where and on what foods a person will have access to. We do need to help provide choice, good choices for everyone.and not control. Don't always trust numbers, I've seen how they harm more than help. Community gardens, and commuity stores, and farmers markets and etc. is the way to go.

[@vallisso]

I stumped into this TEDx video accidentally and cannot agree more. The food deserts Mari talks about are especially visible for foreigners travelling to US. I have recently had to travel to Utah and Colorado and it's hard if not possible to find healthy food out there that I am used to in Europe. One of the epicenters for me are hotels that I'm staying in. Is there something being done about promoting healthy breakfasts at hotels in US? What about restaurants around shopping centers?

[@terrywinningham5405]

This is caused by crime. Why would someone want to open a grocery in a neighborhood where people are gunned down, robbed and assaulted. Shop lifting is the norm.

[@DasBarbar]

How do you explain rural food deserts?

[@michaelcrews9001]

Bad guys Got2 Eat2

[@michaelcrews9001]

@@DasBarbar 10. Miles between. Food markets

[@michaelcrews6800]

Even criminals have to eat😂😂🎨

[@annabellelee4535]

@@michaelcrews6800 yep, and they eat for free.

[@c0ntag10n]

awkward mic placement

[@wwanimalsavers]

anyone else thinks she looks a bit like gwyneth paltrow

[@ReneBenitez-h3o]

Who can take her seriously with that kind of mic placement? Str8 comedy, lol

[@joeiscool4700]

Joe