DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT

Food availability is a major factor in the food purchasing habits of a family that can determine the
nutrient quality of the family’s diet. Food availability includes economic resources, food purchasing
options, and transportation. Families that have limited financial resources may qualify for federal
food programs such as WIC and food stamps. Participation in these programs can provide nutrition
education and the financial support to help stretch food dollars, thereby enabling the family to
purchase and consume healthier foods. Community food banks may provide sources for foods that
can supplement household food inventories during periods of financial hardship that might occur
for a short time between household paychecks. Some families opt to shop at food warehouses to
reduce food costs. These outlets provide bulk foods at a lower per unit cost than at traditional
supermarkets. However, although some bulk foods may be attractive in cost, they may contain
significant amounts of energy, saturated fats, and sugar.
The type of store accessible to the family determines food-purchasing options. If the family
has transportation and the ability to carry quantities of foodstuffs home from the store, many options
such as food warehouses, supermarkets, or food cooperatives may be available to the family.
However, if transportation and delivery of foodstuffs are limited, then food-purchasing options are
limited. Depending on the neighborhood, small grocery stores or bodegas that stock limited inventories
at high cost may be the only option for some households. Assessing the family’s food
availability as well as the family’s understanding of food consumerism principles, such as menu
planning, food preparation, and food purchasing practices, can identify hurdles to the implementation
of healthy lifestyle changes.