Addressing Food Insecurity in Food Deserts for Children Through Container Gardening

Abstract

Food insecurity is a growing problem across the United States (Coleman-Jensen et al., 2017). Food insecurity means not only lacking in food quantity, but also lacking in quality food containing vital nutrients. Areas where food insecurity exists often are categorized as food deserts: lacking access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. Inconvenient access contributes to food insecurity because groceries are purchased primarily at convenience stores or small general markets where inventory items are high in sugar and simple carbohydrates versus fresh produce, which is more costly (Moshefegh, 2007).