GROUPS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE FOOD INEQUITY
Rural and isolated groups:
These groups don't have equal access to food compared to people living in the city. The transportation of the food adds an additional cost onto the produce as the trucks/boats/aeroplanes have to travel further to deliver the produce. As a result of the long travel time, the produce is not as fresh and can cost a lot more.
People with disabilities:
Those suffering from a physical disability will lack the mobility to shop for and prepare food. Their disability might prevent them from being able to carry grocery bags or open a can of food. Therefore, a family member or friend is depended on a lot more for providing meals. People suffering from an intellectual disability will often have a smaller amount of job opportunities, leading to a smaller income. This will limit the amount or type of food they can buy. As well as not being able to afford nutritious food, a person suffering from an intellectually based disability will often not have the correct knowledge of nutrition, further restricting them from accessing nutritious food. In addition to a low income and not having the correct knowledge, individuals with an intellectual disability will struggle reading labels on food products and also reading recipes.
People with low income:
People who don't have jobs or have a very low income will experience food inequity because they will not be able to or will struggle to afford the rent, electricity, gas and will only be able to buy cheap food which in most cases is processed and not as nutritious. As well as not being able to afford these things, people with low incomes in most cases will lack proper education about nutritional needs. As a result of these barriers stopping people with low income, tough decisions have to be made each day regarding the spending of the small amount of money earned that day. People living in developing countries with a low income experience much harsher living conditions that those in developed countries experience. As a result of this, the decisions they make with what to do with their money will have greater implications with their survival. Often, people in developing countries find food equity a major problem as they are trapped in the poverty cycle which they find hard to break out of because of lack of employment opportunities.
The homeless:
Homeless people struggle to pay for nutritious food, leading to an unhealthy diet which seriously affects their health. They often have to scrounge through bins in shopping centres or outside restaurants so their meals may not contain all the nutrients vital for the human body in addition to having hygiene issues. In developing countries, food that is handed out by charitable organisations must be carefully chosen, for example, all the food would need to be healthy and nutritious, must not need storage in a fridge or freezer and must be simple to cook.
These groups don't have equal access to food compared to people living in the city. The transportation of the food adds an additional cost onto the produce as the trucks/boats/aeroplanes have to travel further to deliver the produce. As a result of the long travel time, the produce is not as fresh and can cost a lot more.
People with disabilities:
Those suffering from a physical disability will lack the mobility to shop for and prepare food. Their disability might prevent them from being able to carry grocery bags or open a can of food. Therefore, a family member or friend is depended on a lot more for providing meals. People suffering from an intellectual disability will often have a smaller amount of job opportunities, leading to a smaller income. This will limit the amount or type of food they can buy. As well as not being able to afford nutritious food, a person suffering from an intellectually based disability will often not have the correct knowledge of nutrition, further restricting them from accessing nutritious food. In addition to a low income and not having the correct knowledge, individuals with an intellectual disability will struggle reading labels on food products and also reading recipes.
People with low income:
People who don't have jobs or have a very low income will experience food inequity because they will not be able to or will struggle to afford the rent, electricity, gas and will only be able to buy cheap food which in most cases is processed and not as nutritious. As well as not being able to afford these things, people with low incomes in most cases will lack proper education about nutritional needs. As a result of these barriers stopping people with low income, tough decisions have to be made each day regarding the spending of the small amount of money earned that day. People living in developing countries with a low income experience much harsher living conditions that those in developed countries experience. As a result of this, the decisions they make with what to do with their money will have greater implications with their survival. Often, people in developing countries find food equity a major problem as they are trapped in the poverty cycle which they find hard to break out of because of lack of employment opportunities.
The homeless:
Homeless people struggle to pay for nutritious food, leading to an unhealthy diet which seriously affects their health. They often have to scrounge through bins in shopping centres or outside restaurants so their meals may not contain all the nutrients vital for the human body in addition to having hygiene issues. In developing countries, food that is handed out by charitable organisations must be carefully chosen, for example, all the food would need to be healthy and nutritious, must not need storage in a fridge or freezer and must be simple to cook.
Chronically ill:
People who are chronically ill will have a limited diet as a result of the treatment they are under going or the illness. If a person is chronically ill they may not be able to work, lowering their income and as a result their food intake. As well as paying for food, they would have to pay for medication, doctors appointments and any other medical treatments. Paying for all of these things would be expensive and would leave little money for food.
The elderly:
The elderly require access to nutritious fresh food in order to help keep their bodily functions running and to keep their immune system strong in order to fight diseases. Vitamins and minerals are extremely important for the elderly but the need for energy is lower due to physical limitations. Softer food also need to be considered as these are easier for the elderly to eat. Elderly living in aged care homes often have nutritious meals but they have a limited choice. Those living at home with someone else may struggle a bit more as they may lack mobility making it hard to go to the shops and prepare food.
Indigenous Australians:
Many Aboriginal Australians live in rural Australia, far away from shops and communities. This makes access to food a lot harder than it would be if they lived in the city. They also may lack enough water to grow crops and to be self sufficient. The small amount of water that they have access to would be saved as drinking water. Aboriginal Australians generally have a poor education which leads to a lack of employment when they are older. As a result of this, they don't have a lot of money to spend on food nor do they have the correct knowledge. Aboriginals that choose to live a more traditional lifestyle like their ancestors, live off the land and use traditional cooking methods, which means no or very little money is spent on food.
Drug and Alcohol Abusers:
Drugs and alcohol can be very addictive and can sometimes take over someone's life. The money spent on alcohol and drugs when someone is addicted greatly reduces the amount that can be spent on food. The addiction may lead to unemployment further resulting in no income for nutritious food. The effects alcohol and drugs can have on you affect your health in such a negative way. It can cause malnutrition through loss of appetite and the reduction of nutrient absorption. It may affect how you function physically too, reducing your motivation to shop for and prepare nutritious food. Those addicted are more concerned about getting more drugs or alcohol rather than a decent meal.
People who are chronically ill will have a limited diet as a result of the treatment they are under going or the illness. If a person is chronically ill they may not be able to work, lowering their income and as a result their food intake. As well as paying for food, they would have to pay for medication, doctors appointments and any other medical treatments. Paying for all of these things would be expensive and would leave little money for food.
The elderly:
The elderly require access to nutritious fresh food in order to help keep their bodily functions running and to keep their immune system strong in order to fight diseases. Vitamins and minerals are extremely important for the elderly but the need for energy is lower due to physical limitations. Softer food also need to be considered as these are easier for the elderly to eat. Elderly living in aged care homes often have nutritious meals but they have a limited choice. Those living at home with someone else may struggle a bit more as they may lack mobility making it hard to go to the shops and prepare food.
Indigenous Australians:
Many Aboriginal Australians live in rural Australia, far away from shops and communities. This makes access to food a lot harder than it would be if they lived in the city. They also may lack enough water to grow crops and to be self sufficient. The small amount of water that they have access to would be saved as drinking water. Aboriginal Australians generally have a poor education which leads to a lack of employment when they are older. As a result of this, they don't have a lot of money to spend on food nor do they have the correct knowledge. Aboriginals that choose to live a more traditional lifestyle like their ancestors, live off the land and use traditional cooking methods, which means no or very little money is spent on food.
Drug and Alcohol Abusers:
Drugs and alcohol can be very addictive and can sometimes take over someone's life. The money spent on alcohol and drugs when someone is addicted greatly reduces the amount that can be spent on food. The addiction may lead to unemployment further resulting in no income for nutritious food. The effects alcohol and drugs can have on you affect your health in such a negative way. It can cause malnutrition through loss of appetite and the reduction of nutrient absorption. It may affect how you function physically too, reducing your motivation to shop for and prepare nutritious food. Those addicted are more concerned about getting more drugs or alcohol rather than a decent meal.