Food Shopping Perceptions, Behaviors And Ability To Purchase Healthy Food Items In The Lower Mississippi Delta

Authors: MCGEE, BERNESTINE - SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY & A7M; SIMPSON, PIPPA - ACHRI-DAC; JOHNSON, GLENDA - SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY & A&M; GOSSETT, JEFFREY - ACHRI-DAC; THORNTON, ALMA - SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY & A&M; YADRICK, KATHY - USM; HYMAN, EDITH - UAPB; RICHARDSON, VALERIE - SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY & A&M; JOHNSON, CAROL - SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY & A&M; Bogle, Margaret

Submitted to: International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/2007
Publication Date: 6/20/2007
Citation: Mcgee, B.B., Simpson, P.M., Johnson, G.S., Gossett, J.M., Thornton, A., Yadrick, K.M., Hyman, E., Richardson, V., Johnson, C., Bogle, M.L. 2007. Food Shopping Perceptions, Behaviors And Ability To Purchase Healthy Food Items In The Lower Mississippi Delta. Proceedings of International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. p. 250.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Purpose: To examine the agreement between perceptions, behaviors and ability to purchase healthy foods in the Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD). Methods: FOODS 2000, a nutritional survey conducted in 18 counties in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, provided information about dietary intake. A food store survey investigated the availability and price of foods. One focus group on shopping perceptions was conducted in each of nine counties. Results/findings: Foods perceived as healthy and purchased included green beans, peas and greens. Although 86-93% of supermarkets had these vegetables, they were available in <20% of small to medium grocery stores and <4% of convenience stores. Average daily serving of green vegetables reported by adults was 0.14 ± 0.02. Although breads were perceived as healthy, whole wheat bread was available in < 85% of supermarkets. Toasted oats and oatmeal were close to 100% available in supermarkets but <63% available elsewhere. Average daily servings of breads and grains were 5.9 ± 0.09. When comparing perceived healthy food choices such as skim versus whole milk, the study found limited availability of skim milk. Cost and availability were perceived as barriers in purchasing healthy foods. Conclusions: Limited availability and perceived costs of healthy foods in the LMD influenced purchasing behaviors. Development of nutrition interventions targeting food purchases is of limited value without changing availability within local stores in the LMD. Funded by USDA, ARS Project #6251-53000-004-00D