Eating is much more than putting the right foods in your mouth. It is a way of thinking. Food has the power to heal or make you very sick. It also has the power to bring people together. Think of big family get-togethers with grandma’s cooking. There are traditional recipes and the company of kin. Think of neighborhoods in the city. When you want authentic tacos, you might head to a Hispanic neighborhood. Asian stores carry foods that remind you of a visit to China. It does require effort to source the food you like and sometimes that is not so easy. For example, you may not find collard greens just anywhere.

There is a challenge for some in food scarcity and economic availability. Food scarcity or food deserts is when no nutritious food is available in your area. The price of healthy foods precludes some from partaking in those choices. Boxes of ramen or macaroni and cheese hold little nutritional value, yet they are cheap and seem to go around the table. Fresh fruits and vegetables are scarce in some communities. Even when there are plenty of nutrient-dense foods, preparing can be challenging.