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Chapter 10: Food and Water

  • Page ID
    329106
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    Learning Objectives

    1. Identify equity issues related to families’ access to food.
    2. Describe the ways that the poverty line and food costs are related.
    3. Explain the ways in which family and social structures impact children’s nutrition and food choices.
    4. Describe the ways that social structures impact families’ access to water and sanitation.
    5. Describe the connection between the production of food and equity.
    6. Apply theoretical concepts to one’s own observations and experiences with food and water.
    • 10.1: Chapter Reading Guide
      This page explores the relationship between family access to food and water and social structures affecting nutrition and sanitation. It critiques how food banks may serve more corporate interests than improving family nutrition and discusses the impact of social programs on children's eating habits.
    • 10.2: Food Equity and Families
      This page examines the fundamental needs of American families, particularly focusing on food and water access amid financial and social barriers. It links food insecurity to poverty, critiques reliance on charity, and calls for systemic solutions for equitable access to healthy food.
    • 10.3: The Poverty Line and Food Costs
      This page examines food insecurity in the U.S., noting that over 99% of SNAP funds are used appropriately. It highlights the outdated poverty line, the USDA's classifications of food security, and the significant stigma preventing families from seeking assistance. The relationship between mental health challenges and food insecurity is discussed.
    • 10.4: Food Habits Begin in Childhood
      This page examines the complex role of food in family dynamics and its critical influence on children's health, particularly regarding issues of poverty and obesity. It details how caregivers, social contexts, cultural traditions, personal health, and environmental factors shape children's eating behaviors. The text underscores the importance of early food experiences and the socialization process during mealtimes in establishing lifelong dietary preferences.
    • 10.5: Access to Water and Sanitation
      This page addresses critical issues surrounding water access in the U.S., emphasizing socioeconomic disparities that leave over 2 million Americans without safe drinking water. The Flint water crisis exemplifies the severe health consequences of contaminated water, particularly in marginalized communities, highlighting the need for equitable water infrastructure.
    • 10.6: Addressing Equity in Food Production
      This page examines the historical oppression in U.S. food systems, highlighting Native American displacement and the challenges faced by Black farmers. It explores the systemic inequities favoring White landowners, the rights of immigrant farm workers, and movements toward sustainable agriculture.
    • 10.7: Looking Ahead- Vertical Gardens
      This page explores sustainable and equitable agriculture through the vertical and urban gardening movement, which enhances food access in cities, exemplified by a vertical garden serving a California preschool. It also introduces the U.S. Water Alliance and its seven initiatives focused on improving water management and access, ensuring that all families have safe water and sanitation.
    • 10.8: Going Deeper
      This page offers supplementary resources on food access, quality, production, and sanitation, featuring exploration tables, reflective questions, and a glossary. It includes a "Want to Learn More?" section with articles on food deserts and government initiatives, along with community assessment activities focused on food access. The content encourages readers to apply their knowledge and reflect on the societal implications of food and resource availability.


    This page titled Chapter 10: Food and Water is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Elizabeth B. Pearce (OpenOregon) .