Food Desert

Instructions: Look for clickable elements or icons within the supermarket photo. Tapping on them will provide more information about that specific food item. Pay attention to how each food item benefits a person's health. Feel free to explore at your own pace, and enjoy your exploration!

Instructions: Look for clickable elements or icons within this typical market found in a food desert. Tapping on them will provide more information about that specific food item. Pay attention to how each food item is detrimental to a person's health. Feel free to explore at your own pace, and enjoy your exploration!

Fresh Berries

Fresh berries are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, offering numerous health benefits. Berries are low in calories and high in fiber, which aids in weight management, and overall digestion. Berries also have anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes, and even Parkinson's disease (Everyday Health).

Processed Snacks

Processed snacks like beef jerky can be less healthy because they often contain high amounts of sodium, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives. Foods with high amounts of sodium have been linked to high blood pressure and other health issues. Unhealthy fats such as saturated and trans fats, increase the risk of heart disease among consumers ("The Many Health Risks of Processed Foods").

Bread Made From All-Natural Grains

Bread is an important food to have access to because it provides the body with energy in the form of carbohydrates. Bread is a great source of fiber which helps aid the body in digestion and keeps the bowels healthy. Bread also contains essential vitamins and minerals which ensures a balanced and satisfying diet overall (Federation of Bakers Ltd).

Energy Drinks

While energy drinks do provide a temporary energy boost, they often contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and other chemicals. Consuming excessive amounts of caffeine can lead to increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and even disrupted sleep patterns. Additionally, the high sugar content in energy drinks can contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, and an increased risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes. Healthy alternatives to energy drinks include water, herbal tea, fresh fruit, smoothies, and natural juices (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health).

Fresh Vegetables

Fresh vegetables are a vital part of overall health and well-being. Just like fruits, vegetables are packed with tons of essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fiber that the body needs. Eating vegetables will provide the body with antioxidants needed in order to help promote healthy digestion as well as protect our bodies against cell damage and other chronic illnesses (Better Health Channel).

Soft Drinks

Soft drinks are an unhealthy component of a diet because they contain high amounts of added sugar and have little-to-no nutritional value. Drinking soft drinks regularly can lead to obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even tooth decay ("The Negative Effects of Soda Can Be Hard to Swallow").

Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs help bring an entirely new level of flavor and nutrition to any dish. The aroma alone can stimulate the senses and make the overall meal or dish more enjoyable. Fresh herbs are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which aid in boosting a person's overall immune system (Better Health Channel).

Candy

Candy is unhealthy because it is loaded with added sugars. Candy also can spike blood sugar levels, contribute to weight gain, and increase the risk of various health issues such as diabetes and tooth decay. Candy doesn't contain vitamins or minerals so there is no nutritional value in consuming it ("The Sweet Danger of Sugar").

Fresh Fruits

Fresh fruits are important because they help maintain a healthy lifestyle by being packed with essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fruits help promote a strong immune system, healthy digestion, clear skin, and good eye health. Consuming fruits has been linked to reducing the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and certain types of cancer (Better Health Channel).

Chips

Chips are an unhealthy food item to incorporate into a diet because they are often high in calories, fat, and sodium. Chips have poor nutritional value being that most are either fried and/or heavily processed in the production process. Eating chips regularly has been found to contribute to weight gain as well as increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease (University Health News Daily).

Ice Cream

Ice cream is high in added sugars and unhealthy fats, which over time contributes to the risk of weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Healthier ice cream alternatives exist such as low-fat or dairy-free options (University Health News Daily).