Improving Latino Diet

Latinos living in lower income, or inner city neighborhoods are often faced with a common challenge; access to affordable healthy food choices.

Latinos living in lower income, or inner city neighborhoods are often faced with a common challenge; access to affordable healthy food choices. At a time when the Latino population is only growing, retailers need to address this issue head on. For example, according to the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Businesswill, Latino's will account for 60% of the nation’s population growth over the next five years. And according to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Selig Center for Economic Growth, this is over a time when Latino buying power will surpass $1.5 trillion, up from $1.2 trillion in 2012. They’ll number 132.8 million in the United States by 2050, even if immigration declines sharply, states Harvard Business Review. The Hispanic Institute (THI) recently took the processed food industry to task for, quote, “its complicity in flooding stores with drinks that are too sugary and foods that are too salty and fat,” in a report called "Obesity: Hispanic America’s Biggest Challenge." The report had a few highlights, for example: •The obesity rate is 40.4% for Mexican-Americans and 39.1% for Hispanics overall, exceeded only by non-Hispanic blacks at nearly 50.0%, according to 2012 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) figures. •30.7% of Hispanic men 18 and older are obese, not just overweight; 33.0% of Hispanic women 18 and older are obese •Among Hispanics 20 and older, 11.8% have diabetes (vs. 7.1% for non-Hispanic whites) •Between 2008 and 2010, Hispanic children saw 49% more ads for sugary drinks and energy drinks on Spanish-language TV, and Hispanic teens saw 99% more ads than their white counterparts Hispanic food challenges are exacerbated by this frequent absence of healthy and fresh foods and supermarkets where they live. As a result convenience stores have become supplements for supermarkets. But according to an NPD report, besides groceries, more than two-thirds of Hispanics feel the availability of fresh foods in c-stores is important. Retailers should take this as an opportunity to highlight fresh fruits and vegetables on displays and where they can, offer deals and discounts.