Geoffrey Zakarian says that food deserts are not an obstacle to healthy eating
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
A Michelin-starred chef wants people to know that lack of effort — not distance — is what’s holding American families back from healthy eating. He argues that advances in technology have made fresh food more accessible than ever, shifting the conversation away from access to personal habits.
Celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian spoke to Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair about all things nutritious, but one hot spot stood out from the crowd.
“You’re not in a food desert – this is the United States of America,” he said during a live cooking show with Dr. Mehmet Oz.
MORE AMERICANS NOW EAT IN THEIR CARS THAN AT HOME AS AN EXPERT EXPLAINS WHAT IS SAID ABOUT MODERN LIFE.
“You have Instacart. You can always get whatever you want.”
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food deserts as communities with “low levels of access to stores that sell healthy and affordable food.” The selection of this company is based on income and proximity to supermarkets.
The USDA defines food deserts as communities with “low levels of access to grocery stores that sell healthy and affordable foods.” But the celebrity chef says he doesn’t believe they exist. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Instacart, one of many modern grocery delivery apps, was created in 2012, one year after the USDA’s food desert map was launched. Zakarian pointed to these advances in technology as evidence that today’s barriers to healthy eating are becoming more behavioral than physical.
‘MASTERCHEF’ COAST SAYS BUSY FAMILIES ARE MISSING OUT ON SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOME COOKED MEALS
“Everybody has an iPhone. Everybody has the ability to order food,” Zakarian told Fox News Digital, suggesting that online ordering has effectively bridged the geographic gaps highlighted by the organization’s data.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the USDA for comment.
Geoffrey Zakarian, left, pictured here with Dr. Oz during a cooking show at the Great American Fair, said that access to food is no longer defined by proximity to a grocery store. (Khloe Quill/Fox News Digital)
However, affordability remains a challenge for many families. Food prices have increased 32% in the past five years, according to the Urban Institute.
The Food Network star said that families should not focus too much on what they lack but instead focus on planning meals, saying that luxury is often more expensive than cooking at home.
BUTTER, BEEF TALLOW DEBATE CONTINUES AS HEART EXPERTS WARN OF DANGERS AND GUIDELINES SAY DIFFERENCE ON FATS
“If you can drive to McDonald’s, you can go and find a place that has fresh food or canned food, or you can order it online,” Zakarian said.
“There’s really no reason why you shouldn’t cook for yourself and cook for your family.”
“It’s possible. That’s what’s great about our culture.”
Eating a healthy diet consistently comes down to making cooking a priority, Zakarian says.
The convenience of fast food often costs more than cooking at home, Zakarian told Fox News Digital during an interview at the Great American State Fair in Washington, DC. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
There’s really no reason to cook for yourself and your family,” Zakarian said. “Part of doing this and staying healthy is that you have to put in the effort.”
With so many working families, Zakarian advocated an organized approach to grocery shopping and meal preparation rather than tackling the kitchen every day without a plan.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
She recommends shopping twice a week and planning meals in small blocks instead of trying to cook every day.
“You’ll be shocked that you have five meals for your kids, and leftovers,” Zakarian, left, opposite Dr. Oz, told Fox News Digital. “It’s not that hard, but it takes work.” (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
“Separate, and eat the leftovers one meal at a time,” says Zakarian.
“You’ll be surprised how much you feed your five kids, plus leftovers. It’s not that hard, but it takes work.”
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFE NEWSLETTER
Zakarian said that cooking together creates emotional benefits for families because the kitchen naturally becomes the center of the home.
The effort put into cooking creates emotional and social benefits for every household, says the celebrity chef. (Stock)
“You go to any house, any event, where do we end up?” Zakarian said. “Everyone is in the kitchen.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS
Investing in the heart of the home helps build a sense of pride that children carry with them even after they leave the house, Zakarian said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
“When they open that food, I can assure you that other children nearby are jealous that they got the delicious food cooked by their mother,” he said.
