The Norwood News, in partnership with WFUV radio and BronxNet television, proudly present a five-part series on food insecurity issues impacting the Bronx and its residents.

Jessica Shapiro, RD, does one-on-one nutrition counseling with Montefiore Health System employees entitled to free nutrition counseling.

She said one of the most common reasons people feel like they are unable to make healthy choices is time. People simply just don’t have enough of it. Whether someone works many hours or multiple jobs, commutes far, or have families, Shapiro said those commitments often leave people with little time and energy to cook for themselves.

 Time, or the lack thereof, often impacts a person’s dietary choices. And for the Bronx, a county that ranks as the unhealthiest in the states, it stands as a barrier to a healthy wellbeing.

A 2012 study featured in the American Journal of Health Behavior states that working over 40 hours a week is associated with time-related barriers to nutritious eating.

Although the Journal notes there is little research done on so-called “time poverty,” professionals and nonprofits alike report that their patients and benefactors find trouble feeding themselves and their families healthy meals, and instead defer to unhealthier options like fast food.

Most of Shapiro’s patients are residents of the Bronx. She said many do not think that healthy food can be affordable and report having trouble finding time to cook or grocery shop. Socioeconomic status certainly plays into time poverty, given the long commutes facing the working poor.

A number of factors contribute to a person experiencing time poverty. One factor is long working hours. Another is transportation. Some neighborhoods in New York City may not have bus lines that go directly to another neighborhood with a grocery store. A report by marketplace.org says the relationship between places without grocery stores and obesity was especially prevalent where people did not have their own cars or ready access to public transport.

Another factor that contributes to time poverty is a long commute time, both work and the grocery store. Some call the Bronx a food desert, an area with few grocery stores and places to buy fruits and vegetables.

“There are definitely areas [in the Bronx] where it’s hard to get a healthy meal,” said Shapiro. “It’s hard to get healthy snacks as readily as other areas in the Bronx.”

Time poverty especially seems to impact women with children. According to the Journal, women with children reported feeling that a lack of social support prevents them from regularly exercising, and a lack of social support and time prevent them from eating healthy. Single mothers in particular struggle.

Shapiro said women are the most likely to seek her help at Montefiore. Many of these women are mothers and single mothers, who often report feeling a time crunch when it comes to feeding themselves and their children. However, Shapiro said that while their work provides a significant barrier to eating healthy, mothers may unwittingly pass some bad habits on to their kids. “[T]hey are thinking about their kids, and some of them are upset because they are allowing their kids to eat unhealthily because they’re eating unhealthily and they realize that they need to be the role models and they just don’t know where to start,” Shapiro said.

Montefiore has partnered with the New York City Department of Health on an initiative with bodegas, where many Bronx residents grocery shop, to ensure there are healthy choices in places where there may not be many other options.

Amy Shapiro, RD, CDN (no relation to Jessica), is a Manhattan-based nutritionist. She said clients often report that between work and family responsibilities, they don’t have the time or energy to go grocery shopping or prepare nutritious meals. A study in the Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Research shows people who cook their own meals tend to eat healthier and eat fewer calories.

Amy said people often don’t try to make time to cook because of other eating options. “Finding time these days is something that people don’t prioritize because there are so many other avenues to get food,” she said.

According to the Journal, a link exists between eating on the run, taking food to go, and poor diet. This includes fast foot and sugar-laden beverages. Obesity Action Coalition, an advocacy group for those suffering from obesity, says eating fast food every day can lead to increased calorie intake, obesity, and related health problems. Some chains do offer healthier options.

Amy said eating healthy while having a busy schedule is sometimes a matter of going against the body’s natural urges. “Because there’s all these fast food restatements and things that make feeding a family of four, six, eight or 10 people easy, it’s almost like you have to outsmart yourself to make the time,” she said.

Amy also said there are some misconceptions surrounding cooking times, although some foods unique to specific demographics take longer to cook. She said having a freezer full of frozen food and cupboards full of canned food can help alleviate time spent shopping. She suggests that planning ahead can help those with busy schedules stay away from unhealthy fast food options.

“Pick one day a week and slot it in your calendar, even if you’re just dragging yourself there,” she said. She added that taking care of your body can be draining. Some people take notice of their health only when it’s too late. “I do think that thinking about health and nutrition and just wellness in general takes a lot of brainpower and interest.”