Carlson, Andrea, and Elizabeth Frazo.

"Food Costs, Diet Quality and

Energy Balance in the United States." Physiology & Behavior 134 (2014): 20-31.
Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

In their journal, Food Costs, Diet Quality and Energy Balance in the United
States, authors Andrea Carlson and Elizabeth Frazo analyze that high obesity
rates, poor diet quality, low food access, and high food prices often correlate with
low income in the United States. Andrea Carlson and Elizabeth Frazo develop
this investigation by providing a variety of graphical illustrations as well as
statistics regarding food prices/quality and availability to those with lower
incomes. Carlsons and Frazos purpose is to identify the reasons behind why
low income families have difficulties accessing healthier food options in order to
generate proposals that can increase the amount of healthy food options available
to those with lower incomes. Carlson and Frazo use a persuasive tone with their
public audience of all income levels.

This text is important/relevant to my field of research because it relates to my

topic of increasing the availability of healthy food options for those with lower
incomes. This source has provided me with a better understanding and useful
information regarding the correlation between food costs and diet quality. This
source, in particular, addresses the potential reasoning as to why there is a barrier
between low-income families and healthy foods. This text supports my other
sources because it provides background and possible solutions to this issue. Also,

this source is fairly similar to my other ones in that it provides background

information about the effects of a poor diet. I find this source to be trustworthy
because I utilized UC Merceds online library database. Also, this source provides
clear labeling of the authors and references.

Columbus Health Department. " Improving Access to Healthy Food: A

Community Planning Tool." (n.d.): n. pag. Columbus Health Department. Web. 13
Mar. 2015.

In its article, Improving Access to Healthy Food: A Community Planning Tool,

the Columbus Health Department explore that the importance of good nutrition is
often neglected within lower income communities due to the lack healthy food
access. The Columbus Health Department supports this analysis by providing
assessments, an action plan, as well as charts. The Columbus Health Departments
purpose is to formulate a strategy that will allow those with lower incomes to
have access to healthier foods in order to bring nutritional value into their lives.
The Columbus Health Department uses a confident tone with its general public
audience.

This text is important/relevant to my field of research because it provides

convenient information regarding the reactions of lower income communities
toward healthy eating habits and how healthy eating within these environments is
often neglected and/or ignored. This source has contributed to my overall

understanding of my topic by proposing a hypothetical plan of action to resolve

the problem regarding the access to healthy food by low-income individuals. Not
only does this provide a possible solution to this problem, but it also allows me to
expand my knowledge on this issue that affects many people. This text
complements/supports my other sources because it promotes the increase in
healthy food availability to low-income communities and formulates a plan to
make this happen. I find this source to be trustworthy because I obtained it
through UC Merceds online library database.

Drewnowski, Adam, and Nicole Darmon. "Food Choices and Diet Costs: An
Economic Analysis." Journal of Nutrition 135.4 (2005): 900-04. Web. 14 Mar.
2015.

In their article, Food Choices and Diet Costs: an Economic Analysis, authors
Adam Drewnowski and Nicole Darmon analyze that obesity in the United States
is a socioeconomic issue and how it is correlated to healthy foods. Adam
Drewnowski and Nicole Darmon develop this investigation by utilizing graphs
that illustrate statistics pertaining to diet costs. Adam Drewnowskis and Nicole
Darmons purpose is to clarify that encouraging low-income households to
consume healthier foods is not necessarily effective in order to generate a
comprehensive policy approach that takes behavioral nutrition and the economics
of food choice into account. Drewnowski and Darmon use an assured tone with
their general public audience.

This text is important/relevant to my field of research because it analyzes the

correlation between obesity and low-income individuals. This source has added to
my understanding of this issue by taking into account the implementation of a
comprehensive policy approach as opposed to solely encouraging low-income
households to consume healthier foods. This source complements my other
sources by providing a different solution to this issue. In addition, the proposed
solution within this source incorporates behavioral nutrition and the economics of
food, which my other sources do not address. Again, I find this source trustworthy
because I obtained it from UC Merceds online library database.

Drewnowski, Adam, and Petra Eichelsdoerfer. "Can Low-Income

Americans Afford a Healthy Diet?" Nutrition Today 44.6 (2009): 246-49. Web. 14
Mar. 2015.

In their article, Can Low-Income Americans Afford a Healthy Diet, authors

Adam Drewnowski and Petra Eichelsdoerfer examine that all Americans have
access to a nutritious diet and that in reality, food prices pose a significant barrier
for many customers. Adam Drewnowski and Petra Eichelsdoerfer support this
study by providing a table that contains information about ingredients, prices,
frequency of consumption, and preparation time. Drewnowskis and
Eichelsdoerfers purpose is to emphasize and favor the Thrift Food Plan in order

to achieve cost goals by relaxing some nutrition constraints and by disregarding

the usual eating habits of the American population.

This text is important/relevant to my field of research because it thoroughly

addresses and argues that all Americans have access to healthy foods, thus
providing a different perspective. This source has contributed to my
understanding of this issue because it allows me to formulate a solution to this
problem in another viewpoint. As a result, I am able to avoid personal bias and
ultimately evaluate this issue from multiple perspectives, thus determining the
most effective solution. This text supports and somewhat contradicts my other
sources because it does take a different approach to my topic, but also provides a
potential solution to the subject. I find this source trustworthy because, again, I
attained this article from UC Merceds online library database.

Levy, Douglas E., Jason Riis, Lillian M. Sonnenberg, Susan J. Barraclough,

and Anne N. Thorndike. "Food Choices of Minority and Low-Income Employees:
A Cafeteria Intervention." American Journal of Preventive Medicine 43.3 (2012):
240-48. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

In their article, Food Choices of Minority and Low-Income Employees: A

Cafeteria Intervention, authors Douglas Levy, Jason Riis, Lillian Sonnenberg,
Susan Barraclough, and Anne Thorndike evaluate that food choices differ from
various ethnicities. The authors develop this study by providing a 9-month

longitudinal study that assesses person-level changes in purchases of both healthy

and unhealthy foods following sequentially introduced interventions. The authors
purpose is to test whether a two-phase point-of-purchase intervention improved
food choices across racial, socioeconomic groups in order to understand the
differing choices among differing racial groups. The authors use an assertive tone
with their public audience.

This text is important/relevant to my field of research because it provides a great

amount of information pertaining to the differing food choices among varying
racial groups, specifically those with lower incomes. This source has significantly
added to my understanding of this issue because it specifically targets low-income
individuals of differing races. My other sources mention certain types of races that
fall under the category of low incomes, however, this particular source takes an
in-depth method of examining the food choices made by different ethnic societies.
This source definitely supports/complements my other sources because it
thoroughly analyzes a specific aspect of my topic. I found this source
trustworthy/credible because, as mention previously, I found this article in UC
Merceds online library database.

O'Malley, Keelia, Jeanette Gustat, Janet Rice, and Carolyn Johnson.

"Feasibility of Increasing Access to Healthy Foods in Neighborhood Corner
Stores." Journal of Community Health 38.4 (2013): 741-49. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

In their article, Feasibility of Increasing Access to Healthy Foods in

Neighborhood Corner Stores, authors Keelia OMalley, Jeanette Gustat, Janet
Rice, and Carolyn Johnson explain that the majority of neighborhood residents
use supermarkets as their primary food source and those who shopped at corner
stores often purchased prepared foods/beverages. The authors develop this inquiry
by providing several tables illustrating household surveys and statistics regarding
food items/sources. The authors purpose is to integrate system changes that
provide incentives and make it more convenient for neighborhood corner stores to
stock/sell fresh produce in order to increase the availability of fresh fruit and
vegetables to low-income consumers. The authors use a contemplative tone with
their general public audience.

This text is important/relevant to my field of research because it provides another

standpoint in which this article elaborates upon the fact that the majority of
neighborhood residents use supermarkets as their primary food source as opposed
to corner stores. This source has added to my understanding of my topic because
it takes a different approach to this issue. Rather than increasing the amount of
fresh produce in corner stores, this article explains that the increase in healthy
foods should take place in supermarkets. This text supports and somewhat
contradicts my other sources because it takes a different route toward solving this
issue. I found this article to be trustworthy because I found it on UC Merceds
online library database.

Song, Hee-Jung, Joel Gittelsohn, Miyong Kim, Sonali Suratkar, Sangita

Sharma, and Jean Anliker. "A Corner Store Intervention in a Low-income Urban
Community Is Associated with Increased Availability and Sales of Some Healthy
Foods." Public Health Nutrition 12.11 (2009): 2060-067. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

In their article, A Corner Store Intervention in a Low-Income Urban Community

Is Associated with Increase Availability and Sales of Some Healthy Foods,
authors Hee-Jung Song, Joel Gittelsohn, Miyong Kim, Sonali Suratkar, Sangita
Sharma, and Jean Anliker argue that very few evaluation studies exist regarding
corner store-based nutrition interventions and that increasing the availability and
sales of healthier food options in local stores will be more successful. The authors
develop this objective by tables that reflect sales in corner stores as well as local
stores of healthy foods. The authors purpose is to increase in the stocking and
promotion of healthy foods in order to increase sales and improve the availability
of healthy foods in low-income communities.

This text is important/relevant to my field of research because it provides a great

amount of background regarding the correlation between healthy food and lowincome individuals and how the best way of providing easy access to healthy
foods is through local stores rather than corner stores. This text has expanded my
knowledge on this issue by elaborating upon a feasible solution and how it can
improve the overall health for those who are experiencing the struggle of
accessing healthier food choices. This text supports/complements one of my other

sources in that it favors the increase in health food availability in local stores as
opposed to corner stores. I found this source to be trustworthy/credible because I
did obtain this article through UC Merceds online library database.

Zachary, Drew A., Anne M. Palmer, Sarah W. Beckham, and Pamela J.

Surkan. "A Framework for Understanding Grocery Purchasing in a Low-Income
Urban Environment." Qualitative Health Research 23.5 (2013): 665-78. Web. 14
Mar. 2015.

In their article, A Framework for Understanding Grocery Purchasing in a LowIncome Urban Environment, authors Drew Zachary, Anne Palmer, Sarah
Beckham, and Pamela Surkan demonstrate that food desert environments limit
low-income shoppers to purchase healthy foods, thus increasing their risk of
obtaining diet-related illnesses. The authors support this argument by utilizing
tables and statistics concerning grocery purchase decisions and behaviors toward
unhealthy food purchases. The authors purpose is to understand how individuals
in an urban American food desert make grocery-purchasing decisions and
specifically why unhealthy purchases arise in order to increase healthy purchasing
in food deserts. The authors use an encouraging tone with their public audience
specifically aimed toward the American population.

This text is important/relevant to my field of research because it thoroughly

demonstrates the fact that food desert environments do limit low-income

shoppers purchase of healthy foods, which puts their health at risk for various
diet-related illnesses. This source has added to my overall understanding of my
topic because it allowed me to better comprehend how serious this issue is and
how it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. I have gained a clearer
knowledge of the possible effects of the absence of nutritional foods in ones
lifestyle. This text definitely supports my other sources because it addresses the
probable consequences associated with my topic if it were to be ignored. In
addition, this article provides information regarding how unhealthy purchases
arise in the first place. I found this source to be trustworthy because I found it on
UC Merceds online library database.

Hardwood, Michael J., and Gregory A. Baker. "Healthy Food Costs for
Low-Income Families: Santa Clara County, California." Healthy Food Costs for
Low-Income Families: Santa Clara County, California (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 13
Mar. 2015.

This source was not included in the top eight sources because this articles studies
were mainly based in the Santa Clara County as opposed to a larger population.
Also, this article, in my opinion, seemed a bit biased because it included personal
suggestions from the authors without appropriate support/evidence.

Lee, Jia Hwa, Robin A. Ralston, and Helen Truby. "Influence of Food Cost

on Diet Quality and Risk Factors for Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review."
Nutrition & Dietetics 68.4 (2011): 248-61. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

This article did not make it into my top eight because it mainly
discussed the relationship between unhealthy food choices and
chronic diseases. Also, this article did not mention enough
information regarding possible solutions to help those with lower
incomes with access to healthy foods.

Mcelwee, Joshua J., and Joe Winter. "Getting Healthy Food to Low-income
People." National Catholic Reporter 48.3 (2011): 3a-4a. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

This article did not make it into my top eight sources because it lacked a great
amount of information to support its claims. Also, there was an absence of
evidence/statistics. The overall length of the article was too short to be able to
successfully elaborate upon this issue.

Proscio, Tony. "Food, Markets, & Healthy, Communities." Journal of

Housing & Community Development 63.4 (2006): 20-27. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

This article provided a great solution to my topic of research, however, there

wasnt enough support/background to prove this strategy to be feasible. Overall,

this article would have made it into my top eight if it werent for the lack of
support.

Shenkin, Jonathan D., and Michael F. Jacobson. "Using the Food Stamp
Program and Other Methods to Promote Healthy Diets for Low-Income
Consumers." American Journal of Public Health Sept. 2010: 1562-564. Web. 14
Mar. 2015

This article did not make it into my top eight sources because it lacked a thorough
analysis of its proposed solution, which is crucial when determining a plans
validity. Also, the length of the article was not long enough to sufficiently provide
enough supportive information.

Tester, June M., Irene H. Yen, Lauren C. Pallis, and Barbara A. Laraia.
"Healthy Food Availability and Participation in WIC (Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) in Food Stores around
Lower- and Higher-income Elementary Schools." Public Health Nutrition 14.6
(2011): 960-64. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

This article did not make it into my top eight sources because it mainly focused
on healthy food availability for women, infants, and children, which does not
cover the entire low-income population. This article also narrowly concentrated
on healthy food for elementary schools.

Yang, Leslie. "The Grocer Gap: Who Has Access to Healthy Food and Why
It Matters." (n.d.): n. pag. The Food Trust. The Food Trust. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
<http://thefoodtrust.org/uploads/media_items/grocerygap.original.pdf>.

This article did not make it into my top eight sources because I was unsure of
whether or not this source was credible. Regardless, this source would have made
it into my top eight because it provided enough information about potential
solutions to my topic of research.

Based on my findings from my annotated bibliography, I have expanded my

knowledge and understanding of my topic of research. Moreover, I have encountered a
great amount of useful information that has helped me to refine the direction in which my
research paper will be heading towards.
A major question problem that has emerged from the research I have done is the
fact that many people have the tendency to neglect healthy foods simply because it is out
of their comfort zone. As a result, nutritional value is often ignored which can lead to an
unhealthy lifestyle. In order to respond to this problem, I plan to develop/structure my
research project by performing surveys based on the importance of nutritional value in
ones life. In addition, I have also encountered various perspectives whilst doing my
research. For instance, I came across an article that argue that increasing the amount of
corner stores available to those with lower incomes is not necessarily the most effective;
the better alternative was to simply increase the amount of healthy food in super markets
and/or super stores. Another viewpoint in solving this problem that I encountered was
paying closer attention to why low-income consumers purchase unhealthy foods in the
first place. By understanding how and why these consumers do so in the beginning may
help in formulating the most effective method of providing them with healthier food
options. Again, I can begin to respond by generating surveys that will allow me to gather
reasons that provide potential answers to the previous question. As a counterexample
from the others, I came across an article that favored an increase in corner stores due to
the convenience and lack of transportation for low-income communities. In doing so,
these low-income communities can have access to these types of foods.
Another aspect to take into account is the problem that is associated with the price
of healthy food. For example, a resource that I acquired argued that all Americans have
access to healthy foods; however, food prices pose a significant barrier for many
customers. In order to respond to the price problem that is associated with healthier food,
I can conduct more research specifically gear towards healthy food prices, thus allowing
me to incorporate reasons as to why healthy foods tend to be more expensive. As a result,
I can formulate a solution that addresses the high cost of healthy food options and how
low-income families can have access to them without having to pay the high price. Not
only will the increase in healthy foods in local stores improve its availability in lowincome communities, but can also increase sales. In a way, this change benefits both
sides. Another article I found elaborated upon food purchases based on differing lowincome races. By studying food-purchasing behaviors in different racial communities, a
more effective solution can be produced to specifically target certain areas that are
severely more prone to adjust to these types of unhealthy food-purchasing behaviors.
Another approach at solving this issue could simply be derived from food labeling. For
instance, one article included a 9-month longitudinal study that assessed whether or not a
persons decision in purchasing food can change based on the food label itself. As a
result, more people leaned more towards the healthier food options that were specifically
labeled as healthy food. By taking this study into account, I can provide verification by

performing an identical experiment to test whether or not food labeling is an effective

solution to my issue of research.
Overall, I have encountered very useful and informative resources that set the
direction in which my research paper will head towards. The sources I have included
cover my topic three-dimensionally by providing multiple perspectives.