Nutrition & Food Equity

Food is a source of nourishment and joy. It has a deep  cultural value among Latino/x/e communities. A healthy diet based on strong cultural and family values leads to healthier families, especially healthier children who are raised by immigrant parents. Unfortunately, Latino/x/e communities face many health barriers and disparities such as poverty and food insecurity which hinders a nutritious diet. Latino/x/e communities are also more exposed to stress and trauma due to factors such as fear, employment difficulties, and immigration status. For these reasons, Latino/x/e children are less likely to get a strong start of life.

To address this issue, Familias en Acción has decided to create a culturally and linguistically specific community program and curriculum to provide knowledge and advocacy skills about food justice, social determinants of health, and family health while creating strong Latino/x/e communities.

The Abuela, Mamá y Yo program is based on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease and epigenetic research that shows the impact of food and toxic stress on three generations. In 2018, we started a Community Council with the goal of developing strategies and building parent advocacy skills that could impact equitable health policies in Oregon. In 2018, Familias en Acción started this project in collaboration with the OHSU Moore Institute for Nutrition and Wellness. Using focus groups, we gathered data on eating habits, food access, and health education. With this information and research on epigenetics, nutrition, and the developmental origins of health and disease, we created the curriculum  that we are currently using.

The ultimate goal of Abuela, Mamá y Yo is to reduce the impact of food and health inequities and to build communities that raise strong children who become healthy adults.