Creating healthier shops: Community health center collaboration with local businesses to increase healthier food options in the south bronx

The Bronx has the highest number of residents that are overweight or obese and saw the greatest increase in fast food retailers in New York City. Urban Health Plan, Inc. (UHP) is a federally qualified community health center providing comprehensive and affordable primary and specialty health care services to the South Bronx. UHP collaborated with the New York City Department of Health (NYC-DOH) initiative Shop Healthy Bronx (SHB), which aims to increase access to healthy food in areas that have a large percentage of overweight or obesity. The UHP team includes a pediatrician, nutritionists, nutrition assistants, program coordinators and directors, health educators, a chef, and outreach specialist. This team meets weekly and is composed of outreach teams that focus on one establishment to identify and provide healthy food options based on NYC-DOH guidelines. We adopted 3 supermarkets, 1 deli, and 1 bakery chain.

NYC-DOH guidelines for SHB designation include: Water placed at eye level; Fruits located over the counter or where visible; Offer 1% or 2% milk; Have whole wheat bread options; Stock healthy snacks; Create breakfast and lunch combos; Low sodium and/or no sugar-added canned goods.

SHB team members provide education to owners so they can identify healthy food options. UHP promotes vendors to patients via waiting room presentations and to 600 employees via email blasts. Nutritionists create monthly recipes and lead food demonstrations with over 200 encounters between two supermarkets. As a result of these changes, three vendors received a Proclamation from the Bronx Borough President's Office.