Week 1 Discussion-Reply Post

Shopping Habits

1 Gallon of milk; Organic Valley Organic 2% Reduced Fat Milk, rating 4.74 @ $9.49/gal

One loaf of bread: Oroweat / Arnold Organic Rustic White Bread, rating 4.68 @ $6.49 for 27 oz

One bag of apples (including price per pound); Organic Kanzi Apple Bag, rating 4.53 @ $2.50/lb

1. One bag of carrots: Organic Rainbow Carrots Bag, rating 4.76 @ $0.09/oz bag
2. One large container of yoghurt; Coconut Cult Organic Harvest Strawberry Probiotic Coconut Yogurt, rating 4.8, @ $9.99/8 fl oz
3. One 2-litre soda: Sprouts Organic Lemon Italian Soda, rating 4.57 @$11.97.
4. One bag of chips: Kettle Backyard BBQ Sharing Size Kettle Potato Chips, rating 4.68 @ $5.49 for a bag of 13 oz
5. One package of cookies: Sprouts Oatmeal Cranberry Walnut Cookie 12 Pack, rating 4.68 @ $5.69 per 12 ct
6. (Natural & Organic Grocery Store | Sprouts Farmers Market. (n.d.)
7. The total population in Fort Myers, Florida, as of July 1, 2022, is 822,453 with a median income of $87, 204 and poverty percentage of 6.3% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts). The poverty percentage is relatively low compared to its total population, comprising people under financial constraints due to drug and substance, domestic violence, among other spending habits. Fort Myers is a multicultural community. Therefore, cultural diversity impacts grocery purchases where people seek unique ingredients or ethnic foods that align with their culinary traditions. People are willing to purchase foods that favor their cultural practices irrespective of the cost.
8. Despite Fort Myers being a high social class community, many strive to maintain their social status and prestige. That implies low savings and high spending rates. Those who thrive are people who have extensive businesses, especially outside the community, and those who have many income-generating projects within the same community. The area is known for its beaches, tourism industry, and residential communities. The limited agricultural activities make many agricultural products extremely expensive. Therefore, the tension between the high social class and low is high.

The social class struggle deprives many of healthy diets since it is beyond their affordability. Therefore, many tend to consume what is affordable rather than healthy. As an intervention, a community health nurse (CHN) should venture into health teaching for the Fort Myers population to consider cheap foods suitable for their health. Health teaching ought to communicate facts, values, beliefs, skills, community structure, skills, practices of individuals, and attitudes towards food choices (Nies & McEwen, 2019). People should make the right food choices instead of being driven by social class status and cultural dictates.