Summary
This article elaborates on the structural determinants of food insecurity for Latinas in the United States during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to considering the impact of pandemic-related stressors on Latinas’ nutrition and health, authors highlight macro- and microenvironment level factors that influence Latinas’ access to nutritious food, including the role of structural barriers, economic constraints, gender, immigration policy, and food support programs.
Authors provide recommendations for practitioners to integrate structural considerations into the nutrition care process for Latinas, promote community-level initiatives, and advocate for policy change. Some recommendations include connecting clients with available local food distribution resources and emergency food programs (e.g., food pantries, food banks, etc.) as well as local educational resources to promote healthy eating (e.g., nutrition workshops, SNAP-Ed, etc.), emphasizing needs-based programs with limited/no out-of-pocket costs for participants.
