Schools, houses of worship, and businesses are examples of organizations. The next layers are larger and larger communities, such as your county, state, and country (Figure 1.7). Food Availability Every layer of your environment is filled with many sights, sounds, flavors, and textures that affect your appetite. Seeing cupcakes at the bake sale or smelling popcorn popping can affect your appetite. Just knowing a food is there can affect your appetite, too. Have you ever wanted a slice of watermelon after seeing it in the kitchen? In addition to affecting your desire to eat, the environment also can affect whether you are able to satisfy your appetite. That is because each layer affects which foods are available for you to eat. For example, the foods available in your home determine what you are able to have for a snack or a meal. Have you ever had an appetite for a salad, but did not have the ingredients? The type of food stores in your local community also affect what is available for you to choose. Local communities with a large supermarket nearby have more food choices available than those communities that are food deserts. A food desert is a community that has access to a limited variety of healthy foods. These foods may be sold at gas stations, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, vending machines, or other small businesses. Few fruits, vegetables, and protein foods are available in food deserts. Fresh produce and meat are very limited in food deserts. Foods that last a long time, such as those packaged in boxes, cans, and jars, are the types most available in food deserts. The limited variety of healthy food in food deserts makes it hard for families to eat a variety of healthy foods. The number and types of other businesses that sell food, especially restaurants, also affect food availability. Some communities have many different types of restaurants, including those that offer healthy choices. On the other hand, some communities may be food swamps. A food swamp is a Your Environment You Your home Local community County State Country Figure 1.7 The many layers in your environment affect your food choices. How might the state you live in affect your food choices? Adventures in Food and Nutrition Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 14