1. 3/27/2016 Using a 'triple lens' to examine food security | Food & Home | journaltimes.com
http://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/using-a-triple-lens-to-examine-food-security/article_2f36b441-2a4c-5a8a-b707-3adb9d4ba27e.html 1/5
http://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/using-a-triple-lens-to-examine-food-
security/article_2f36b441-2a4c-5a8a-b707-3adb9d4ba27e.html
Using a 'triple lens' to examine food security
Terri Ward UW-Extension Nutrition Education Program Administrator, Racine and Kenosha Counties
Mar 25, 2016
Terri Ward
Terri Ward
Racine County residents match or exceed Wisconsin and national averages of adverse
health metrics which include large scale health problems such as adult obesity, physical
inactivity, and limited access to healthy foods, dubbed food security.
Food security is defined by the World Health Organization as the state “when all people
at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and
active life.” Food-insecure individuals face multiple challenges across the lifespan,
including lower academic success as youth, and disproportionately higher rates of long-
term, chronic food-related disease as adults.
Consequences of poor personal and familial nutrition contribute to intergenerational
cycles of poverty. Compromised community food security also has negative implications
for economic development and trade (WHO, 2014).
Many variables influence individual-level food choices, including taste preferences, time
invested in food preparation, cost of food and food access (Mook et al. CDC, 2016). Other
layers of influence in society, such as social groups, institutions, and policy- and law-
making entities influence food security through practice and policy. Examples include the
nutritional quality of foods served at schools and social events, and economic and social
policies or laws that promote or erode consistent access to healthy food.

2. 3/27/2016 Using a 'triple lens' to examine food security | Food & Home | journaltimes.com
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The good news is we’re not often without some ability to influence our surroundings. Key
among effective strategies to improve food security is engaging sustainable practices that
influence multiple layers of our social ecology; so promoting positive change in individual
behaviors (modeling healthy eating), families (parent education), social group settings
(wellness investment), and local and national policy-making circles.
Sustainability research gives us a productive framework through which to view our
challenges: the “triple lens” approach to conceptualizing and problem-solving. The triple
lens framework shows food security from three perspectives to illuminate the big picture.
Economic
Economic viability and stability is clear; a financial bottom line determines what we can
and cannot do with food, regardless of our role. As a food producer, for example, it
makes sense to maximize profits and minimize costs. If you’re an individual with a budget
of $1.48 per meal, the bottom line is that your food choices are limited and your focus is
maximizing calories for each dollar.
Demand drives production however, so when consumers buy fewer unhealthy foods
(high in sugar, fat, and sodium) it isn’t as profitable for businesses to produce them.
Albeit multifaceted, a lone economic lens fails to create sustainable food security.
Environmental
Considering environmental stability, which impacts economic viability, requires more
abstract thinking. How do we best grow, prepare, produce, process, transport and
consume foods while maintaining the integrity of our land, air and water? Now add back
in the economic lens and we see trade-offs, conflict even; you can profit in food supply
but must also consider long-term effects of food supply chain practices. To critically
examine environmental impacts takes vision; there are trade-offs that ultimately
influence economics and long-term food security.
Social

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Enter the social lens and we begin to see the food system as a complex structure of
exchange. Social factors of the food system include public health, equitable distribution
and access to quantity and quality of foods, and food security biases associated with race
and class (Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 2013).
Racial and class bias is evident in the food system, for example, in the significantly higher
prevalence of chronic food-related disease in low income (Journal of Nutrition, 2010) and
minority populations (USDA, 2015).
We have some work to do. For more information on nutrition education or food security
contact the UW-Extension Nutrition Education Program at 262-635-6824.
Terri Ward is the administrator of the UW-Extension Nutrition Education Program for Racine and
Kenosha counties.
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