Welcome to Grocery Diaries, a new series that illustrates just how varied and personalized “healthy eating” really is. So many factors impact the choices we make at the grocery store, including access and affordability, health conditions, our individual cultural backgrounds, even what simply makes us (and our taste buds) happy. So we asked people across the country to share their grocery lists with us, and then called up a few of them to ask for more details. Why do they buy what they buy? How much do they spend? Who are they shopping for? What health conditions or nutritional concerns are they thinking about when they choose, for instance, almond milk over cow’s milk, or particular flavors or spices or treats? In this Grocery Diaries installment, we hear from a Kentucky grocery store owner working to increase access to fresh food in Louisville’s West End.
Name: Shauntrice Martin
Age: 36
Occupation: Lobbyist and grocery store owner
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Race/Gender: Black woman
Health conditions/dietary restrictions to consider: Shauntrice has a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure.
Grocery shopping frequency: Shops twice a week for two people
Some of Shauntrice Martin’s favorite childhood memories involve making dinner with her grandparents. “I learned a lot of stories about our family during that time when we were preparing meals,” she tells SELF. Shauntrice also developed an appreciation for fresh food and home-cooked meals after watching her great-grandmother pick vegetables from her farm. “I remember being able to see everything that got put in a recipe and understanding the importance of each ingredient,” she says. “If we were out of something, then the entire recipe would change.”
At home Shauntrice ate very differently. Her mom worked long hours and didn’t have time to cook, so Shauntrice frequently ate microwaveable meals or other packaged food. What’s more, her mom just didn’t have access to fresh food at the local grocery store. “We were on food stamps, but the place we got our food from didn’t really have fresh options,” she says.
As an adult, Shauntrice wondered whether food affected her family’s medical history. Her grandmother had diabetes and her mom developed high blood pressure, but to Shauntrice’s knowledge, her great-grandmother didn’t have these types of medical conditions. “I think a lot about the way my mother ate versus the way my great-grandmother ate, and that really influences what I eat now,” she says.
It’s important to mention that Shauntrice’s mom smoked, which is one risk factor for developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure happens when your blood puts excessive force against your artery walls, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). People develop high blood pressure for various reasons, including a high-sodium diet, a family history of the condition, and smoking, according to the Mayo Clinic. Over time, high blood pressure can lead to other medical conditions like a heart attack. And while there are many ways to try to prevent or manage high blood pressure, regularly eating a variety of nutritious foods (especially fruits and vegetables) is one of them.
Shauntrice is also concerned about developing diabetes, which happens when your blood sugar, or blood glucose, is consistently too high, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) explains. Glucose is our body’s main source of energy and we get it from food and drinks. People with diabetes can develop issues like nerve damage, eye problems, and kidney disease. Treatment plans vary and can include taking insulin or limiting the amount of saturated fat, sodium, and sugar you eat.