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EXPERT

OPINION

Key informants, and local experts weigh in on the issue

Each expert has background experience in food security, human nutrition, sustainability or the community and the issues that it normally faces.

/// Alexa Carrier, Didactic Program Director, Department of Human Sciences at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

///Elaine Montemayor, M.S., Healthy Texas Specialist

/// Dr. Tanner Machado, Associate Professor at TAMUK

"Most households in Kingsville community does not cook or know how to cook, so what they provide for their children are drive-through fast food, chicken nuggets and French fries,  a child that is used to fries, candies and soda cannot find fruits and vegetables with whole grain appealing". 

"Addressing this problem is important, because some people income is low and people need to learn to stretch it wisely. Wastefulness, using food properly, learning the food safety, and making it count are among topics that are the base of the problem in the area. "

"The biggest challenge in obtaining healthful food is money, most of the households in Kingsville are single parent households where the person is working hard to provide at least one full meal to the family in a day."

/// Dr. Greta Schuster, Department Chair and Professor of Agronomy and Integrated Pest Management at Texas A&M University - Kingsville

"There are educational and assistance resources available, however declining nutrition could possibly be attributed to pride, unwillingness to seek those resources out, and the convenience of fast food"

Nutritious foods, and assistance programs, are available to residents but they are not taken full advantage of. Mr. Escobedo attributes this to personal choices, lack of time and lack of knowledge.

/// Francisco Escobedo, Kleberg-Kennedy county extension agent

"Households in Kingsville community are economically depressed, several aids, Nutritious foods and assistance programs are made available to residents but they are usually abused or not taken full advantage of as a result of inadequate education, citizens not employable, disabilities, drug abuse and lack of time"

/// Mrs. Michelle Butler, Director of Food Services at Kingsville Independent School District.

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