Tackling the Persistent Issue of Healthy Food Access in Chicago

Download free Chicago maps to inform community action

When we released the very first Chicago Food Desert Report in 2006, it sparked a national conversation. That report not only introduced the term food desert into the public dialogue but also brought new awareness about the health and economic challenges tied to grocery access. Nearly twenty years later, this issue remains just as urgent and, in some ways, even more complex. Read the original 2006 report here!

Chicago food deserts identified in 2006 have seen some improvements, yet gaps in quality grocery access remain. And Chicago is not alone; similar challenges exist across both urban and rural America. Grocery access problems do not change overnight, and simply cutting the ribbon on a new store does not guarantee long-term success. In fact, if a store closes, it can discourage future investment even when community demand still exists. Markets are complicated, as are people and their shopping patterns.

To provide a fuller picture, in 2002-2003 we developed missing meals data and maps for Chicago. By partitioning the city into about 2,200 small areas, we were able to score the net number of meals households could not afford. This data reveals another dimension: lack of financial access to groceries and meals. Comparing the two maps shows that the very areas labeled as food deserts in 2006 now have the highest concentrations of households unable to afford enough healthy food, even if stores are nearby.

Our Meal Deficit Metric (MDM) calculates how many meals are actually missed each week because households cannot afford them. It identifies hyper-local areas where families are most vulnerable, even in neighborhoods with quality grocery options.

What the Meal Deficit Data Reveals About Chicago Families

The findings are sobering: families are missing meals not only in historically underserved neighborhoods, but also in areas considered stable or affluent. Food insecurity can be invisible, present even where most people assume resources are plentiful.

Missed meals mean children go to school hungry, seniors skip meals to afford prescriptions, and parents face impossible trade-offs between food, rent, and utilities. See more missing meals reports here.

Grocery Stores Alone Do Not Provide a Full Food Access Solution

When new grocery stores open in underserved areas, headlines often call them “the solution” to healthy food access. While important, openings alone are not enough.

The reality is that it’s difficult for operators in distressed markets. They must keep stores clean, inviting, and well-stocked with fresh, high-quality food, all while competing against thin margins and high costs.

Meanwhile, Chicago has 1,856 SNAP-authorized retailers, many of which are fringe stores. These shops often sell mostly processed food, at higher prices, and operate in poor conditions. During one of our site visits to a chain dollar store, we observed cracked windows, spoiled milk in coolers, and thawed frozen vegetables. Shelves were bare or stocked only with high-sugar, high-salt, high-fat products. Employees admitted their freezers had been broken for months.

These fringe retailers drag communities down, yet rarely face scrutiny. By contrast, when a grocery chain fails, it makes headlines and draws protests. Genuine grocers trying to serve these communities face enormous challenges. They need support, whether they are for-profit, nonprofit, government-run, or co-ops.

Data and Strategy Toolbox

This is where tools like the Meal Deficit Metric become powerful. When data is layered properly, it paints a full picture of need and opportunity. It allows policymakers, nonprofits, and everyday residents to design pinpointed responses that reflect real human need, not assumptions.

Reach out to learn about our custom data, strategies, and solutions.

How You Can Use These Maps

Whether you live in Chicago or simply care about these issues, there are practical ways to engage with this work. You might:

• Download and share the free maps with neighbors or local groups.
• Bring the data to community leaders, schools, or nonprofits to inform decision-making.
• Volunteer with a pantry or community kitchen.
• Start conversations that uncover hidden gaps in your own community.
• Partner on deeper analyses to create customized solutions.

These are not just statistics on a page. They are tools for change.

Who is Mari Gallagher?

Mari Gallagher, founder and principal of Mari Gallagher Research & Consulting Group, is a nationally recognized expert in food access, grocery market analysis, hyperlocal data modeling, and community health impacts. She popularized the term “food desert,” helped motivate billions in federal investment into underserved areas, and continues to shape public policy and on-the-ground programs nationwide.