Lesley
Jones,
MS, RD, LD
Assistant Professor
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Lesley Jones, MS, RD, LD, is an Assistant Professor in the College of Health Professions at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where she completed her dietetic internship. She has been a Registered Dietitian for 25 years and currently teaches courses in the Master of Science in Dietetics and Master of Clinical Nutrition programs.
Presenting at the Nexus Summit:
Background: Food insecurity (FI) is a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle. In 2023, 13.5% of U.S. households met criteria for FI. Arkansas ranks worst at 18.9%. Assistance benefits provide $2.06/person/meal, but the average meal costs $3.55/person. Aside from economics, many individuals in rural areas experience FI due to living in food deserts with limited access to affordable, nutritious food. Healthcare providers are often unaware of patients’/families’ FI, and evidence-based recommendations (DASH, Mediterranean diet) can seem overwhelming for FI…