foodinsecure-blog

[foodinsecure-blog]

Food Insecurity in America

Food insecurity is a raising issue in America, with the United States Department of Agriculture reporting that 41 million Americans faced hunger, which includes 13 million children who do not have a stable source of food. Due to the pandemic, shifting wages, and increase in produce prices due to supply shortages, has left many without the budget for a meal.

Children in Food insecure households often rely on school lunches for meals, which is way programs like the National School Lunch Program, who reported providing 29 million children, with free or low-cost breakfast and lunch meals to children each school day in 2019. But the pandemic has led to the closure of many schools leading to a decrease in meals served in 2020.

Food insecurity has also influenced the health of adults and children who cannot afford healthy meals. Those who face food insecurity purchase food that is the cheapest, leading to consumption in foods that are high in a calorie and low in nutrition which leads to increased rate in heart issues, malnutrition, and high blood pressure.

So, what could we do to combat this issue? Community support, and nutritional education are to ways to help combat food insecurity. A USDA study has showed the benefit of nutrition education programs for both children and adults an education on healthy foods. Food banks are also another way to help those who cannot afford meals. Although food banks have also suffered in due to the pandemic, and also rely on the donations of people. There are also numerous charities dedicated to providing food to those in need such as Feeding America, and No Kid Hungry.

End Child Hunger in America | No Kid Hungry

U.S. Hunger Relief Organization | Feeding America

If you have any unexpired nonperishable foods such as canned goods, dehydrated, boxed, or dried foods that you think may go to waste please consider donating them to your local food bank.