Food insecurity among children

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                The issue of food insecurity or lack of nutritious and healthful foods is best known for its detrimental effects to health especially in regards to physical and mental development and health. For this reason, it is very important for children to have access to proper nutrition in order to establish and maintain a good foundation to a healthful life. Although the National School Lunch program has had a huge impact on feeding children that may be food insecure the problem still exists when the children go home. Recent data has revealed in parts of the US food insecurity among children are extremely high, prevalent in every one in four to five children. 

                Supplemental help is needed to combat this issue. Programs such as the BackPack, which provides food in backpacks to children for the weekend, BackSnack program, which provides foods such as cereals, milk, canned meat, and canned fruits and vegetables in a gallon sized plastic bag to elementary children for the weekend are already in place. In addition, other programs such as the Houston Food Bank's Backpack Buddy Program, which provides children who are in need of assistance with six meals and two snacks which are customized around a nutritionally complete menu, exist to help fill the food gap for children.

                With the unique position that dietitians play in the community they are in the perfect position to help combat the issue of childhood hunger. By reaching out to local food banks, or by becoming more involved in the community dietitians can make a substantial difference in this area.  

Schaeffer, J. (2015). Fighting child hunger. Today’s Dietitian, 17(8), 28.

-KP

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