Food Insecurity in the U.S.

Who experiences hunger in America? (3)

-Low-income families. Income, not employment, is the biggest determinant of food security. -Young workers. Their income is dependent on obtaining shift hours and is sensitive to economic fluctuations. They are more vulnerable than the elderly population because the elderly receive a fixed income through social security. -Single mothers with children. The gendered childcare expectations + wage gap between males and females makes this population particularly prone to food insecurity.

Levels of food insecurity (4:1,4,3,3+1)

1) Food Secure-Households with no or minimal evidence of food insecurity 2) Marginal Food Insecurity-Food insecure without hunger -The household is concerned and made adjustments to household management including reduced quality of diets -Do not have high enough quantity of nutritious foods, so they are substituted for lower quality foods -Meet caloric needs but diet quality is reduced Diet quality is based on how closely it follows the DGA 3) Low Food Security-Food insecure with moderate hunger -Food intake for the adults in the household has been reduced and the adults repeatedly experience the physical sensations of hunger -First signs of physical hunger 4) Very Low Food Security-Food insecurity with severe hunger -Households with children that have reduced the child's food intake to the extent that it implies that children repeatedly experience hunger. -Adults experience more severe hunger -Note: this is always assessed at the household level. Communities as a whole are not assessed the same way.

Things that food security ensures that each household has (7: 1,1,1,0,2,0,2)

1)Adequate dietary intake -Adequate but not excessive calories, and adequate micronutrient intake across all categories 2)Adequate nutritional status -No protein malnutrition, no iron deficiency 3) Enhanced health -Health that is not below average. Have enough food that provides them a healthy life. 4) Reduced risk of disease 5) Labor productivity -If the household has a disabled person, their receipt of social security payments improve food security -Vs. undocumented disabilities decreases food security 6) Enhanced cognitive function 7) Improved academic achievement -It is well known that lack of food intake in correlated to poor performance in school -Iron deficiencies in young children leads to cognitive decline, which leads to decline in academic capacity

Food Security Definition (3)

Food Security-Access by all people at all times to sufficient food for an active and healthy life -Includes the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods and the ability to acquire them in socially acceptable ways -Acquisition does not equal acceptability. Acceptability varies socially, culturally and individually

What is the principal determinant of food security?

Income (not employment) is the principal determinant of food insecurity -Employment does not guarantee that one is able to meet the requirements to feed their families. -Full-time, full-year workers (30%) have nearly the same food insecurity level as non-workers (33%).

Food Insecurity Definition

Limited or uncertain ability to acquire or consume an adequate quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways

What geographical region of the U.S. has the highest food insecurity?

South

What is a substitute lunch?

Two pieces of bread and one piece of cheese for children who qualify for reduced lunch but their parents are unable to pay the lunch bill at the end of the month.

Choices that people who are food insecure have to make (5)

-Education: 35% chose between food and education at least once, 16% made this choice every month -Medical Care: 68% chose between food and medical care at least once a year, 25% made this choice every month -Housing: 63% chose between food and paying rent at least once a year, 29% made this choice every month -Transportation: 68% chose between food and transportation at least once a year, 41% made this choice every month -Utilities: 73% chose between food and utilities at least once a year, 32% made this choice every month

Reasons why households headed by women are less food secure (5)

-Major reason is income related, wage gap Other Reasons: -Unequal access to educational opportunities, which could result in poor management of family resources -Gendered childcare obligations that detract from the time they would spend obtaining food -Gendered norms about asset division results in females owning less land and being less able to grow their own foods -Cultural practices that disenfranchise matriarchal roles and/or minimize the status of girls and women can alienate them from development and the associated assistance programs

Factors determining the poverty level (3)

-Number of individuals in the family -Local cost of living -Varies year to year

What are the demographic characteristics of the food insecure? (6)

-People in poverty -People who are full time workers who still are under the poverty line -Families with children, especially single mothers -Racial disparities -West and Southern US have higher rates of food insecurity than North and East -Elderly households are less likely

Consequences of food insecurity on children's health (8)

-Poorer parent-reported health -More stomach and headaches, colds -Higher hospitalization rates for young children -Iron deficiency and anemia in young children -Behavior problems in young children -Lower physical function in children aged 3-8 -Poorer psychomotor development and learning in school aged children -More anxiety and depression

Why is food insecurity more prevalent in cities? (8)

-Poverty -High housing costs -Unemployment -Medical and mental health costs -Utility costs -Lack of education and poor management of family resources -Transportation costs -Substance abuse

2014 "Hunger in America" results for CT Overview (5)

-This study is conducted by "Feeding America" every four years -In CT, nearly 500,000 individuals are faced with food insecurity, including 20% of the state's children -Among those using food banks in CT, 84% of households are food insecure and 16% are food secure -Last year, 45% of households used three or more coping strategies for getting enough food to feed themselves or their families -Beyond hunger, they were faced with other issues including diabetes (32%) and high blood pressure (52%).

How is food insecurity assessed? (7)

-Through a questionnaire that is administered at the household level. This assesses: -Fear and anxiety related to insufficiency of food budget -Perceived quantity and quality of food -Atypical use of food, such as substituting fewer or cheaper foods •Ex: using foods that they wouldn't eat fresh in a stew -Experience of food shortages with no money to purchase additional food -Episodes of reduced food intake, hunger or weight loss -There is a separate questionnaire for households with children and households without children •USDA uses a 10Q questionnaire for households without children; 18Q questionnaire for households with children •More emphasis is placed on children because they are a more vulnerable population. In addition to losing weight, children may experience delayed growth and cognitive impairment

Components of food security (5:2,4,3,2,2)

-Quantity •Eating enough food to not be hungry •Balance of calories in vs. calories out -Quality •Nutrient balance •Freshness •Foods that meet dietary recommendations •Variety in diet -Suitability •Food allergies •Foods that are suitable in terms of religion or culture. This is determined at the individual level. •Food is suitable for income level -Psychological •People with eating disorders are not food secure unless they have access to foods that they perceive as safe to eat •Stigma associated with using EBT -Social •Food must be conducive to a particular environment i.e. school vs. home •Recognition of eating the same foods with the same people vs. parents in insecure households skipping the protein source and giving it to children

Groups of people in CT that are hungry (3)

-Race: 29% white, 34% black, 30% Hispanic or Latino -Age: 28% under age 18, 12% seniors that are 60+ -Education: 10% have four year degree or higher, 23% have beyond a high school education, 47% have a high school diploma or GED, 21% have less than a high school education

Emergency Food Services in the U.S. (6)

-Soup kitchens -Church charities -Surplus food giveaways -Food banks -Food pantries -Prepared or perishable food programs •Ex: Food Rescue Mission in Fairfield County

Poverty (3)

-State of one with insufficient resources to provide for basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing -Poverty threshold is a value that is set by the Census Bureau that is set at 3X the cost of the minimum food diet in 1963, and is updated annually for inflation, and adjusted for family size, composition, and age of householder -Note: it does not take into account job loss, divorce or unexpected events -Poverty threshold is used to track poverty over time, compare within demographic groups, and helps determine eligibility for government assistance programs