healthy food - NEW FINDINGS ON FOOD INSECURITY AND CHILDREN - SIBEJO

Much recent research links food insecurity with negative outcomes for children�s health, education, and other areas. Other research shows that programs like SNAP can have large and long-lasting benefits, especially when the benefits are received by mothers during pregnancy and by children at a young age. A recent study that examines the impact of the rollout of the original Food Stamp Program in the late 1960s shows that receiving  Food Stamps during pregnancy reduced the incidence of low birth weight by between five and 12%. The same researchers also found that among adults who grew up in disadvantaged households, access to Food Stamps in utero and early childhood led to: a 16 percentage-point decline in the likelihood of being obese as an adult and significant reductions in metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions associated with heart disease and diabetes); an 18 percentage-point increase in the likelihood of completing high school; and significant improvements in overall health and economic self-sufficiency among women. This and other research findings on food insecurity are highlighted in recent newsletter from the Food Research and Action Council.

Source: Food Research & Action Council, 8/3/16, Food Insecurity Research

healthy food - FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE - SIBEJO

Nationally, one in six households reported they struggled to afford to buy food in the past 12 months, according to a new report. That�s down significantly from 2013 when nearly 1 in five households (18.9%) reported struggling to find food. In 31 states at least one in seven households (14.3%) said that they did not have enough money to buy food at some point in the past year.  

Source: Food Research & Action Center, 6/30/16, Food Hardship

healthy food - New report on summer food for children - SIBEJO

After three years of significant growth, national participation in the Summer Nutrition Programs plateaued last summer, according to the Food Research & Action Center�s annual Hunger Doesn�t Take a Vacation report (pdf) released today. During July 2015, the programs served nearly 3.2 million low-income children across the country, a modest increase of 11,000 participants from July 2014. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization currently being considered by Congress provides an important opportunity to invest in the Summer Nutrition Programs so that more children return to school in the fall, well-nourished and ready to learn.

While the report shows New York State among the top ten in the nation for participation in summer meals by low-income children, that does not hold true here in the North Country, where it is very difficult for children in need to find a meal site.

healthy food - EVERY COUNTY IN AMERICA FACES HUNGER - SIBEJO

Despite an improved economy and lower national jobless rate since the recession, every single county in America is facing hunger, according to a new report. Americans living in the most remote and rural areas suffer many of the highest rates of food insecurity � and also pay more for groceries, according to the research. More than half the counties with the highest rates of overall food insecurity are rural, and people living in rural communities also face some of the highest average costs per meal.

Food insecurity is cropping up in many U.S. households that are not living below the poverty level. In 167 counties the majority of food insecure children don't qualify for federal nutrition programs such as the SNAP. But these children are far from well-off or well-fed, and instead rely on churches, food banks and charities that sometimes are the sole source of food.

Source: CNBC, 5/5/16, Pervasive Hunger

healthy food - TRENDS IN U.S. FOOD ASSISTANCE - SIBEJO

USDA�s annual look at food assistance programs shows the agency spent $104.1 billion in fiscal 2015 on its 15 domestic food and nutrition programs, about the same as in 2014. This was about 5% below the historical high of $109.2 billion set in FY 2013. SNAP accounted for 71% of all federal food assistance spending in FY 15. An average 45.8 million people per month participated in the program, 2% fewer than in FY 14. FY 2015 marked the second consecutive year that participation decreased, and only the third time in the last 15 years. About 8.0 million people per month participated in WIC in fiscal 2015, 3% less than FY 14. Daily participation in the National School Lunch Program averaged 30.5 million in FY 2015, about the same as the previous year. 65% of all participants received free meals, 7% received reduced-price meals, and 28% paid full price. An average of 14.0 million children participated in the School Breakfast Program each school day, 3% more than FY 14. 79% of all participants received free meals, 6% received reduced-price meals, and 15% paid full price.

Source: USDA, 3/16, Food Aid Trends

healthy food - WHY DO SO MANY AMERICANS GO HUNGRY? - SIBEJO

The latest USDA figures show almost 6% of households�about 18 million people�are consistently not getting enough to eat. Another 30 million people have occasional problems feeding themselves. Altogether, roughly 48 million people or one in seven Americans go hungry at some point during the year. This number actually underestimates the problem because the survey excludes the homeless and transients; groups that almost by definition lack enough food.

Given America�s bounty why does hunger remain a problem? Poverty and lack of access to resources are two of the key forces defining hunger in the U.S.

The link between poverty and hunger is clear. Approximately 40% of families living below the federally mandated poverty rate in 2014 were hungry that year. Households with children, single parents and those living below the poverty line are at particular risk. Many Americans also lack access to healthy food, either because they live in urban areas that lack grocery stores, live in rural areas that are far from stores, or don�t have reliable transportation to stores

Source: The Conversation, 3/9/16, US Hunger