Food Insecurity Among Elementary School Students of Michigan's Marquette County
Description
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as “A household- level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.” This definition is justifiably broad, as there are a large number of varying factors that contribute to food insecurity in the United States and food insecurity takes many different forms. Food insecurity does not simply mean that an individual or family does not have enough food. Rather, those who are food insecure may also be living with very unhealthy diets that may be contributing to the global epidemic of overweight and obesity. Rates of food insecurity in the US ranged between 10.1 and 11.9% from 1998 to 2007, jumped to 14.6% with the onset of the 2008 financial recession, and stayed at or above 14% throughout 2016. American households with children are even more susceptible to food insecurity, with food insecurity affecting nearly 20% of all US households with children in 2014. One very useful indicator of food insecurity among American children is their utilization of the National School Lunch Program’s (NSLP) free and reduced-price meals. A 2017 study by the Journal of Consumer Affairs identified a correlation with food insecurity and students’ use of the School Breakfast Program, indicating those students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals have a greater likelihood of being food insecure, and that free and reduced-price meals help reduce the effect of that food insecurity.
Food Insecurity Among Elementary School Students of Michigan's Marquette County
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as “A household- level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.” This definition is justifiably broad, as there are a large number of varying factors that contribute to food insecurity in the United States and food insecurity takes many different forms. Food insecurity does not simply mean that an individual or family does not have enough food. Rather, those who are food insecure may also be living with very unhealthy diets that may be contributing to the global epidemic of overweight and obesity. Rates of food insecurity in the US ranged between 10.1 and 11.9% from 1998 to 2007, jumped to 14.6% with the onset of the 2008 financial recession, and stayed at or above 14% throughout 2016. American households with children are even more susceptible to food insecurity, with food insecurity affecting nearly 20% of all US households with children in 2014. One very useful indicator of food insecurity among American children is their utilization of the National School Lunch Program’s (NSLP) free and reduced-price meals. A 2017 study by the Journal of Consumer Affairs identified a correlation with food insecurity and students’ use of the School Breakfast Program, indicating those students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals have a greater likelihood of being food insecure, and that free and reduced-price meals help reduce the effect of that food insecurity.