What is Childhood Hunger?
Reports and articles often talk about "food insecurity" but what does it mean in terms of Childhood Hunger?
In 2006, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) created the term "food insecurity" to describe periods of time when all members of a household do not have enough food each day to live a healthy, active lifestyle. The circumstances that lead to food insecurity vary but the most common factors are a significant drop in pay, loss of income, or large unexpected expense.
Working with a thin budget often results in tough budget decisions.
Food or Housing Costs? Food or Heat? Food or Medicine? It isn't any easy choice and frankly no one should have to choose. Typically, the budget item that gets cut first is the food budget which leaves families struggling to cope in ways such as rationing food, skipping a meal to provide food for another family because food & budget for the month is spent, or purchasing low quality, unhealthy foods to put anything on the table.
These tough decisions and coping strategies don't take care of the problem. In many ways, they actually set the stage for a number of additional troubles that are particularly hurtful for children.
Since the 2008 Recession, approximately 1 in 5 (21.4%) of U.S. children live in households classified as food insecure. Every meal that is missed or lacks nutrition fuels a list of physical, mental, and social problems including:
- Illness & Malnutrition
- Weight Loss
- Lack of energy & poor performance at school and play
- Emotional & physical strain
- and more
It is the goal of Will Play For Food to wipe out "food insecurity" and "childhood hunger" for good. We aim to make both of these terms something we used to say but no longer need to. Learn more about Childhood Hunger and its effects by clicking the button below.
