Food insecurity is a common problem that is not often talked about. It occurs across the nation and around the world. Even if you haven’t personally faced food insecurity, you probably know someone who has. Teens are at increased risk of food insecurity for a variety of reasons, including a growing teen’s increased nutritional needs. Some people are more affected by food insecurity than others for reasons outside of their control, including but not limited to racism and other forms of discrimination.
What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity is defined as a disruption in normal eating due to a lack of resources. Some people think that to experience food insecurity, a person must go hungry for long periods, but this isn’t true. Not eating for long periods of time or going hungry isn’t necessarily an outcome of food insecurity, but it can be part of the experience of someone without consistent access to food. Food insecurity can happen at different levels. What people most often think of is very low food security, which is when you are forced to eat less than your body needs, and eating patterns are changed (e.g., meals are skipped) due to not being able to afford enough food. However, it is still considered food insecurity when there is little variety of food available, or the food available is nutritionally poor due to not being able to afford more variety or healthier ingredients.
What can I do if I am not experiencing food insecurity?
It’s important to know that it is ok to talk to someone if you have inconsistent access to healthy food or an inability to access enough food. It’s also important to your health and well-being. Having access to food will improve your mental health and can help you concentrate better at school. Sometimes, teenagers are not honest about food insecurity because they are concerned about being judged or having people judge their parents. Food insecurity is not something to be embarrassed about; there are resources available, but they can only help if a person knows how to access to them.
Whom can I talk to and what can I say to someone if I am experiencing food insecurity?
If you don’t consistently have access to healthy food in your home, you can tell a teacher, guidance counselor, faith-based leader, or healthcare provider including a doctor, nurse, dietitian, therapist, social worker, or resource specialist. Some things you might tell them or ask include:
- Sometimes there isn’t enough food in the house.
- Sometimes I don’t have enough to eat.
- Sometimes we run out of money to buy food.
- Sometimes we don’t have enough money to get healthy food.
- Sometimes we don’t have enough money to buy the food we would like to buy.
- Am I able to get free meals at school?
- Is there some place I can get free meals during the summer?
- Are there food pantries nearby?
- Do I qualify for any meal services in the area?
I am experiencing food insecurity, who can help?
There are food assistance programs available, as well as websites to use to find food resources available near you.
- Food Bank Directory
- No Kid Hungry
- USDA Hotline: 1-866-348-6479
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- School Breakfast Program (SBP)
- Summer Meals for Kids
How can I make my food last longer?
Buying in bulk when possible and shopping sales can help to cut costs. In addition, there are certain types of foods that tend to be less expensive, have a more stable shelf life, and are high in nutrients! A longer shelf life can help you stretch your food budget, too. These foods include:
- Nuts and nut butters
- Dried and canned beans
- Canned seafood, e.g., tuna
- Whole grains, such as oats and brown rice in bulk
- Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables
- Evaporated milk
Do you have any recipes that are cheap, easy, and healthy?
Yes, check out our guide on Quick, Easy, Cheap, and Healthy Recipes. Remember, asking for help in order to feed yourself nutritious food is important for your physical and mental well-being.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.