A majority of animal health pros are parents or grandparents. This article so compelling I wanted to share it with our readers. A recent small, exploratory study shines a light on how food insecurity affects teens (ages 13 to 18) and threatens their well-being.
An estimated 6.8 million people ages 10 to 17 are food insecure, meaning they don’t have reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food. They say another 2.9 million are “very food insecure, and roughly 4 million live in marginally food-secure households, where the threat of running out of food is real.
Source: Pork Network, September 14, 2016.
Food-insecure teens who don’t get enough to eat sometimes resort to extreme measures to cope with hunger — from saving school lunches for the weekend or going hungry so younger siblings can eat, to stealing or trading sex for money to buy food.
INSIGHTS: Though small, this study highlights the realities of many teens, whether they live in a community with a $70 million football stadium or one that only seats 70. Food insecurity respects no geographic boundaries and possibly, no economic boundaries. Ask any school dietitian, meal coordinator or administrator and you will find great need for meal assistance programs. This study presents opportunities for our profession, rural and urban, especially those of us working with meat-producing animals. We’re fortunate enough to be part of a great food production system. We can find ways to work with community officials to help reduce food insecurity. The help will be welcome.