The Latino Community and Food Insecurity
By Jessica
Have you ever volunteered at a soup kitchen or had to rely on soup kitchens for food resources? Soup kitchens are sometimes the only haven families struggling to feed their family can turn to for warm food, warm people, and a warm place. Food insecurity, or not having a steady supply of good food for you and your family, is a problem that many Americans face each day. It can include not having nutritious or safe foods, not being certain where you will get food, and/or having to steal or beg for food. More than 35 million individuals (12.1 percent of all Americans), including 12.4 million children, do not have sufficient food resources; Latinos are disproportionately affected by food insecurity.[1,2]
Almost One in Five Latinos Experience Food Insecurity
In almost eighteen percent of Hispanic households, “low food security” means a very limited budget, unhealthy food options, and worry over providing food.[2] In others, “very low food security” means adults and children must forego meals on a regular basis. Hispanic households with children are twice as likely as white households with children to experience very low food security.[1]
Latinos of all backgrounds can be affected by food insecurity. However, data indicates that factors such as household income, poverty level, and immigrant status play a strong role in the prevalence of hunger and food insecurity in the Hispanic community.[2] Latinos are roughly three times as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to live below the poverty level; and food insecurity is prevalent in immigrant communities.[2]
Programs like the National School Lunch Program and the Food Stamp Program are designed to assist families suffering from food insecurity. But lack of culturally and linguistically-appropriate information and confusion about eligibility rules often keep Latinos from participating in these programs.[2]
Healthy Meals Can Be Few and Far Between
I was not surprised to learn about the problem of food insecurity in Latino communities. I personally remember that my family would have weeks where we only ate beans and tortillas. I soon realized that the repeated bean meals were not due to my mom’s lack of cooking skills; instead, our lack of financial resources limited the variety and quantity of nutritious food we had at home. The neighborhoods I lived in were mostly occupied by low-income families, and they always seemed to have a higher concentration of fast food restaurants and less food retailers with healthy and affordable options. One study found that areas with predominantly Hispanic communities had 38 percent less fresh fruit and vegetable retailers than areas with smaller Hispanic populations.2 Even when healthy options are available, the increasing cost of fruits and vegetable can still be out of reach for some families, leaving them to rely on canned and frozen items.
Food Insecurity Has Long-Term Consequences
Food insecurity has been linked to negative health outcomes. Individuals struggling with hunger and food insecurity endure the physical, psychological, and cognitive consequences of hunger, including anxiety, chronic illness, abnormal growth and depression.[2] Chronic food insecurity can have detrimental affects on educational attainment, family dynamics, and economic mobility. The structural, institutional, and cultural barriers Latinos often face when attempting to access health care services compound the problem and make it hard to treat health problems that may result from hunger and food insecurity.[2]
An Important Issue for Women of Color
Latinos are not alone in food insecurity: Black households and those headed by a woman also experience food insecurity rates higher than the national average. As activists in our community we can help by bringing attention to this issue and dispelling myths around the “abuse” of the welfare system by our communities. Our families and communities deserve healthy and affordable food options so that they are able to live a healthy life. So when advocating for all the other issues that affect our communities, don’t forget about food insecurity - a persistent problem for families around the country and world.
If you are in need of food assistance you can call 1-800-771-2303 to find the food bank nearest you or log onto http://www.secondharvest.org/get_help/. Learn more about Latinos and food insecurity from the National Council of La Raza.
References
- Nord, Mark, Margaret Andrews, & Steven Carlson. Household Food Security in the United States. Washington, DC. 2005.
- Ng’andu, Jennifer & Gianfortoni, Emilia. Sin Provecho: Latinos and Food Insecurity. National Council of La Raza. Washington, DC. 2006.
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