Food and Nutrition
In 2013, more than 49 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 33.3 million adults and 15.8 million children. This means that more than one out of six people in the United States live in households that face a struggle against hunger. These families frequently skip meals or eat too little, sometimes going without food. Those who have access to some food often have lower quality diets or must resort to seeking emergency food because they cannot always afford the food they need. Every day one in five Americans receives nutrition assistance through one or more of the 15 federal nutrition assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/food stamps, school lunch, school breakfast, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), senior programs and emergency food and shelter programs.
For more information on this issue, visit CHN’s Public Policy Priorities, 2015-2016.
Bread for the World
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Congressional Hunger Center
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
National WIC Association
Share Our Strength
- January 26, 2017Four steps to U.S. food security
Policy Analyses and Research
- January 26, 2017CHC: Able Bodies, Empty Stomachs
- September 17, 2016USDA: Household Food Security in the United States in 2015