(Family Features) Food insecurity among children in the United States is a critical but often silent crisis that afflicts millions of young lives. In fact, 1 in 5 kids face hunger or food insecurity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and data from Feeding America shows more than 13 million children in the United States live in “food insecure” homes.
Among the factors fueling this epidemic of child hunger are rising food prices and economic instability, which continue to strain families across the country. Lack of nutritious food is also a major reason students miss school or struggle to stay engaged.
“Child hunger is more than a nutrition issue – it’s a quiet crisis that robs children of their ability to focus, learn and thrive in the classroom,” said GENYOUth CEO Ann Marie Krautheim, MA, RD, LD. “Every child deserves to be nourished, supported and ready to succeed, and the solution starts with a commitment to our nation’s schools.”
American adults agree, according to GENYOUth’s second annual “Youth Hunger & School Meals” survey. Nearly 9 in 10 (86%) believe going to school hungry severely hinders a child’s ability to focus in the classroom. Nearly all respondents (97%) recognize the broader impact of food insecurity on a student’s overall school experience, including low energy or fatigue (84%), difficulty concentrating (78%) and declining academic performance (62%).
What’s more, they connect food insecurity with a range of physical and emotional challenges, including frequent complaints like headaches and stomachaches (68%) as well as heightened levels of anxiety and stress, and lowered self-esteem.
School Meals are Critical to Learning
American adults overwhelmingly believe the solution to hunger in the classroom starts with access to healthy school meals. More than 9 in 10 agree students who eat breakfast regularly perform better in school while most recognize starting the day on a full stomach gives kids an academic edge including better attendance and classroom participation.
There is also strong support for making school breakfast a standard part of the school day, not an optional add-on. For nearly 7 in 10, this is a priority.
Rallying Support to Ensure All Children Thrive
School meals, relied upon by 30 million students for a significant portion of their daily nutrition, according to the School Nutrition Association, provide the milk, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean protein students need to thrive.
Nutrition security emphasizes both quality and quantity in food intake, highlighting the critical importance of consistent access to healthy options. Innovative approaches like Grab and Go, Breakfast in the Classroom and Second Chance Breakfast have proven highly effective in expanding access to and participation in nutritious school meals.
“In our survey, it is encouraging to see that so many Americans recognize the link between school meals and student success,” Krautheim said. “To unlock every child’s ability to learn and succeed, we must uplift school meals with innovative solutions and rally support from parents and community leaders. Let’s work together to make sure every child is nourished and ready to thrive.”
To learn more and access the complete survey results, visit GENYOUthnow.org.
Source: GENYOUth
