Food insecurity . . . A national crisis we want to solve?

(Part 2 of 3 . . . It's really just a question of "if" when we talk about food security. "If" we feel it's a national crisis, then we can solve it. We can be good at that. But too often politics stand in the way of problem-solving. "If" we want the problem solved then how do we get politicians to help instead of hinder efforts to responsibly help those in need of a better food supply? It's time. It's past time.)

So while the single mother feeds her kids the last of the oatmeal for dinner . . . and I dine on my organic tomato salad sprinkled with feta and a vinaigrette, a group of school cafeteria workers is wondering how some of their school kids will make it through the weekend without the breakfast and lunch they offer students.

Across the country . . . America . . . there are 15.8 million children under 18-years-old who live in households where they are unable to consistently access enough nutritious food necessary for a healthy life.¹

That’s shameful.

At least I think so. In my naïve view, I don’t think any kids should go hungry here. We have the ability to provide nutritious food to each and every family here, and I think that should be a national priority.

Instead, the House has proposed cutting SNAP funding by $125 billion over 10 years, or by 34 percent. Currently, the average person receiving SNAP (food stamps) gets $128 a month. With about 46 million Americans currently receive some type of food stamp benefit, but those cuts would mean 11 to 12 million people would lose their benefits, or all benefits would be cut by $55 a month. It would be up to individual states how exactly to manage those cuts.

Although that proposal probably won’t make it through the House and Senate, it shows where some politicians are positioned on cuts to those who need the safety net the most.

Meanwhile, Congress fights over whether or not to shut down the government over its inability to reach a long-term budget agreement. Or, actually, any budget agreement.

So while Washington haggles, and lobbyists fight for more money for oil companies, gun makers, retired people and power companies, kids and families go hungry. What’s wrong with this picture? A lot. Thank goodness for the people on the front lines who not only see the problem first hand, but are doing something about it . . . despite the budget and financial roadblocks, political resistance and in many cases administrative hurdles. Cafeteria workers, teachers, farmers and others are building an army of “do it now” problem solvers facing the issues head on and without the usual political excuses we often hear. They just don’t care about that. Actions speak.

Many school districts are now offering both breakfast and lunch to kids . . . regardless of their ability to pay . . . Good meals for every kid in school. What a concept. Some schools and charities (often spearheaded by cafeteria workers) are sending needy kids home with food for the weekend. In the beginning, school employees got in trouble for that . . . A couple got fired. But the wave started as the problems gained public awareness. Publicity does that.

A second part of the school meal program discussion has been a growing national move to improve the quality of meals, getting rid of cheap carb-heavy and fried foods and creating meals with better nutritional profiles. Michelle Obama has come under a lot of heat for her food initiatives, but they have caught on with chefs, educators, food service people and parents. Why do some people argue against better nutrition for kids?

Here’s an idea of school lunches around the world. (Such comparisons are a bit unfair, of course, since they are hardly a representation of all school lunches in every school, but, still, it’s a point of interest  . . . at least to see what some lunches look like elsewhere.)

http://www.businessinsider.com/school-lunches-in-the-us-compared-to-other-countries-2015-2

So the question is, can we find the national will to keep the wave going? Do we see food insecurity as a national crisis? Do we feel families are just as important as the military, or building new rail systems, or health care? Are we willing to put in the time and effort to make sure that every man, woman and child in the U.S. has access to food on a regular basis? Should feeding kids in school be a national objective? How do we pay for it?

A lot of questions, to be sure, but we need to start at the beginning . . . Is food security a national crisis? I believe it is.

1. Coleman-Jensen, A., Gregory, C., & Singh, A. (2014. Household Food Security in the United States in 2013. USDA ERS)