About one in 10 children lived in a household where they didn’t get enough to eat from 2019 to 2020, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Experts say the issue could worsen if more isn’t done to ensure that federal programs aimed at addressing the problem are adequately funded.
The study found that 10.8% of children up to age 17 experienced food insecurity during the study period. A family is considered food insecure if it is unable to regularly get enough food that is nutritionally adequate, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The study also found vast disparities in the demographics of children who were affected by food insecurity.
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Nineteen percent of Black children and nearly 16% of Hispanic children lived in households where they didn’t get enough to eat compared with 6.5% of white children, according to the study.
Children living in households with one parent and no other adult were 2 1/2 times more likely to go hungry, and households with three or more children had higher rates of food insecurity than households with fewer kids, according to the study.
“Access to sufficient and nutritious food is a key social determinant of health,” the study authors wrote. “As such, disparities in food insecurity may contribute to inequalities in child health status.”
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many parents to have a harder time getting enough food for their kids, said Dr. Jessica Soldavini, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
The impacts on the economy led many adults to lose their jobs, making it more difficult for them to afford food, she told McClatchy News. But also, the closing of schools around the country created a challenge for children who relied on accessing free- and reduced-priced lunches at school, she said.
But even as most schools around the country have reopened and many states lift their pandemic-related restrictions, other factors could continue to make affording food a challenge, she said.
Experts say the war in Ukraine is causing the price of food, fuel and other commodities to skyrocket.
The global food price index reached an all-time high in March, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Gas hit its highest national average price on record on March 11 at $4.33 a gallon, according to AAA.
“With prices increasing, that is also causing more challenges for families, so that’s going to make it even harder for them to afford food,” she said.
Another concern is that some pandemic-era programs aimed at helping more children get access to food could be coming to an end if they are not extended, she said.
For example, a federal program that waived the onsite monitoring of school meal programs is set to expire on June 30. The program has allowed many more children than were previously eligible to access free meals at school, Soldavini said.
“Some children who are now able to get the meals during the school year without having to pay for them, next school year will not be able to do so if these waivers don’t get extended,” she said.
A lack of nutrition can affect a child’s development as well as their physical and mental health and academic success, she said.
“It’s important to be aware of this issue,” she said. “And there are programs out there that are able to help address it and it’s important to make sure there’s adequate resources and support provided to those programs.”
Buy this, not that: Pro tips to save at the grocery store
How to save on groceries
You’re probably not too happy with your grocery bills these days. But there are strategies to help you shop without breaking the bank.
Food prices rose 1% in February, the largest monthly increase since April 2020. Over the past 12 months, overall food prices increased 7.9%, the biggest jump since July 1981. Grocery store prices rose at an even faster clip.
Every food item tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics was more expensive last month than it was a year ago. Meat, eggs and soup prices have the widest gap from last year, jumping by double-digits through February.
“When it comes to saving money on groceries, consumers have many options, but it does require making changes to our routines and some savvy decision making,” said Carman Allison at NielsenIQ.
Make a shopping list
Grocery stores are well trained in the science of stimulating your taste buds.
The best way to avoid impulsive buys that add to your grocery bill? Make a list beforehand of what you’re there buy — and stick to it. Don’t get distracted by all those desserts and snacks that aren’t on your list.
Planning ahead and shopping with a list help keep you focused on what you need and reduces time browsing around, where temptations can take hold.
Be deliberate at the store and don’t add extra stuff to your cart while you wait in the checkout line, where stores tend to put hard-to-resist sweets and other eye-catching items.
Shop around
Finding the best deals means shopping around and comparing prices on products at different stores. One might have better prices on eggs, but another might be cheaper for fish.
“I do not have allegiance to any one supermarket. If you’ve got the best price, you’re my best friend at that moment,” said Edgar Dworsky, a former assistant attorney general in Massachusetts and founder of Consumer World, an education resource.
But don’t just compare prices among the same types of stores. Supermarkets, big box outlets, wholesale clubs, discount grocers and dollar store chains all have different prices and promotion strategies. Check out co-ops and farmers’ markets too.
“People can save a lot of money if they know how these stores are set up,” said Victor Martino, the founder of grocery consulting firm Third Wave Strategies. He recommends shopping at at least two different store formats.
Look for promotions and deals
Stores put out weekly advertisements for sale items in print and online.
Find out when a store releases those offers. Many put out their circular ads on Wednesdays, so that’s often the best day to find deals. Check them out and compare.
If there’s a great deal, consider stocking up on the product.
“When apple juice is 99 cents a gallon, I will buy a case or two,” Dworsky said.
And to make sure you’re actually getting a good deal, take a look at the price history of products on websites such as CamelCamelCamel.
Use a store loyalty card
Most supermarkets offer free loyalty cards with special deals and savings for members. Some grocers’ loyalty cards also offer savings on gas.
Use them.
If you’re not using a loyalty card, “you’re throwing money away,” Dworsky said. “It’s absolutely crazy.”
Switch to store brands
Stores’ private-label brands used to be considered cheap knockoffs. But grocers have spent a lot of time and money in recent years improving their products.
House brands are often produced by the same manufacturers that make the big-name items, but they’re typically cheaper. Switching to a private label alternative can save shoppers anywhere from 10% to 40%, according to David Bishop, a partner at grocery consulting firm Brick Meets Click.
Experts consider Costco’s Kirkland Signature to be one of the top private-label brands. Other store brands include Great Value from Walmart, Simple Truth from Kroger and Good & Gather from Target.
Beware of ‘shrinkflation’
Less cereal in the box. Smaller snack sizes. Ice cream gone missing in a container.
You’re not losing your mind. You are actually paying the same price or more these days for everyday items but running through them more quickly because their sizes have shrunk.
The reason? A sneaky tactic known as “shrinkflation,” deployed by consumer product brands and grocery stores. The phenomenon has been going on for decades, but it typically becomes more common when companies’ costs go up, such as during the inflation surge we are seeing today.
There’s a way to beat shrinkflation though, say experts: Compare unit pricing — the price per ounce or per 100-count — on similar products to see which is the better deal.
Buy frozen meat and veggies
Meat has seen some of the sharpest price increases during the pandemic.
In February, meat prices rose 14% from a year ago. Chicken was right behind, up 13%.
“Frozen chicken breasts are good quality, can be defrosted one at a time and the savings are significant,” said David D’Arezzo, a former chief merchant at Dollar General and an executive at pharmacy and supermarket chains.
Frozen vegetables are also a good option, he said. They don’t go bad or spoil like fresh vegetables, a hit to your wallet.
Another tip for buying veggies: Buy them at peak season. If you buy tomatoes or other produce when they’re off season, you’re likely to pay more.
“If you shop seasonally, you can save 25% to 30%,” said Martino of Third Wave Strategies.
Look for ugly produce
Look at the day-old produce racks or produce outlets in your area to save.
There are also “ugly” produce sellers online such as Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market that buy and resell quality fruit and vegetables that grocery stores have rejected at steep discounts.
“Why not pay half price for slightly-dinged produce?” Dworsky said.
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