Food security--according to the Life Sciences Research Office (LSRO) definition--means: "Access to enough food for an active, healthy life. It includes at a minimum (a) the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods and (b) an assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (e.g., without resorting to emergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other coping strategies). Food insecurity exists whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways is limited or uncertain."
Going by this definition, as a college student I have been faced with food insecurity at some point, and I know I am not the only one. In 2008, 49.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households according to the USDA. That's approximately 13 times the number of people who live in my home state of Oregon and equates to 1 in 6 Americans being food insecure. Look around you; you most likely know a handful of people who aren’t getting adequate amounts of nutritional food.
Fortunately there are plenty of programs and organizations that have been put together to fight hunger by people who want to help. If you are interested in taking action and learning more, check out Feeding America at feedingamerica.org to learn how to donate, volunteer, and/or advocate. Or look into the Community Food Security Coalition at foodsecurity.org to learn more about 300 organizations working toward community food security. If you are in need of assistance, don’t hesitate to look for programs that can help. The government offers over 17 programs and services to children and people who need assistance in obtaining food. Plus, most cities have food banks and pantries to provide nutritional food to those who need a good meal.
For suggestions on how to spend your money wisely on healthy food choices, check out Deals on Meals and Feeding A Need.
--Makenzie
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