Food Insecurity Among Young Children Leading to Academic Struggles

Abstract

This poster examines research articles that investigated the relationship between food insecurity and academic struggles among young children. Food insecurity occurs when the amount of food available to the individual is insufficient for proper dietary and nutrition needs. Between 2007 and 2008, the rate of families suffering from food insecurity increased from 11.1% to 14.6% and has increased from 15.8 to 21% for households with children (Ahn & Bartfeld, 2011, p. 470). Some of the reasons young children face food insecurity include poverty, being raised in a single-parent household, and parent miseducation on proper nutrition and resources to help them. The goal of this research is to bring awareness that food insecurity leads to academic struggles and to promote resources like the National School Lunch program, School Breakfast Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Women Infants and Children (WIC) which are designed to help families who are in need.