The focus of our research is to identify trends in child food insecurity, identify health risks associated with child food insecurity, and the identification and analysis of programs that aim to combat child food insecurity.
We utilize the USDA definition of food insecurity as “consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year.”
Food insecurity is a household situation that is a year-long measure of economic and social conditions which limits regular access to adequate food. Symptoms of food insecurity include unhealthy lifestyle, obesity, lack of nutrition, and illness.
We refrain from using the term ‘hunger’ in our research because hunger is an individual, physiological condition that is caused by prolonged, involuntary lack of food. Hunger sometimes stems from food insecurity. Symptoms of hunger include discomfort, illness, weakness, or pain that exceeds usual uneasy sensation.
We perform ethnographic research at Garden Club.
A list of our references and resources can be found here.