Ask most people what “insecurity” means and you’ll probably get an easy answer. Self-conscious, unconfident, anxious and ashamed are just a few of the words that come to mind.

But ask most people what “food insecurity” means and you’ll likely get some funny looks. It is not a phrase that has made its way into our everyday vocabulary just yet. But food insecurity has nonetheless made its way into the lives of 36 million Americans.

The U.S. government defines food insecure households as those who experience hunger or who are at risk of hunger. Over 12 million children in the U.S. live in food insecure households—that’s one in six American children—without regular access to a nutritious or adequate diet.

For many Americans, food insecurity means not knowing if, after you pay your bills, there will be any money left over for food. And for children in food insecure households, this can create a profound and lasting sense of fear.

We think the challenges of adolescence are enough; no child should ever have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

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