A home that has “food security” has access to enough food, at all times, so all the residents can sustain an active, healthy life. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 87% of U.S. homes have food security. But between 2020 and 2022, on average 11.3% lacked that security, due to income constraints and limited access to healthy food sources. Of those, 4.3% faced times when there wasn’t enough food to go around. The USDA reports parents usually are the ones missing meals to ensure their children eat, but that doesn’t mean children are eating adequately. States’ rates of food insecurity vary. Arkansas has the highest, at 16.6% and New Hampshire has the lowest, 6.2%.
Source: U.S. Economic Research Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture