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Which Practice Is Least Likely To Lead To Food Insecurity

RECOMMENDATIONS TO DECREASE FOOD INSECURITY

While food banks are an attempt to address unmet food needs, they are not a solution because the food provided is low in nutrients. There is no fresh milk or produce available in food banks and their existing food supply is limited (25). In addition, a study conducted in Toronto (Ontario) indicates that participation rates are extremely low among low-income families and that food banks are only considered at times of desperation as opposed to a routine service for food acquisition (26). Based on these findings, food banks should not be considered in any way an adequate component of our social safety net. In contrast, subsidized food may be a solution that could help improve the quality of people’s diets and significantly reduce hunger. As for housing, there is a potential for subsidized food with foods such as apples, cheese, soy nuts, carrots and broccoli to be provided at all food stores at a fixed low price.

Canada is the only G8 country that does not have a national feeding program in schools. A national food supplementation program could strengthen household food security by providing breakfast, lunch and/or snacks either at no cost or at a reduced price in schools. This would free up household resources that could be used to feed other family members and provide other necessities. The program would also reduce substantial stress for children who do not know when they will have their next meal in addition to meeting a portion of their food needs (27). Roustit et al (28) found that the association between household food insecurity and scholastic difficulties in adolescents was no longer present among those who benefitted from school food supplementation programs.

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However, these immediate solutions to urgent and compelling needs will not solve the issue of hungry infants and toddlers who are below school-age, nor after-school, weekend, holiday and parent nutrition needs. Therefore, we also need to target the issue of poverty. One way of doing this would be by advocating for an increase in minimum wage and also ensuring that fresh groceries are affordable. In addition, we need to educate society about making healthy food choices for their children and how they can ensure their children are getting sufficient nutrients. Health professionals are an important point of contact at which education should occur, and it is important for food security to be addressed during routine checkups. Children and adolescents who are experiencing recurrent hunger can be identified efficiently by a brief verbal assessment. This provides health professionals with the opportunity to link families to the appropriate social services. For example, doctors should ask their patients whether they have eaten today and yesterday, and provide resource brochures to target the immediate problem of food insecurity while higher-level policy changes are being implemented.

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