Essay On Hunger In America

When they are at the grocery store, often times families are just trying to stretch their money as much as possible and get the most for what little budget they may have. Since fresh fruits, veggies, and protein are generally more expensive than their canned equivalents, they are usually passed up, except at the beginning of the month, when families receive food stamps. These canned substitutes are much higher in preservatives such as sodium and sugar. Other cheaper, quick meals are purchased such as Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Ramen Noodles, and canned tuna are chosen in their place. These are also very high in sodium and fat (“Hunger and Obesity” par. 5). These are also the types of food that line the shelves of food pantries all across the nation. Adequate health

Hunger in America has changed. It is no longer the long lines for soup and bread that the nation saw during the Great Depression. The face of hunger has become so common in a crowd, that it has become increasingly hard to spot. Sixty percent of all food insecure families have at least one working parent. It is not uncommon for the working class to be in line for food stamps. As wages have remained steady, inflation has driven prices much higher than can be afforded ( McMillan 73). In the past 35 years, the number of people relying on emergency food programs, such as food stamps, has skyrocketed. In 1980, only a few hundred people relied on these programs. Now, that number has climbed to over 50,000 (McMillan 4). Of that number, one third were under the age of 18 (“Hunger is” 22). In 2013, 49.1 million people were considered food insecure (“Hunger and Poverty” par.3). However, of those people only 62 percent sought out assistance from government programs (“Hunger and Poverty” par. 4). This means that 38 percent of the people that need help are not getting