About one in five households with children in the United States face food insecurity at some point during the year. Healthy food is important for children's growth and well-being as it supports their physical, social, mental, and emotional health. Find resources in this section on food, nutrition, and food security, including State and local examples.
Caring for Yourself to Care for Others
National Extension Relationship and Marriage Education Network (2013)
Offers a factsheet to individuals and couples to learn more about self-care, including healthy eating, physical activity, regulating emotions, and sexual health and intimacy in order to make it easier to care, share, and connect with their partner and family.
Childhood Food Insecurity in the U.S.: Trends, Causes, and Policy Options (PDF - 3,203 KB)
Gunderson & Ziliak (2014)
The Future of Children
Highlights new research from the Research Program on Childhood Hunger at the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research on the causes of food insecurity among children and the effectiveness of public policies, especially on severe forms of food hardship.
HealthFinder.Gov
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease and Health Promotion, National Health Information Center (2015)
Provides information and tools to help parents and families stay healthy. Includes nutrition and physical activity, doctor visits, pregnancy and safety.
The Impact of Incarceration on Food Insecurity Among Households with Children (PDF – 1,033 KB)
Cox & Wallace (2013)
University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Discussion Paper Series
Summarizes a study that explores parental incarceration and its effects on children and families in terms of food insecurity. Policy recommendations to support and address food needs are also provided.
Joint SNAP and Medicaid/CHIP Program Eligibility and Participation in 2011 (PDF - 922 KB)
Wheaton, Lynch, Loprest, & Huber (2014)
Urban Institute
Presents joint participation information for the number of individuals eligible for both Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 2011. Includes recommendations to increase the knowledge about joint SNAP and Medicaid/CHIP benefits to the reach to additional families and communities.
School Breakfast: Reaching More Children, Making Breakfast Better
FRAC Campaign to End Childhood Hunger (2014)
FRAC Child Nutrition Issue Brief, 1
View Abstract and Download
Describes the benefits of the School Breakfast Program, including recommendations for the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization that will offer school communities the opportunity to remove barriers for participation and make program improvements so that more low-income children participate, and nutrition and health are improved.
State and Local Examples
Family Nutrition: Parenting and Family Life
Forthun (2012)
University of Florida, Family Youth and Community Sciences Department
Provides parents with information on parenting practices and behaviors to promote healthy eating patterns in their children.
Family Nutrition: The Truth about Family Meals
Forthun (2012)
University of Florida, Family Youth and Community Sciences Department
Offers information about the importance of family meal time and gives tips on how to get the family to the table.