| Hunger Action Month 2009–
Addressing Childhood Nutrition in Texas
Texas has a child nutrition problem with two faces – obesity and hunger. 1 out of every 5 Texas children is medically obese, and 1 out of 4 live in a household without enough food.
These problems are “flip sides” of the same coin – a lack of access to healthy food in the home. One third of low-income Texans report difficulty putting balanced meals on the table. These families “cope” with rising food prices by buying cheaper, less nutritious food.
Both problems are being fought in the same neighborhoods, and often in the same families. Poverty is acknowledged as a high-risk factor for both hunger and obesity. Among Texas schoolchildren, Hispanic and African-American children are most likely to suffer from both hunger and being overweight.
Texas food banks are a direct source of food for many children in need. Food pantries, Kids Cafes, weekend backpacks and other programs of the Texas food bank system feed more than 681,000 children every year. Demand for these programs has increased 11-12% in the last year alone.
Helping food banks distribute more healthy foods will reduce childhood hunger and increase childhood health in Texas. Texas food banks combine the efficiency to move over 205 million pounds of food every year with the public trust and community access needed to put the right food in the right hands, any time of the year.
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| Right Now - is Hunger Action Month, an opportunity to engage in the fight against hunger!
Texas - has a child nutrition problem with two faces - obesity and hunger.
Texas food banks - are a direct source of food for many children in need.
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