AAP Voices Blog

Feeding Health: How Pediatricians Can Address Childhood Hunger 

Seven-year-old Riley struggles to pay attention when her first-grade teacher reviews addition and subtraction. Math lessons always begin at 10 a.m., and since breakfast isn’t available at home, her brain doesn’t seem to wake up until after lunch.

Returning to the tenth grade after summer break, 15-year-old Martin has lost a significant amount of weight. His teammates and coaches congratulate him on training hard in the off-season. He decides not to tell anyone he’d actually been skipping lunch so his little sister had enough to eat.

Maria, incredibly hungry after getting home from preschool, asks her mom what’s available for a snack. She secretly hopes for green grapes, her favorite! Instead, today’s menu includes potato chips, purchased on sale at the corner store. Maria shrugs and reaches for a fistful.

These three stories are woven together by the looming shadow of childhood food insecurity, manifesting as missed meals and limited access to nutritious fruits and vegetables. Food insecurity impacts nearly 14 million children across the United States. There are many causes - rising costs of living, lack of transportation to grocery stores or food deserts, to name a few. Accordingly, the risk of food insecurity is greater for children from low-income, rural, or racial minority backgrounds – exacerbating disparities in child academic achievement and health.

The health consequences of childhood food insecurity are well-established. On the extreme end, manifestations of severe pediatric wasting or developmental delays may be readily apparent. However, the more subtle consequences of food insecurity also cause significant long-term harm and are incredibly pervasive.

"Children suffering from food insecurity are more likely to have poor overall health, struggle in school, and develop asthma and mental health problems. Children who suffer from food insecurity also are more likely to become food insecure adults and parents, perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of poor health."

Pediatricians play aa vital role  in disrupting this cycle and protecting children's wellbeing. Through our unique relationships with families, we can take direct action to identify and intervene in situations where families are food insecure. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) both recommend the use of the validated, two-question Hunger Vital Signs screener to assess any potential food needs. Both organizations emphasize the importance of pediatricians adopting a trauma-informed approach to screening by reassuring parents of their capacity to take excellent care of their children regardless of their food security status, as well as by ensuring patient privacy during the screening encounter.

Once food insecurity is identified, pediatricians can connect families with resources to improve food access. Although resources vary across communities, there are several national programs to address childhood food insecurity that all pediatricians should know about. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provide necessary financial assistance for nearly 50 million U.S. families with children to purchase groceries. Helping families apply for SNAP benefits and connecting them with the local WIC office can be effective first steps to combat food insecurity and improve child health.

Pediatricians can also be powerful advocates for reducing food insecurity across the nation. Raising our collective voices is particularly critical at this moment, especially as Congress recently passed into law significant cuts and changes to SNAP that will impact families.

On the local level, neighborhood nonprofits and food pantries always need volunteers, resources, and financial support. Pediatricians can fill these roles as individuals and can also spearhead food drives and clinical partnerships.

On the state and national level, advocacy is key. As stewards of child health, pediatrician voices are often sought when policy decisions are being made. Pediatricians can reach out to their elected representatives directly and urge them to support policies that promote food security for children and families. It is also important that pediatricians stay engaged as advocacy opportunities arise at the state and federal level as changes to SNAP are implemented and take shape.  

No matter how much time you have, there are actions you can take today that make an impact:

• If you have 30 seconds to spare, sign up for weekly Action Alerts through FRAC so you can stay up to date on the ever-changing policy environment in the US.
• If you have 5 minutes to spare, call or email your members of Congress and tell them to protect child nutrition programs – like WIC and school meals – as they consider Fiscal Year 2026 funding for federal programs. Lawmakers are working through the annual appropriations process this summer, which is why it is critical that they hear from us about the vital importance of these programs. You can find contact information for your legislators on their official .gov websites.
• If you have 1 hour or more to spare, you can begin researching the local policy landscape and opportunities to get involved in your own community. One easy place to start is the National Farm to School Network State Policy Map, which tracks food security policies at the state level across the US.

As pediatricians, we have the power to ensure the needs and rights of children are protected by moving the needle forward on food security. By increasing our understanding of the health harms of unstable access to food, screening our patients, connecting families with needed supports, and pursuing advocacy at multiple levels, we can work to ensure no child goes hungry. 

*The views expressed in this article are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the American Academy of Pediatrics.