ABSTRACT
Food insecurity, the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life, is a persistent and pervasive public health issue in the United States, affecting millions of households with children each year. As the primary place children spend time outside of the home, schools are uniquely poised to address child food insecurity through targeted interventions and community-based resources. This chapter aims to provide context for how and why food insecurity affects the mental, physical, and emotional health of children and adolescents, and outlines opportunities for educational settings to promote food security among students—from early childhood through college years. In addition, this chapter discusses the role of structural racism as one of the drivers of food insecurity in the US and highlights systemic reforms that could mitigate food insecurity in households with children. Since food insecurity is so closely related to other essential needs, such as housing, healthcare, and education, this chapter underscores the importance of adopting a systems-based, equity-centered approach to alleviate poverty and foster economic stability and growth in order to reduce such insecurity.
