Food Insecurity in College

SAMEEKA PRABATH – Food insecurity is a hidden crisis on college campuses across the nation. It is easy to attend classes and pretend that everyone is in the same situation as ourselves, to willfully ignore the struggles our peers go through. It wasn’t until a survey we took in Introduction to Public Health until I’d realized how much of a bubble I’ve been living in. One of the questions on the survey was to know who had faced food insecurity in their college years, and the large number of students who said yes made me reflect. The issue of food insecurity among college students is very urgent. A recent study found that over 20% of college students experience food insecurity, making it essential that action is taken.

Food insecurity is often associated with marginalized communities. College students are considered privileged, leaving many to feel like the demographic is immune to starvation. However, food insecurity can manifest itself in different ways. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, food insecurity is “household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food”. This could mean having to worry about running out of food, not having a reliable source of food, or not having access to nutritious foods. 

Food insecurity can lead to a multitude of health issues, including depression and anxiety. Food insecure students may also be forced to choose cheaper, highly processed foods, which are associated with increased risk of obesity and heart conditions. Food insecure students tend to also be facing financial and housing insecurity. A study by Rachel Scherr of San Francisco State University found that food insecure students are more likely to be of a racial/ethnic minority background, living off campus, working while attending school, or receiving a Pell Grant. First-year students are also more susceptible to these factors.

There are a couple of federal programs put into place, a big one being the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program is meant to alleviate food purchasing stressors, like cost and travel time. However, less than half of eligible college students participated in this program, possibly due to the stigma surrounding it as well as a general unawareness about the program. Furthermore, part of the SNAP program was providing accessible nutritional lunches in schools. This program was not implemented in colleges, making it harder for the demographic to find healthy meals. 

Public Health experts advise that colleges raise awareness among students about food insecurity, consistently assessing the well-being of students on campus. Furthermore, promoting existing resources and health equity would help address this health emergency.

—————-

At the University of Georgia, there are several resources for those facing food insecurity. Programs such as Campus Kitchen provide hot meals for the Athens community. Let the Big Dawgs Eat is a scholarship available to students facing food insecurity, giving them unlimited access to the UGA dining halls. The Student Food Pantry is also an amazing resource located in Tate, where participants can visit the pantry or order online. 

Copy Editor – Anaghah Sanikapally

Photography Source – https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/everyone-eats-community-partnerships-for-addressing-local-food-insecurity