What We’re Reading
Hunger is a complicated issue. Find out what our staff is reading to stay informed on the events and trends that impact our work fighting hunger in New York City.
City Harvest actively supports Breakfast in the Classroom, a strategy to ensure that students start their day with a healthy breakfast. Serving the meal in the classroom makes it easy on the students, and in NYC, this can save parents money because breakfast is provided for free! At a time when both child poverty and child food insecurity are alarmingly high, this program is a great way to make sure children are prepared to learn on full stomachs.
We are concerned about the question raised in NYT article of whether or not the program contributes to obesity. The realities of both child obesity and child hunger and food insecurities do exist. Addressing both at the same time can be very complicated, but it is possible. With regard to the school breakfast program, one thing is certain, and that is that participation in NYC can stand to increase. Overall participation is around 25%. We also know that Breakfast in the Classroom is provided in some classrooms in 22% of the City’s 1750 schools. The NYT article points out that it’s possible that 21% of those students receiving Breakfast in the Classroom might be having two breakfasts. It doesn’t take a lot of analysis to determine that the number of students who possibly could be eating two breakfasts is very, very small, given that there are more than 1.1 million students enrolled in public schools.
City Harvest remains committed to working with the City to find solutions to addressing obesity without compromising the health and well-being of the 1.3 million New Yorkers who do not have reliable access to enough food.
(Submitted by Kate M.)
Nearly a Fifth of Americans Struggle to Afford Food
Despite a slowly improving economy, way too many Americans are still struggling to afford the most basic of necessities: enough food to feed themselves and their families. The 2011 Food Hardship in America report, released this month by the Food and Research Action Center, found a 18.6% ‘food hardship rate,’ an increase of .6% from 2010.
Nearly one out of every 5 people answered “yes” to the question: “Have there been times in the last twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?” In New York City, Jose Serrano’s 16th Congressional District in the South Bronx, has the second highest food hardship rate in the nation, at 32.7%.
(submitted by Tatiana O.)
Previous Articles
New Rules for School Meals Aim at Reducing Obesity
Food Stamp Usage at a Record High
Nutrition Plate Unveiled, Replacing Food Pyramid
FRAC Releases Food Hardship in America 2010
Surgeon general says obesity crisis should be addressed together
