Many low-income families, especially those living in urban and rural "food deserts," lack access to affordable, nutritious foods. As a result, about 40% of households with incomes below the poverty line experience food insecurity. Food insecurity is associated with poor health and developmental outcomes for children. Effective strategies to improve nutrition for low-income families include increasing enrollment in programs like WIC and SNAP, ensuring access to healthy foods through transportation and farmers' markets, and providing nutrition education.

1. FOR LOW-INCOME MOTHERS
NUTRITION GUIDANCE
THE ISSUE
More than 23 million Americans,
including 6.5 million children, live in low-
income urban and rural neighborhoods
that are more than a mile from a
supermarket. These communities are
known as “food deserts” since they lack
access to affordable, nutritious food.
Lack of access is one reason why many
children are not eating recommended
levels of fruits, vegetables and whole
grains.
According to Feeding America,
in 2014,
According to the USDA, in 2014 about 40 percent of households
with incomes below the Federal poverty line were food insecure.
Food-insecure households include those with low food security and
very low food security. Rates of food insecurity were substantially
higher than the national average for single-parent households, and
for Black and Hispanic households. Food insecurity was more
common in large cities and rural areas than in suburban areas.
FOOD INSECURITY
48.1
OTHER THINGS
TO CONSIDER
ABOUT LOW-INCOME
AND NUTRITION
Most low-income meal
preparers are aware of some
but not all key relationships
between diet and health.
Most families from a recent
study conducted by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture
Food and Consumer Service
reported food price as the
most important consideration
in making food choices.
The time of month food stamp
recipients choose to shop, the
frequency of their shopping,
and their use of
“convenience” foods limit their
ability to purchase a low-cost
diet.
Ethnic and cultural traditions
are strong factors in food
choice and meal preparation,
particularly for African
American and Hispanic food
stamp recipients.
Many focus group
participants said they are
aware of current guidelines
for healthy eating, uncertain
about the healthfulness of
their own diet, and open to
trying new ways to feed their
families healthier meals. Yet
many said they believe these
changes are difficult.
FAST FACTS
Recent studies show that 44% of all SNAP participants are children (age 18 or younger),
with almost two-thirds of SNAP children living in single-parent households. In total, 76%
of SNAP benefits go towards households with children.
Many low-income, rural mothers that are aware of and practice many health behaviors
related to nutrition & physical activity claim that they face additional barriers due to their
income level, rural place of residence, and having children.
An income below the taxable limit is generally not much more than twice the amount
needed for an adequate diet at low cost, according to the food plan issued by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Food insecurity in households with children is associated with inadequate intake of
several important nutrients, deficits in cognitive development, behavioral problems, and
poor health.
million Americans lived in
food insecure households,
including 32.8 million adults and
15.3 million children.
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2. FOR LOW-INCOME MOTHERS
WAYS TO TAKE ACTION
Support the sale of local foods
across the community by
offering incentives and
encouraging the establishment
of farmers’ markets.
Success Story
20%
Pass food policies that require
food and beverages
purchased with government
funds to meet certain nutrition
standards
Ensure that residents can
access healthy and
affordable food through
public transportation—by
realigning bus routes,
providing free shuttles, or
other means.
Increase enrollment in food
assistance programs such as
WIC (Women, Infants, and
Children) and SNAP
(Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program).
WIC: Extensive research has
found the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) to
be a cost-effective investment
that improves the nutrition and
health of low-income families —
leading to healthier infants, more
nutritious diets and better health
care for children, and
subsequently to higher academic
achievement for students.
WIC promotes breastfeeding
and better infant feeding
practices, and may improve food
security among children. Since
the introduction of improved
food packages better aligned
with current dietary guidance,
WIC participants are purchasing
and consuming more fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and
low-fat dairy.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
women-infants-and-children-wic
NUTRITION GUIDANCE
RESOURCES
Let's move
- http://www.letsmove.gov/
United States Department
of Agriculture Food and Nutrition
Service - http://www.fns.usda.gov/
Nutrition.gov - www.nutrition.gov
Livestrong - www. livestrong.com
Food Research and Action Center -
www.frac.org
Grow healthy food for your
community by starting a
garden
A vegetable garden is a
great way to provide
healthy, fresh food for those
in need and teach children
that healthy eating can be
fun! Congregations and
community organizations
often have land available for
gardening.
Well-designed and
effectively implemented
nutrition education can
motivate those
participating to change
dietary behaviors
and provide them with the
knowledge and skills to
make healthy food choices
in the context of their
lifestyles and economic
resources
Effective nutrition
education and promotion
includes multiple
components:
1)skill building to facilitate
positive behavior change
2) environmental and policy
changes to make the
healthy choice the easy
choice
3) integrated initiatives and
social marketing to build
community and
social support.
20 percent of WIC families ate
more vegetables, and the
frequency of fruit and
vegetable consumption
increased by 5 to 10 percent.
1Bradbard, Steven, Eileen Michaels, Kathryn Fleming, and Marci Campbell. "Understanding the Food Choices of Low Income Families." 1­11. Lisboa Associates, Inc. Web.,2 Carlson, S., and Z.
Neuberger. "WIC Works: Addressing the Nutrition and Health Needs of Low­Income Families for 40 Years." Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 4 May 2015. Web.
<http://www.cbpp.org/research/food­assistance/wic­works­addressing­the­nutrition­and­health­needs­of­low­income­families>.3Coleman­Jensen, A., Rabbitt, M., Gregory, C., & Singh, A. (2015).
Household Food Security in the United States in 2014. USDA ERS., 4"Make Healthy Food Affordable and Accessible." Let's Move. Web. <http://www.letsmove.gov/make­healthy­food­affordable­and­
accessible>. 5Parrott, S., Arloc S., and Trisi, D., "Various Supports for Low­Income Families Reduce Poverty and Have Long­Term Positive Effects On Families and Children." Center on Budget and
Policy Priorities. 30 July 2013. Web. <http://www.cbpp.org/research/various­supports­for­low­income­families­reduce­poverty­and­have­long­term­positive­effects>. 6,"SNAP: Frequently Asked
Questions." Snap To Health, 2016. Web. <http://www.snaptohealth.org/snap/snap­frequently­asked­questions/>. 7 "USDA ERS ­ Chart: Food Insecurity Rates Are Highest for Single Mother Households
and Lowest for Elderly." United States Department of Agriculture ­ Economic Research Service, <http://www.ers.usda.gov/data­products/chart­gallery/detail.aspx?chartId=40103>.,
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