“The disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and other resources” -The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Healthy People 2020)
Food insecurity is influenced by factors such as income, employment, race/ethnicity, disability, and incarceration. According to reports published in 2016, black non-Hispanic households were nearly twice as likely to suffer from food insecurity than the national average. Hispanic households on the other hand were no better with an estimated nineteen percent prevalence rate in comparison to the rest of the nation. In the city of Brockton there has been a major influx of immigrants from Cape Verde, Haiti, and more recently Latin American countries since the 1980s. Therefore, in order to address the root of the problem we propose three potential policy and planning areas available to Brockton residents:
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- That the city of Brockton invest in the development of community gardens
- Incorporate a food education course within the yearly school curriculum not only making it available to students, but also their parents
- Requiring local markets to integrate healthier food options
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It is important to note that currently, Brockton contains the youngest population of residents compared to any other city in Massachusetts. Meaning more than half of the city’s community consist of young individuals of color who tend to be the most vulnerable population. Research examining the effects of food insecurity on children has revealed that children tend to experience “increased risk of some birth defects, anemia, lower nutrient intakes, cognitive problems, and aggression and anxiety… higher rates of being hospitalized and poorer general health” (Gunderson & Ziliak). Thus, it is necessary to focus on ways to end food insecurity in order to improve quality of life and well-being for both present and future generations.