About Food Insecurity
The United States Department of Agricultural (USDA) defines food insecurity as a reduction of quality, variety, or desirability of diet or eating pattern with reduced food intake.
As a college student, this definition can be further detailed in a number of ways:
- Skipping meals because of a lack of dining swipes
- Skipping meals because of a lack of money
- Taking containers to dining halls to take food back to a residence
- Contemplating whether to buy food or pay for other essential services such as rent, metrocards, or medicine
- Sleeping in public locations on or close to campus to save money on transportation costs
- Internalizing the effects of food insecurity out of shame or the stigma that plagues this issue
- Purposefully seeking out events that have catered or packaged food
The following are some examples of things that do not constituent food insecurity:
- Accessing resources as an alternative to traditional grocery stores
- Accessing resources because of a lack of time to go to traditional grocery stores
- Accessing resources as an alternative to dining services
- Accessing resources in order to stock up on food for a holiday break
- Accessing resources to share amongst roommates
While neither list is exhaustive, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not their respective circumstance constituents food insecurity.