There are multiple reasons for food insecurity in the United States. For instance, proximity can significantly affect eating choices since people who live far from supermarkets tend to overstock food (Jacobson & Silverbush, 2012). In addition, food insecurity has a substantial impact on physical and cognitive development. Children with poor nutrition might experience sleep disorders, emotional problems, and a lack of macronutrients for proper physical growth (Jacobson & Silverbush, 2012).
Food insecurity is one of the main reasons for inadequate diets among children, and the government and communities need to introduce more effective public policies, such as food stamps and banks, to mitigate this issue. In addition, increasing the average wage and lowering the prices can help families that struggle economically.
The gravity of the problem is noticeable in food choices. For example, $6 a day for a family of two, which is the rate of the Food Stamp Program, is insufficient to enable proper nutrition and might lead to multiple health problems. It is critical to increase the rates so that families can purchase more products. If I had $20 billion, I would invest in policies that prioritize the production of non-processed food to mitigate the problems of food insecurity.
Moreover, as demonstrated in the movie, large quantities of processed foods lead to various diet-related illnesses, including diabetes and obesity, at an unprecedented level (Jacobson & Silverbush, 2012). The chosen approach, in combination with marketing campaigns to raise public health awareness, can mitigate these problems.
In summary, malnutrition is a relevant problem because it negatively affects physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Moreover, it has a more substantial impact on children because they are in the critical development phase (Jacobson & Silverbush, 2012). The three reasons for this problem include national food insecurity, economic inequalities, and a lack of appropriate infrastructure (Jacobson & Silverbush, 2012).
The primary methods to mitigate this issue include the shift to healthier foods with a better balance of macronutrients and the promotion of public policies that focus on food security (Jacobson & Silverbush, 2012). Personally, I was surprised by the number of people who suffer from malnutrition in the country. I knew that it was a relevant problem, but I did not understand the gravity of the issue. I would like to explore this topic more and find out how I can contribute to improving the state of food security in the United States.
Reference
Jacobson, K., & Silverbush, L. (2012). A Place at the Table [Film]. Participant Media.