SHREVEPORT, La. – One in seven people are food insecure in Louisiana, and approximately 17% of Shreveport’s population is food insecure.
Dietitian Courtney Butts joins us to explain what this means and how we can help.
What is food insecurity?
A food insecure person is someone who struggles to access enough food, or food of adequate quality, to meet their basic needs. In other words, food insecurity occurs when there are more funds left at the end of the month than there are funds for food. Often, people experiencing food insecurity must choose between paying their light bill or paying for food.
Hunger and food insecurity coexist, but are not necessarily the same. Hunger is the body’s physiological response to lack of food. Food insecurity is the ongoing lack of access to nutritious food to support a healthy lifestyle. People who are food insecure may also experience hunger more often due to a lack of consistent access to food.
How can I help you?
According to Feeding America, the number of food insecure people in Louisiana is equal to the combined populations of Shreveport, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. This holiday season, consider donating your money, food or time to those in need. The NWLA Food Bank is a great place to start. Food banks are large distribution centers that deliver food to area pantries and also develop programs for children and seniors. You can also serve at a local food pantry that serves your community or even at a college/university that has an on-campus food pantry.
Other ways to help:
https://www.feedinglouisiana.org/
https://www.feedingamerica.org/
Do you have a question for Courtney or a specific topic you’d like her to cover? You can ask the dietitian here!
