Childhood food insecurity across America, mapped
Over 40% of children in some U.S. counties live in food-insecure households, per new estimates shared first with Axios from Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks.
Why it matters: Potential cuts or changes to federal food aid programs like SNAP and tariffs on imported foods could affect millions of Americans and exacerbate the childhood hunger crisis.
By the numbers: Hancock County, Georgia (46.9%), Perry County, Alabama (46.8%), and Holmes County, Mississippi (46.2%) had the highest estimated childhood food insecurity rates as of 2023, per Feeding America's new Map the Meal Gap report.
The rate tends to be higher in relatively poor, rural counties — but there are urban areas with high rates as well, like New York's Bronx County (33.1%).
An estimated 14 million U.S. children overall live in food-insecure homes. That's about one out of every five kids.
How it works: Map the Meal Gap is an annual effort to make local estimates about food insecurity among different groups, in part by using government data.
The childhood food insecurity rate represents the share of children who live in food-insecure households, which lack or have uncertain access to adequate food.
See more about the methodology here.
The big picture: Childhood food insecurity is one piece of a broader hunger problem exacerbated by rising food costs.
The annual aggregate national food budget shortfall — meaning, the total amount of money people in food-insecure U.S. households need to buy enough food — rose from $28.5 billion in 2022 to $32.2 billion in 2023, up 8.4% inflation-adjusted.
What they're saying: " What we saw in 2023 was that for the third consecutive year, this reported need increased," Adam Dewey, research director at Feeding America, tells Axios of the food budget figures.
"It didn't increase by as much as we saw in 2022, but the fact that the level of need among the food-insecure population is increasing alongside the number of individuals who are experiencing food insecurity is a double whammy that is a concern."
What's next: As the school year nears its end, the perennial threat of "summer hunger" will once again be an issue for kids who rely on school meals to get enough to eat.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kokua Line: Are needy Hawaii kids getting summer food money?
Question : Last summer kids on SNAP got money for over the summer. Will they do this again this summer ? Answer : Yes. You are referring to the SUN Bucks program, also known as Summer EBT, which is underway and remains open for applications, according to the state Department of Human Services. Many school-aged children, including those in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, automatically qualified for SUN Bucks ; their households did not need to apply. A mainland vendor began mailing SUN Bucks electronic benefit transfer cards to those children starting the week of May 19, with delivery expected to take two to three weeks, according to DHS. If your household qualified for automatic enrollment but has not received the $177 benefit per child, you may call the SUN Bucks customer serv ice line toll-free at 1-888-975-SEBT (7328 ) to ensure your correct mailing address is on file. 'We are using the mailing address based on the child's school records, or the household's mailing address per their SNAP or TANF case, if the household participates or has participated in those programs. If families believe we may have incorrect mailing information ' they should call the aforementioned number to report the change of address, according to the DHS website. Families whose children were not automatically enrolled but who meet the requirements still have time to apply. Go to to apply online or to download a paper application and for eligibility details, including household income cutoffs. Note that 'households that applied for, and were determined eligible for, Summer 2024 during the period of July 1, 2024, through August 4, 2024, do not need to submit an application for Summer 2025. The same Summer 2024 application will be used to determine eligibility for Summer 2025, ' DHS says. The program, which is funded by the state of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is meant to ensure that school-age children who usually eat breakfast and lunch at school have access to healthy food during the summer break. According to Human Services, school-aged children are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks (no application required ) if :—The child's household participated in SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families in any month from July 1, 2024, through Aug. 3, 2025 ; or—The child has been identified as a ward of the state (foster child ), or identified by their school as homeless, migrant, or runaway ; or—The child attended a school that offers the National School Lunch Program, and their household applied for and was approved for free or reduced-price school meals. School-aged is defined as 'a child who will have arrived at the age of at least 5 years on or before July 31 of the school year, and who will not have arrived at the age of 18 years, by Jan. 1 of any school year.' Exceptions allow SUN Bucks benefits for some younger children, including those in Head Start. See the DHS website for details. Q : As we approach the second anniversary of the Maui fires, I am wondering how much that one big fund ended up collecting and if they've spent it all ? A : Nearly $210 million has been donated to the Maui Strong Fund (including interest earned ), of which about $141 million has been awarded and committed to grantees, according to the Hawaii Community Foundation, which administers the fund. Read about specific grants on the HCF website, . The fund provides financial resources for the immediate and long-term needs of people and places affected by that devastated Lahaina and also ravaged Kula.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Most Popular Pasta Shapes in Every State — And It's Not All Spaghetti
A new map of America's pasta preferences is stirring the pot—literally. Inspired Taste just dropped a state-by-state breakdown of the most searched pasta shapes across the U.S., and while spaghetti still holds the national title, the local picks get way more interesting. We're talking regional loyalties to rigatoni, cult followings for fettuccine, and one surprising state that gave rotini the majority of its vote. And sorry to elbows—no state gave the mac-and-cheese classic their top spot. Regardless it's fresh pasta or dried, here's what stood out. Idaho: Rotini Rules With 44% of Idahoans choosing rotini, the Gem State showed the strongest loyalty to any pasta shape nationwide. It makes sense: rotini's spiral shape is a red sauce magnet, ideal for hearty meat sauces or creamy ranch pasta salads—two staples in cold-weather comfort food culture. Both states crowned rigatoni as their favorite—a tube-shaped pasta known for its ridged exterior and sturdy structure. It's a natural pick for baked pasta dishes and rich Southern-style casseroles, offering plenty of bite and sauce-holding power. These states might not seem similar on the surface, but all three share a love for fettuccine. Long, flat, and famously paired with Alfredo sauce, fettuccine holds up well to cream- and seafood-based sauces, both of which are popular in coastal cuisines. The Great Elbow Snub Elbow macaroni—despite ranking #4 overall—wasn't the top pick in any single state. A surprise, considering its role in iconic dishes like mac and cheese and pasta salad. It's beloved, but not enough to be anyone's number one. Orzo and Angel Hair: Least Loved Nationwide At the bottom of the barrel? Orzo and angel hair, with 18% of respondents naming them their least favorite pasta types. Orzo's rice-like shape can be confusing to some eaters, and angel hair often gets knocked for turning mushy too fast. National Winner: Spaghetti Still Reigns Despite all the regional quirks, spaghetti held onto its crown as the country's favorite shape, topping the list in 20 states. Its classic status and versatility make it a crowd-pleaser—equally at home in a quick weeknight dinner or a long-simmered Sunday sauce. Pasta is more than just pantry stock—it's identity food. The shape you reach for reflects how you cook, what you crave, and what recipes feel like home. A box of penne might mean baked pasta passed down from grandma. Spaghetti might mean Tuesday night comfort or a go-to cheap dinner. And that state loyalty? It says a lot. New Jersey going hard for penne? Feels on brand. Idaho's love for rotini? Unexpected but kind of charming. These picks reveal little snapshots of how Americans really eat. How to See Your State's Pick Check out the full pasta shape map at Inspired Taste or search your state's breakdown online. Then look at your pantry—are you in the pasta majority or marching to your own noodle beat? Whether you're team spaghetti or flying the rigatoni flag, there's no wrong answer—just more excuses to boil some water.
New York Post
6 hours ago
- New York Post
Love dipping sauces? Try these weird food combinations
French fries with tartar sauce, scrambled eggs and barbecue sauce and pickles with buffalo sauce were found to be some of the weirdest combinations Americans love to eat. The study of 2,000 Americans divided respondents by how much they love a good sauce and how dedicated they are to making it a part of as many meals as possible. Respondents shared their other creations like Worcestershire sauce on macaroni, pita bread with honey mustard and ranch dressing in ramen noodles. Of those who enjoy eating sauce with their food regularly — even with their culinary concoctions — 79% said they're proud sauce lovers. Conducted by Talker Research for Sweet Baby Ray's, the survey found that their love for sauce shows that two-thirds of respondents shared that they've chosen a meal specifically based on what sauce they were craving (67%). Americans have a strong dedication to their sauces, a study shows. Prostock-studio – According to those surveyed, sauce always belongs on french fries (73%), chicken nuggets (67%) and hot dogs (61%). For chicken wings, barbecue sauce (27%) and honey barbecue (20%) are some of the most popular. Chicken wings (59%), cheeseburgers (55%) and tacos (53%) ranked high on what respondents simply won't eat without sauce. Some foods are seen as just a vehicle to eat sauce, like french fries (68%), chicken nuggets (66%) and chicken wings (60%). Americans take their sauce so seriously that eight in 10 even agree that sauce has the power to make or break a meal (78%). Barbecue sauce is among America's top favorite sauces, with 729 respondents ranking it in their top five. When voting on their favorite sauces for different foods, barbecue sauce (30%) was found to be a must for chicken nuggets, followed by ranch (30%) and honey mustard (25%). Ketchup is easily the crowd favorite for french fries (81%), while marinara is the clear winner for mozzarella sticks (47%) — although others enjoy them with ranch (23%) or ketchup (10%). While a third of respondents agree that chicken wings belong with ranch as the best sauce (32%), 27% enjoy them with barbecue sauce as the best sauce. 'Whether it's BBQ sauce, hot sauce, or ketchup, to name a few, Americans love sauce,' said Dan Gollinger, brand manager at Sweet Baby Ray's. 'According to the recent survey, 78% of people say sauce can make or break a meal. We understand this mindset and are shining a light on it.' 78% of people say sauce can make or break a meal. ¿¿¿¿¿ ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ – Currently, the average person surveyed has eight different kinds of sauce in their fridge. The survey also looked at personality differences between those who call themselves 'sauce people' (61%) and those who don't. 'Sauce people' are more likely to be Type A (28% vs. 22%), while those who prefer their food sauceless are more likely to be Type B (52% vs. 48%). Despite their meticulous personality type, one in five sauce lovers consider themselves to be impulsive, and are likelier to be more adventurous (73% vs. 47%). Those who eat more sauce also tend to be more likely to smile (32% vs. 28%) and laugh (23% vs. 16%) more than 10 times a day. More 'sauce people' are also likelier to say they are generally 'very happy' (35% vs. 28%), although non-sauce lovers tend to be likelier to have at least 25 'good days' in an average month (35% vs. 29%). The stars may also dictate your preferences, as water signs swept for the most likely to say that they're 'sauce people,' while Leos (10%) and Virgos (10%) are more averse to sauces on their food. 'People are building entire meals around their favorite sauce. Ultimately, sauce deserves more credit,' said Gollinger. 'A sweet, tangy BBQ sauce can add depth to grilled meats, while a bold hot sauce can completely wake up a sandwich or salad. We like to say people should 'think sauce first.'' FOODS AMERICANS USUALLY ADD SAUCE TO French fries — 73% Chicken nuggets — 67% Hot dogs — 61% Chicken wings — 59% Cheeseburgers — 55% Tacos — 53% Nachos — 50% Deli sandwiches — 36% Pizza — 31% Vegetables — 29% Survey methodology: Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by Sweet Baby Ray's and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between May 15 and May 19, 2025.
