What Does Food Insecurity Look Like?

Last week's email addressed what is food insecurity and the impact it has on our community and health. In this email, we take a look at the compromises and coping strategies people often use when dealing with food and nutrition security.

Compromises and Coping Strategies

According to the 2014 Hunger in America study conducted by the Feeding America Network, this is how people make choices, compromises and employ coping strategies when faced with limited resources:

69% Had to choose between food and utilities.	66% Had to choose between food and medical care.	57% Had to choose between food and housing.	31% Had to choose between food and education.
79% Purchase inexpensive, unhealthy food.	53% Receive help from friends or family.	40% Water down food or drinks.	35% Sell or pawn personal property.

Did you know?

While it may be difficult to read the bulleted list below, it's important to understand what someone who is dealing with food and nutrition insecurity may be experiencing:

• Consistently eating the same low-cost foods and feeling like you need to compromise the types of food you eat to save money.
• Eating less than you would like to or less frequently than you prefer to save food or money until you can get more.
• Skipping meals or whole days of eating because you have run out of food and do not have the money or resources to get more.
• Not going out to restaurants with coworkers.
• Drinking a lot of water to cope with food insecurity.
• Visible weight loss.
• Sleeping to cope with food insecurity.

Need help?

• The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan partners with a network of over 700 relief agencies throughout 22 counties. Use their food pantry locator to find food resources closest to you.
• The Food and Nutrition Security web page on the MHealthy website includes a list of U-M, local and national resources that offer assistance.
• Wolverine Essentials is committed to increasing access to food for UM-Flint students by providing assistance to any student in need. All UM-Flint students are welcome, and everything is free.

Want to help?

• Feeding America – Raise your awareness by learning more about food insecurity from Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States.
• Resource Coach Program – The MHealthy Resource Coach Program offers support to U-M faculty and staff experiencing a financial crisis or other personal hardship. Assistance comes in the form of case management services, connections to community and local resources, and in some cases, financial support for employees experiencing a financial crisis or other personal hardship. Donations go directly to funding the need-based mini-grants for U-M faculty and staff.
• Volunteer or donate to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.