Food Consumption In The United States

are anything but nutritious as they are usually highly processed, sugar and chemically enriched. These types of processed foods are typically cheaper that their fresh counterparts and because of their chemical make-up often last longer as well. As a result people are often left with the decision of whether to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables that cost more and wont last as long, or buy processed foods that are cheaper and won’t perish as quickly. How can community members help families and an aging population when it comes to hunger? Donating nonperishable foods such as peanut butter, tuna fish and beans are a start. When purchasing items to give to food banks, select items that are low in sodium products and canned fruit that are in …show more content…
It will take years for this nation to fully regain our economic strength, but as the smoke clears our fundamental need for food, clothing and shelter remains the same as it did in the aftermath of The Great Depression. Those people that lined the streets for a hot meal in the 1930’s are no different than the people lining the streets today who are also in need for food. Children and the elderly are the most innocent casualties and within these two demographics if there is a need to take medication, food plays a huge role in the process of a person absorbing this medication as it helps carry the medication throughout the body. According to Kim Krisberg (2014), “Those who reported food insecurity, or being unable to consistently afford enough food, were significantly more likely to report cost-related medication underuse. Both cost-related medication underuse and food insecurity are associated with adverse health outcomes” (p. 18). These adverse effects could possibly result in an increase of an antibiotic resistance, patients not being able to fully heal or function, or even death when it comes to the decision of buying food over their medications. Getting public assistance is a relief for many of these families, but when told by the doctor to eat more vegetables, lean proteins such as fish, these items are not only expensive but to feed a family this way is difficult when there is a need to make food dollars stretch in conjunction with buying expensive