Food Insecurity In College

As a college student myself I’ve noticed the variety of meal plans and food selection Florida International University provides. Notably, what catches my attention more are the number of students I come across carrying personal lunchboxes or bags. To illustrate, there is a line of people that forms to heat up food from home in the university microwaves. It was something that I never came to question as I presumed it was with the recent trend of healthy eating. In the present 21st century, there is a new meaning to the word food insecurity. In prior times, the word food insecurity was defined to represent obesity and bulimia. However, as of the economic crisis of 2007, the word has transitioned with the world. Food insecurity now represents an increasing issue that is taking a toll on the health and learning outcomes on the youth and economically disadvantaged college students. This ultimately leads me to question what …show more content…
The lack of funds after paying tuition, housing, and other commitments are factors in explaining food insecurity. It makes one consider whether to pay one’s next meal or necessities. In 2014 Feeding America reported an approximate one in 10 adults who sought food assistance that year were students and two million of those students were full-time. With this in mind, it makes one question the humor of the joke of college students eating Ramen on the regular as it is a reality for some. College Board has reported since the 2007 economic crisis four-year universities tuition and housing has risen by 25%. The ideal image of going away for college or college itself has become burdensome to some. Can it be assumed food insecurity and the economic crisis occurred more in universities that accept low-income and first generation students? Next in question, are meal plans affordable or a