Food Insecurity: Videos & Practice Problems

Which concise description most accurately distinguishes marginal, low, and very low food security within the definition of food insecurity?

A household reports frequent worry about running out of food but on average maintains the same number of meals and calories. Under USDA categorizations, how is this household best classified?

Which scenario best illustrates a distinction between hunger and food insecurity?

Which causal chain most plausibly explains how low food security can contribute to obesity in a community?

Which of the following groups is documented as having a higher risk of food insecurity in the U.S. according to the lesson?

If a city contains 2,450,000 households, estimate the range (lower and upper bounds) of households likely reporting low or very low food security using the USDA prevalence range. Show your calculations.

A university has 28,000 students living in 11,000 on-campus and off-campus households. Campus survey data show about 25% of students report food insecurity. If each household contains on average 1.8 students, estimate how many households likely include at least one food-insecure student, and show your work.

Which program specifically provides benefits through an EBT (electronic benefit transfer) debit-card system for low-income households and is administered at the state level?

Which pairing correctly matches the target population to the USDA program?

A 26-year-old pregnant woman with an infant, low household income, and limited transportation seeks food support. Which combination of programs is the most appropriate immediately and for ongoing nutrition support?

An 82-year-old low-income person with mobility limitations is running low on groceries and cannot easily reach a grocery store. Which program or combination is most targeted to their age and immediate needs?

Which explanation best analyzes why many food banks prefer monetary donations over canned-goods drives?

Which critique most accurately evaluates a systemic limitation of relying primarily on nonprofit/community-based food assistance rather than coordinated federal programs?

Design an integrated short-term response for a neighborhood hit by a natural disaster that temporarily disrupts grocery supply and transportation. Which mix of community resources best synthesizes immediate and short-term nutrition support while minimizing waste and meeting dietary needs?

Both undernutrition and diet-related obesity resulting from poor-quality, energy-dense diets in low-income populations are best classified as which of the following?

Which explanation best interprets why single women heading households have consistently higher reported rates of food insecurity than two-parent households?

A household reports eating less varied meals and relying frequently on processed, low-cost foods, but reports no skipped meals. According to USDA categories, this household is best described as which level and why?

If a county reports 3,200,000 households and the USDA prevalence for low or very low food security is estimated at 11%, calculate the number of households affected. Show your calculation steps.

A public health department must reduce coverage gaps where eligible families fall through both federal and community safety nets. Which combined policy package best synthesizes feasible measures to reduce these gaps?

A policy brief claims that increasing SNAP benefits will automatically eliminate obesity in low-income neighborhoods because more money means faster access to healthy food. Which evaluative response best addresses the claim using course concepts?

Which USDA program is specifically designed to provide supplemental foods to low-income adults age 60 and over?

Which function best describes food recovery programs in the community food-assistance system?

A 20-year-old undergraduate living off-campus with limited income is food insecure and needs both immediate groceries and longer-term consistent support. Which combination of resources best addresses both immediate and sustained needs?

A state public health analyst must plan SNAP outreach for rural counties. If a county has 54,700 households and the analyst assumes a 12.5% prevalence of low or very low food security, estimate the number of affected households, then recommend two programmatic actions (one federal, one community) to reach these households based on that estimate.

An evaluator argues that the primary remaining gap in U.S. food assistance is not funding but logistical issues (transport, delivery, culturally appropriate foods, and application complexity). Which evidence-based response best evaluates this claim?

Which operational reason explains why a food bank might spend only a portion of received funds on purchasing food even when they solicit cash donations?

A family with two school-age children faces weekend food shortages because school meals cover weekday lunches. Which combined federal/community approach best addresses both weekend and in-school food needs?

Which argument best evaluates why coordination between federal programs and community-based organizations is essential to reduce residual food insecurity?