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Food Insecurity definitions

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  • Food Insecurity
    Inability to consistently obtain adequate food for nutritional needs, often linked to poverty and affecting millions in the U.S.
  • Poverty
    Primary driver of limited access to nutritious food, increasing risk for both undernutrition and overnutrition.
  • Malnutrition
    Condition resulting from insufficient or excessive intake of nutrients, including both undernutrition and overnutrition.
  • Undernutrition
    State where nutrient or calorie needs are not met, often due to lack of access to sufficient food.
  • Overnutrition
    Excessive intake of low-quality foods, often leading to obesity, especially in low-income populations.
  • Marginal Food Security
    Status marked by anxiety or problems obtaining food, but with little or no impact on overall diet quality or quantity.
  • Low Food Security
    Condition where diet quality is reduced due to limited resources, but quantity of food intake is not significantly affected.
  • Very Low Food Security
    Severe form where eating patterns are disrupted and food intake is reduced, often resulting in skipped meals.
  • Hunger
    Physiological state resulting from insufficient food intake, sometimes but not always present in food insecurity.
  • SNAP
    Federal program providing funds via EBT cards for low-income individuals to purchase approved foods at authorized retailers.
  • WIC
    Supplemental nutrition program targeting low-income pregnant women, infants, and children up to age five.
  • Commodity Supplemental Food Program
    USDA initiative supplying supplemental foods to low-income individuals aged 60 and older.
  • National School Lunch Program
    Federal effort offering free or reduced-price meals to children from low-income families during school and summer.
  • Food Bank
    Community organization distributing donated or purchased food to individuals and families in need.
  • Food Recovery Program
    Initiative collecting surplus edible food from businesses to redistribute to those facing food insecurity.