When Hunger Hurts: The Hidden Crisis of Food Insecurity in America

Chrissy Signore
Oct 29
5 min read

This is not a political opinion. This is a human one. This is about the systems that either support our most basic needs or let them crumble beneath the weight of bureaucracy, judgment, and disconnection. It is about food—a fundamental need, a human right—and the devastating ripple effects when it is withheld, restricted, or simply unaffordable.

To be honest, SNAP was never something I had looked into. I just assumed it was always there, quietly supporting people in need while the rest of us continued complaining about the cost of eggs, and inflation to the bottom line of our receipts. But now, with SNAP at risk of losing critical funding and the holidays just around the corner—a time when food is also so central to connection and celebration—I couldn't stay naive in a bubble. What I found left me stunned, emotional, angry, and helpless. I put together the below fact sheet to help give you the statistics I found most important for educational purposes.

As someone immersed in wellness—from the gym floor to corporate offices to the homes of postpartum mothers—I’m struck by the humbling realization that I can’t leave Costco without spending $300, and even then, it doesn’t cover everything we need. So how are millions of families surviving on just $187 per person each month?

The Health Cost of Hunger

Food insecurity is not about occasional hardship to make ends meet. It is chronic stress. It’s kids going to school with stomachs growling. It’s mothers skipping meals so their children can eat. It’s seniors choosing between blood pressure medication and a loaf of bread.

The physical toll is real:

Children in food-insecure households are more likely to be hospitalized and suffer developmental delays (American Academy of Pediatrics).
Adults experiencing food insecurity have higher risks of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Food insecurity is linked to a 21% higher risk of clinical depression and a 50% increase in anxiety disorders (Journal of Health Psychology).

The mental toll is deep:

Children facing chronic hunger are 2-4 times more likely to experience behavioral problems, and have lower math and reading scores (Feeding America).
Food insecurity is associated with poor mental health and decreased cognitive function in adults (National Institutes of Health).
Constant survival stress triggers chronic cortisol elevation, mimicking trauma (Harvard Health).

Emotionally, food insecurity breaks something sacred. It robs families of joy, dignity, and agency. Food is not just sustenance. It is love, connection, celebration. When it's missing, so much more goes with it.

The SNAP Lifeline

Here's the basics to know overall.

As are many programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is not perfect. But it is a lifeline. At just $187 a month per person—around $6.17 a day—SNAP is a small but essential source of stability for over 41 million Americans (USDA, FY2024). And for taxpayers? It costs about $745 a year per person (USAFacts.org). That's about $2 a day—less than a coffee, and for that, we are able nourish a life.

SNAP reduces food insecurity by 30% (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities). Every $1 spent generates up to $1.54 in local economic activity (USDA Economic Research Service) including jobs, demand for goods and services and immediate spending. More importantly, SNAP gives parents a chance to feed their children. It gives kids a chance to grow. It gives bodies a chance to function.

THE Cost of Cutting Snap

Some want to cut SNAP by $300 billion over the next decade (CBPP, 2025 House Plan). To them, it's about budgets. To me, it's about babies. It's about mothers navigating healing without enough protein to support milk production. It's about children with growing brains being fed sugary snacks because “real” and “fresh” food is a luxury. It's about the scary reality that long-term developmental damage from poor nutrition isn't something you can undo later.

When kids don’t get enough nutrients, it doesn’t just show up on a growth chart by lack of height or weight development. It shows up in test scores, in emotional regulation, in their future earning potential, and in their health decades from now. Malnutrition in childhood has a lifetime cost.

(*Shocking examples and statistics listed below)

This Isn’t Politics. This Is Health.

We must see food as what it is: a building block of every mental, physical, and emotional outcome. We must advocate not just for diets and meal plans, but for access—uninterrupted, unstigmatized access to real food.

If you believe in wellness, you must believe in nourishment. If you believe in health, you must believe in food security. If you believe in humanity, you must believe that no child in this country should be hungry while we debate their worthiness.

This is not about political sides. This is about deciding whether we see people as problems to fix or lives to support.

We don’t need to imagine what happens when food is out of reach. We already know. The only question is what we choose to do about it.

Next Steps: Practical Help and Ways to Support

Below I have put a sample day that can feed an individual for $7/day or less—whether on SNAP or simply navigating the rising costs of groceries. This example does its best to prioritize nutrient-dense, affordable foods that support physical and mental health.

If you feel helpless and overwhelmed by the weight of this reality like me—and if you are fortunate enough to have consistent access to food—I urge you to consider donating and supporting your local food bank. They are already stretched thin and preparing for an even greater demand in the coming weeks and months ahead.

Most Needed Items at Food Banks:

Canned proteins (chicken, tuna, beans)
Nut butters
Whole grain pasta and rice
Shelf-stable milk or plant-based milks
Canned fruits and vegetables (low-sodium or no added sugar preferred)
Baby formula and baby food
Healthy snacks (granola bars, dried fruit)
Toiletries and hygiene products (toothpaste, soap, pads/tampons)

Let’s make access to food a collective priority—not just this season, but always.

Here’s a sample “day of eating” using approximate costs (varies by region) and nutrient‑dense items.

Item	Estimate Cost	Portion	Why it’s nutrient‑dense
2 eggs	~$0.50	breakfast	Eggs provide high quality protein, choline, vitamins A/D/B‑12 etc. Real Simple+1
1 slice whole grain bread + 1 Tbsp peanut butter	~$0.40	breakfast/snack	Whole grain gives fiber + B‑vitamins; peanut butter gives healthy fat, protein. Munson Healthcare+1
½ cup cooked oats	~$0.30	breakfast or snack	Oats are affordable, high in fiber and minerals. Healthline+1
1 medium banana	~$0.25	snack	Cheap fruit, gives potassium and fiber. CSNN National Page
1 cup cooked lentils or beans	~$0.60	lunch	Plant‑protein, fiber, iron/folate. Cedars-Sinai+1
1 serving frozen mixed vegetables (~1 cup)	~$0.80	lunch/dinner	Vegetables are micronutrient rich and frozen often cheaper. Better Homes & Gardens
1 medium sweet potato or 1 large white potato	~$0.50	dinner	Potatoes/sweet potatoes are cheap and nutrient dense (potassium, fiber, beta‑carotene) EatingWell
3 oz canned tuna (light)	~$1.20	dinner	Lean protein + omega‑3s, affordable. Real Simple+1
1 cup plain yogurt or small container (store brand)	~$0.70	snack/dessert	Provides calcium, protein, good fats (if whole) and probiotics (if plain) Munson Healthcare

Approximate total cost: $5.25. Leaving ~$1.75 for extras: e.g., 1 apple, some nuts, extra greens or frozen berries.

OVERVIEW FACT SHEET

*CHILDHOOD Examples & Data

As noted above, poor nutrition in childhood doesn’t just affect growth charts, but has long‑lasting impacts on cognitive ability, educational outcomes, earning potential and health decades later. Here are some concrete examples:

A longitudinal study of children who were malnourished at age 3 found that by age 11 they had on average a 15.3‑point IQ deficit compared to well‑nourished peers — even after controlling for psychosocial adversity. PMC
A review found that children who do not receive adequate nutrition are at high risk of impaired cognitive skills, under‑performance in school, and lower educational achievement — which is tied to lower lifetime earnings. PMC+2OUP Academic+2
The World Bank states that early stunting (a form of chronic under‑nutrition) “can cause irreversible damage to cognitive development and has educational, income, and productivity consequences that reach far into adulthood.” World Bank+1
A global‐scale estimate suggests that preventable undernutrition costs the world at least US $761 billion per year in lost productivity and other long‑term costs. PMC