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Essay On Malnutrition In America

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Mother of five, Cynthia, has a steady job at a nursing home as well as a supportive husband yet struggles to feed her family on a daily basis. Like many other Americans she does not qualify for government assistance because she makes too much; in her case thirty eight dollars too much. In cases like Cynthia’s, options seem incredibly limited and there is often no assistance for feeding her family (abcnews). Over 12 million children under the age of eighteen in the United States are food insecure. Meaning they are unable to consistently access adequate amounts of nutritious food necessary for a healthy life. More than three million children under the age of five are food insecure (Insecurity2012).
The consequences of malnutrition can be severe. …show more content…

Hungry children are sick more often and more likely to visit the hospital and these costs result in higher health insurance rates and taxes. Health problems also carry into adulthood, which leads to additional health care costs, absenteeism, and poor performance at work. Hungry children experience lower academic achievement and have social and behavioral problems that carry over into the workforce. As a result, America's workforce is less competitive and less productive. Since the nation's growth depends on the health of America's children, eliminating child hunger should be a priority. Like a vaccine, good nutrition can prevent health problems and increase American productivity with the cooperation of public and private food assistance programs …show more content…

Cooking Matters participants learn to shop strategically, use nutrition information to make healthier food choices, and cook delicious, affordable meals. The No Kid Hungry campaign works to shine a national spotlight on the crisis of childhood hunger in America, creating a powerful movement of individuals committed to bold action. We build partnerships that enlist influential individuals in the cause and advocate policy changes needed to achieve our goals

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