1 in 5 Children Face Food Insecurity — And the Trend Is Getting Worse
The newest data should stop us in our tracks.
The USDA Economic Research Service has released its annual report, Household Food Security in the United States in 2023, and the findings are alarming: 1 in 5 children in the U.S. now live in food-insecure households.
That’s nearly 14 million children facing hunger — carrying uncertainty about food into their classrooms, their health, and their daily lives.
What’s most concerning isn’t just the number.
It’s the direction.
After years of progress, child food insecurity is rising again.
Hunger Is a System Failure
Food insecurity is often framed as a personal problem, but the data tells a different story. Many affected families are working, earning too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to keep up with rising food and living costs.
Hunger isn’t caused by a lack of care.
It’s caused by systems that leave families behind.
Why This Matters
When children don’t have reliable access to food, the impact is immediate: difficulty learning, increased stress, poor health, and unnecessary shame tied to something completely out of their control.
No child should worry about lunch.
No child should be embarrassed for needing food.
Where We Go From Here
This report is a warning. Without stronger policies and protections around nutrition and school meals, more children will continue to fall through the cracks.
Food security is not optional — it’s foundational.
Every child deserves meals at school without fear, stigma, or debt.
No shame. No debt. Feed kids. Period.
