Thursday, August 11, 2011

Every Day Miracles - Cereal and Ramen Noodles

                    
“Food insecurity” is a term that is being used more often in relation to children who are living in poverty.  Food insecurity occurs when “the food intake of one or more household members is reduced and their eating patterns are disrupted at times during the year because the household lacked money and other resources for food.”

At first glance, it would just seem that food insecurity is simply another word for “hunger.”  And while this may be something that happens in “those other countries far away,” many don’t think it is something that we need to worry about in Lorain County. 

Let me tell you a little more about food insecurity, as seen through the eyes of our children and families.

Food insecurity is cereal and ramen noodles.  When I asked one of our school age children one time what her favorite meal was, she said, “Cereal and ramen noodles.”  She was the oldest in a family of 5 and had a hard time coming up with other foods she ate at home.

Food insecurity is worrying about what is going to be for snack before lunch is even finished.  Or worrying about breakfast the next morning before baths were even finished that night.  Children who have been hungry are preoccupied with when they will eat next and can’t seem to stop worrying about their next meal.

Food insecurity is wanting to have seconds, thirds or more of foods they are not used to getting.  It may be meat loaf or mashed potatoes.  Once in a while it’s even green beans or tomatoes.  They want to eat when they know the food is there because they just don’t trust it will be there tomorrow.

Food insecurity is asking to take food home with them.   Children see food that hasn’t been eaten or food that has been donated and ask if they can have it or take it home when they leave.  Some will even try to sneak it and take it with them when they leave the dinner table. 

Food insecurity and good nutrition are major issues with many of our children.  Children come from homes where they are not able to receive regular healthy meals because their moms just don’t have enough resources to buy all of the food they need for the whole family.  Or they don’t eat balanced meals because Mom can’t get transportation to the grocery store to buy the milk and vegetables her children needs.  Or Mom can’t cook because she doesn’t have a stove or a refrigerator to keep her food from spoiling.

Recently during dinner at the house, H. asked for a third helping of macaroni and cheese and couldn’t understand why Miss K. wouldn’t give it to her.  Miss K. knew that 2 helpings were enough for H. because she had been having digestive problems all week.  H. was not used to eating healthy meals at home and would try to make up for her lack of food all at once by eating too much.  She had been having problems with her digestive system all week and it would take time to get her system used to eating regular healthy meals once again. 

We recently were taking J.,  a young boy home after a visit to Blessing House and he did not want to go home.  He cried all of the way and just kept repeating, “I don’t want to go home.”  When we arrived at his home, we began to gather some of the donations that we brought with us to give to the family.  We tried to get J. excited about his return home by asking him to carry the toys he had received. 

J. stopped crying for a moment, but then looked past the toys in the back of the van and pointed at a bag on the floor.  J. knew that the bag had snacks and drinks leftover from an outing.  He wanted to know if he could have them.

Sr. Mary gathered his things and handed him the bag with the “Lil Hugs” drinks.  J. stopped crying and started walking toward his home with his bag.  The toys didn’t seem to matter nearly as much as his bag.

Food insecurity is another term for hunger, and there are children in Lorain County who are hungry or who don’t eat properly because they don’t have access to the right foods.  So much of their development is affected by what they eat and many agencies in Lorain County have devoted their resources to helping these families learn about nutrition and how to get food.

Children don’t stand a chance to develop, to learn, to be able to deal with the difficulties they encounter if their bodies are focused only on the food it needs to survive.

There are children who are hungry.
Right here in Lorain County.

Please continue to help our kids by supporting Lorain County Foodbank and the local food pantries and hot meals programs throughout the year.

 Your donations do make a difference.
Our children need our help.




  


1 comment:

  1. Hello,
    I have a gaming system PS 2 that I bought from someone in a pinch. They needed a few bucks. I do not use it or need it. I would like for you to have it for the kids. If you would want it just give me a call on my cell. 216-225-1054
    Thanks,
    Rich Pryor

    ReplyDelete