1. A closer look - Food insecurity in the United States
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, approximately 795 million people are chronically undernourished worldwide. Undernutrition means that a person consumes insufficient energy to meet his or her metabolic needs. Many food security organizations set this minimum at 2,000 kcal/day for a person to be well nourished.
Examine the figure depicting the food security status of U.S. households and then answer the question that follows.
1. According to the definitions used by the USDA Economic Resource Service, what percentage of U.S. households had access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all members?
86%
5.6%
8.4%
14%
2. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a rib eye steak has an energy density of approximately 2,650 kcal/kg. A person could conceivably consume 730,000 kcal/year simply by eating 275.5 kg of steak over the course of a year, or 26.5 oz every day. Would a person who did this be likely to be properly nourished, and why or why not?
No; 730,000 kcal/year is not enough food to avoid undernutrition.
No; beef is too fattening. The person would probably suffer from overnutrition.
Yes; 730,000 kcal/year is a reasonable minimum level of consumption to avoid undernutrition.
No; beef lacks some essential nutrients. The person would probably suffer from malnutrition.
3. There are many federal and local programs in the United States that aim to prevent or relieve malnutrition or undernutrition, thereby reducing the prevalence of food insecurity. Match the programs below with their major role in promoting adequate nutrition and increasing the prevalence of food security in the United States.
Organizations
Descriptions
feeding america, food pantry, or national school lunch program Meal centers which provide food at no charge to reduce food insecurity.
feeding america, food pantry, or national school lunch program Nationwide network of food banks servicing food pantries.
feeding america, food pantry, or national school lunch program Federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions.
4. The following two images show maps of the United States: The map on the left depicts prevalence of food insecurity relative to the U.S. average from 2012–2014; the map on the right depicts poverty rates throughout the United States from 2014.
5. Which region of the United States has the highest prevalence of food insecurity?
South
Southwest
Northwest
Northeast
6. Which region of the United States has the highest level of poverty?
Northwest
Southwest
South
Northeast
7. After analyzing the maps, one can conclude that higher poverty levels are linked with:
Higher levels of food security
Have no effect on food security
Lower levels of food security
