Louisiana is one of the most culturally diverse communities in the southern United States. The continued integration of different cultures means there is a wide range of incredible music, art, and delicious foods to enjoy. Despite the state’s culinary pride, Louisiana has one of the highest percentages of food insecurity in the country. That number steadily rose upon the COVID-19 outbreak, with 21% of Louisiana households being food insecure and 15% being food insufficient, according to the Food Insecurity Insights Report. These numbers are much higher than the national average of 16% food-insecure and 10% food insufficient homes.

Food insecurity is defined as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life” by the organization Feeding Louisiana. About 930,000 people across Louisiana are food insecure, with almost a third of them being children. As of today, East Carroll Parish is ranked the highest in child hunger in the country. The pandemic, rising poverty rates, and the lack of available and affordable food staples are some of the contributing factors of these incredibly high numbers. Pre-pandemic, New Orleans was rated one of the worst food deserts in the country, the decreasing number of grocery stores meaning that the access to healthy foods is rapidly dropping. Because of this families have had to make exceptions to their grocery budgets, replacing healthy options with highly processed, cheap alternatives or fast foods to feed themselves. The decrease in proper nutrition can lead to many health issues, both physical and mental, in both children and adults.

While the physical effects of an improper diet can be easily presented, the effects on a child’s mental health can often be overlooked. Diets filled with large amounts of trans fats, sugar, and airy junk food like chips can contribute to disrupted sleep patterns. Lack of proper sleep leads to attention issues as well as problems relating to depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that more fresh fruits and vegetables in a child’s diet is associated with better overall mental wellbeing, as these foods are rich in various vitamins and minerals.

Regular nutritious meals are also directly related to better education. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that eating healthy breakfasts before or at school is associated with improved cognitive function, especially memory. It was also noted that the stability of regularly eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance and test scores among children. Local and federal programs that provide school children with healthy and nutritious breakfasts and lunches are incredibly helpful to food insecure families, ensuring that children are receiving proper nutrition that will help them both in the short and long term. It also gives parents the security of knowing that their children have steady meals during most of the week.



Eating well should be a right, not a privilege. All families and children should be able to have access to nutritious, healthy foods. Not only will eating better positively affect the physical needs of growing children, but it also addresses their growing mental states. The National School Lunch Program, the Child and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP), and the Summer Feeding Service Program (SFSP) are incredible organizations that are working diligently to provide healthy snacks and meals to all children, regardless of socioeconomic status, so that the large gap between food-secure and insecure families is bridged.