Dietary Patterns and Prevalence of Food Insecurity Among Low‐Income Families Participating in Community Food Assistance Programs in a Midwest Town

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the dietary patterns and prevalence of food insecurity in low‐income families participating in community food assistance programs. A total of 236 head of households are selected as a convenience sample and interviewed using the Radimer/Cornell Hunger Questionnaire and food frequency table. Pearson Chi‐square is used to analyze the prevalence of food insecurity and the association between food insecurity and dietary intake. Fifty‐one percent of households with children are food secure, 24.3% are food insecure without hunger, 12.2% are food insecure with moderate hunger, and 12.2% report food insecurity with severe hunger. Ten percent of households without children are food insecure with moderate hunger, and 5% report food insecurity with severe hunger. Results also show that consumption of foods from the food groups recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture decreases as the presence of food insecurity increases.