Dietary Restrictions as a Source of Food Insecurity among FGCU Students, Faculty, and Staff

Abstract

Food insecurity is an issue that creates several challenges for individuals, including health complications, eating disorders, loss of productivity, and reduced ability. While food insecurity tends to be associated with poverty, unemployment, or lack of available food, dietary restrictions may also lead to food insecurity in places where food is otherwise plentiful. Dietary restrictions from allergies, cultural/ religious belief systems, and lifestyle choices could prevent access to food resulting in food insecurity. For example, halal requires believers to follow religious guidelines when eating. People who eat halal food avoid pork, alcohol, and dead animals, and only eat meals that are prepared according to Islamic law. As a result, a person practicing halal could experience food insecurity in places where their dietary considerations are not met. This study consists of a self-perception survey to better understand individuals’ dietary requirements, access to food, and the perceived effects of skipping meals on academic performance, professional work, and mental health. Results show that 70.8% of the participants have some form of dietary restrictions with the common forms coming from allergies (62.1%), personal preferences (31.8%), and cultural/religious beliefs (6.1%). The vast majority of participants with dietary restrictions described some difficulties finding food on campus with some saying that they could not find any appropriate food options. This study seems to indicate that dietary restrictions could be a factor leading to food insecurity, which also affects academic performance and physical and mental health. As a result, we need to invest in more food options, better labeling, and improved education to alleviate the detrimental effects of dietary restrictions on food insecurity.