P152 - Food Insecurity, Food Skills, and Household Food Availability Among Emerging Adults

Abstract

Background (Background, Rationale, Prior Research, and/or Theory): Research regarding the involvement of emerging adults in household food activities is lacking to inform strategies for reducing food insecurity. Objective: This study examines the prevalence of food insecurity among a population-based sample of emerging adults (18–25 years) and associations with food skills and household food availability. Study Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention: Household food situations are being assessed as part of EAT 2010–2018, a follow-up study of young people recruited at secondary schools in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota in 2009–2010. Follow-up survey collection will be completed in spring 2018. Preliminary data include the responses of 868 participants (59% female, 72% ethnic minority). Outcome Measures and Analysis: Participants were asked to report confidence to plan meals, follow a recipe, prepare a meal from items on hand; use basic cooking techniques, and stay within a food budget; frequency of eating home-prepared meals; food shopping involvement; and at-home healthy food availability. Analysis identified participants as food insecure if they had ever been hungry or eaten less than they should in the past year because there was inadequate money for food. Results: Preliminary analyses indicate the overall prevalence of food insecurity was 31%. Approximately one quarter to more than half of these food-insecure participants reported lacking confidence to perform food preparation activities; however, confidence in food skills did not differ by food security status. Mean frequency of eating meals prepared at home and food shopping involvement also did not differ by food security status. In contrast, food-insecure participants were less likely to report they usually had fruit, vegetables, and whole-grain bread available at home. For example, fresh fruit was usually available to approximately 70% of those who were food secure versus only about half of food-insecure participants (P < .001). Conclusions and Implications: Deficits in food skills are common but not disproportionately high among emerging adults that experience food insecurity. Funding: NIH.