Good Graph Friday: Who's going hungry

USDA

By Allison Linn

At some point last year, about 17 million U.S. households had some difficulty feeding everyone in their family.

That amounts to 14.5 percent of U.S. households, according to a report released last month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The percentage of households who experienced food insecurity in 2010 was virtually unchanged from 2009. But it has risen by about 3 percentage points since 2007, the year the country officially went into recession.

The report classifies people as food insecure if they’ve had trouble feeding their family at some point during the year.

A subset of that group, comprised of about 6.4 million households, were classified as having very low food security. That means that at some point during the year someone in the house went hungry.

The report found that about 16.2 million children were living in food-insecure households. Still, the report noted that children are often shielded from hunger by the adults in the home.

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Do you struggle with the cost of food?

Results with 139 short comments
Total of 9,871 votes - click on the "Display Comments" bar below to sort comments

57.1%
Yes, I have to budget carefully
5,639 votes
42.9%
No, I pretty much buy what I want
4,232 votes
Display Comments:
No, I pretty much buy what I want

I budget to buy what I want. I do lots of one pan meals with rice or noodles. Good food should be cheaper than junk food yet is not.
WHY ??

  • 18 votes
#1
 - lexiwords-1
 - 9:48 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
No, I pretty much buy what I want

then why is it the people with the FULL carts always use food stamps??would like to spend FREE money on food instead of WORKING for it.

  • 14 votes
#2
 - MIKE-679507
 - 9:57 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
Yes, I have to budget carefully

I think the numbers are much higher than this. Keep in mind, 80% of Americans are too proud to admitt they are having any financial trouble

  • 44 votes
#3
 - IvanAp
 - 10:13 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
Yes, I have to budget carefully

Mr grover & the gop policy of the rich get richer, poor poorer is taking a toll.

  • 23 votes
#4
 - marshal-2837579
 - 10:13 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
Yes, I have to budget carefully

I usually have enough to eat but often end up with food that really isn't healthy. I have a garden to help me.

  • 9 votes
#5
 - Xena22
 - 10:21 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
Yes, I have to budget carefully

The price of food keeps increasing along with other things in our ecnomic struggle.

    #6
     - LACEY88
     - 10:26 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    I do look for deals on food and will buy some off brand stuff, but taste and quality is still important

    • 6 votes
    #7
     - Kyleaarons
     - 10:35 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    Yes, I have to budget carefully

    There are millions who don't go hungry but NEED to budget carefully or they will go hungry.

    • 12 votes
    #8
     - tontosh-2444879
     - 10:39 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    Yes, I have to budget carefully

    As senior citizens we have to watch every penny. Especially with grocery prices rocketing.

    • 27 votes
    #9
     - Mrs. Georgia Peech
     - 10:41 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    Yes, I have to budget carefully

    Google "More Americans than Chinese can't put food on the table" for the real story on yahoo news.

    • 13 votes
    #10
     - pjam09
     - 10:41 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    My family is fine. It's so many others I worry about.

    • 20 votes
    #11
     - Mac Forrester
     - 10:52 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    Yes, I have to budget carefully

    I budget as carefully as I can but it is still difficult to keep the monthly bill for the groceries down.

    • 12 votes
    #12
     - Red Wolf-2228177
     - 10:53 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    This is a weird way to pose the question. I am able to buy what I want BECAUSE I budget carefully for food and all other items.

    • 14 votes
    #13
     - King V-4036787
     - 11:20 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    I am also 27 and only supporting myself. Loans and credits cards from 3 degrees though...they can be a problem

    • 4 votes
    #14
     - Alex-3861862
     - 11:28 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    If it's not on sale, we don't buy it.

    • 10 votes
    #15
     - Rustyboy-FL
     - 11:29 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    Yes, I have to budget carefully

    Call it what it is - which isn't 'food insecurity' -it's HUNGER!

    • 25 votes
    #16
     - jrae-1215199
     - 11:30 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    My family and I are very lucky! We've never gone hungry and remember that by donating food to those who are hungry.

    • 12 votes
    #17
     - Connecticutian
     - 11:35 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    Ever see a family blow $200 in food stamps on pop, hot dogs and cheetos? They get WIC too by the way. They need life skills. Not more cash

    • 13 votes
    #18
     - aLibertarianPOV
     - 11:36 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    But then again, I don't buy luxury items.

    • 9 votes
    #19
     - GedePrime-548136
     - 11:39 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    I'm fine now, but I spent a year either unemployed or underemployed and things often got rough. Luckily I had assitance from my church.

    • 8 votes
    #20
     - bass679
     - 11:42 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    No kids, good paying job, about average cost-of-living. Don't think anyone where I live has this problem, though, as it's a "big money" tow

    • 1 vote
    #21
     - Matt-3468366
     - 11:43 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    We buy pretty much what we want because we budget carefully.

    • 5 votes
    #22
     - Mac-329110
     - 11:44 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    No, I pretty much buy what I want

    I'm fortunate that I've had a job all my life, and still do. I'm 76.

    • 5 votes
    #23
     - 14domino75
     - 11:46 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
    Yes, I have to budget carefully

    I wouldn't say I'm struggling, but then again I do try to maintain a budget to live within my means.

    • 5 votes
    #24
     - lccomo
     - 11:47 am EDT on Fri Oct 14, 2011
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    Comment author avatarJust Little Old Me

    I budget all the pennies I have so that I have a few extra $$ for emergencies.. My boiler broke down the other day.. if it wasn't that I am frugal I would be in trouble... and that's how most of us try to cope with the recession..

      Reply#1 - Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:49 AM EDT
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