The Greater Chicago Food Depository’s home-delivered meal program.
Dr. Monica Peek is an associate professor at the University of Chicago and a board member for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Dr. John Jay Shannon is a principal with the national research and strategy firm Health Management Associates, former CEO of Cook County Health and a board member for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
It is not uncommon for persons with diabetes to be hospitalized with dangerously low levels of blood glucose because they haven’t had access to enough food. Food insecurity is a contributor to chronic diseases that are disproportionately borne by persons with low incomes and limited life opportunities. Food insecurity itself is a symptom of poverty, and in the United States, of structural racism, of systemic inequity.
In our combined 60 years of practicing medicine, we’ve seen firsthand the effects of food insecurity and hunger. It’s an older adult who struggles to manage his diabetes or hypertension, a child with developmental delays, an expectant mother without the means to get proper, consistent nutrition for herself and her baby.
One in five households in the Chicago metro area experiences food insecurity, including one in four families with children, according to Northwestern University economists. That means hundreds of thousands of our neighbors have limited or unreliable access to nutritionally adequate food. Food insecurity affects Black and Latino households at nearly double the rate of white households.
Food insecurity gained attention early in the COVID-19 pandemic, as we saw daily images of Americans lined up by the thousands at emergency food distributions. The truth is, a hunger crisis existed long before COVID-19, and the need today remains well above pre-pandemic levels.
The solutions to food insecurity can be so simple. Put nutritious, affordable and culturally relevant food within reach of all people. Pair the food with education and innovations that incentivize healthy choices.
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The health care sector can play an important role in this work. Health systems and health plans are increasingly aware of the consequences and costs of food insecurity and are experimenting with new approaches. We have an opportunity to make progress by creating systems that keep people healthy and prevent complications of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease with access to the right foods.
An important step for health systems is to normalize food insecurity screening questions for all patient visits. Just as providers ask about tobacco use, we should also ask simple questions to identify food insecurity.
Patients at risk of food insecurity should be referred to resources. Some hospitals and clinics offer free groceries from in-house pantries or mobile food distributions. Importantly, patients should be assisted with applications to public benefits programs like the critically important Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC). Those with specific challenges may qualify for home-delivered meals.
Organizations like the Greater Chicago Food Depository have been pioneering this type of work in partnership with community clinics and federally qualified health centers. The health care sector should make these interventions more universal by integrating them into routine screening and referral workflows. Health systems must also invest in and train case managers, social workers, peer navigators and community health workers critical to supporting patients affected by this sadly common social driver of health.
Elected and government officials must also do more. In late September, the White House hosted its Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. This event was the first of its kind in more than 50 years. Recommendations included increased access to free school meals; making sure children have access to nutrition when school is out by expanding the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program; simplified application and recertification processes for SNAP and WIC; additional meal supports for older adults; and an expanded child tax credit. We also recommend improvements to SNAP benefit allotments that would ensure benefits are adequate to afford a nutritious diet through the whole month.
At the local level, Illinois can join other states piloting medically tailored meal programs to reduce health care costs and improve outcomes for people with chronic health conditions. Illinois can also make progress in school breakfast implementation, in which we currently rank 37th among states. This can be improved by expanding the number of schools operating flexible modes of breakfast service.
We live in the wealthiest nation in the world at the wealthiest point in its history. The need among our neighbors is immense, but we are surrounded by opportunities, knowledge and resources. The moment is here to change how we prevent and treat food insecurity.
Dr. Monica Peek is an associate professor at the University of Chicago and a board member for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Dr. John Jay Shannon is a principal with the national research and strategy firm Health Management Associates, former CEO of Cook County Health and a board member for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
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