Currently one in nine adults and one in eight children in Utah struggle with food insecurity, according to Feeding America.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes food insecurity as the lack of a consistent, dependable access to adequate food for active, healthy living.
We talked with Jaime Montuoro, Pharmacy Director at Smith's Food & Drug, who says there are real health consequences for people who don't have access to healthy meals.
The health effects of food insecurity include obesity, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety. It has also been found to be an important precursor to poor health, which includes increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
She says even in a non-coronavirus environment, hungry children struggle in school and suffer from higher rates of mental health challenges.
To combat this, Smith's is working with the American Heart Association to address nutrition insecurity in our community.
In honor of Heart Month, Fox 13 is proud to partner with Smith's and the American Heart Association to Fight Hunger With Heart this February.
Please consider donating $1 at checkout on your next shopping trip. Together we can help ensure Utahns get the healthy food they need.
For more information please visit smithsfoodanddrug.com and heart.org.
