For my first action project in MDG's I wrote an essay about hunger and why I think it is a big problem.
Jonathan Sacks once said, “Close to a billion people - one-eighth of the world's population - still, live in hunger. Each year 2 million children die through malnutrition. This is happening at a time when doctors in Britain are warning of the spread of obesity. We are eating too much while others starve” (borgenproject.org). What does this have to do with hunger, you might ask? This quote means over 2 million children die from starvation, but some people are very obese, and all the food that people are wasting could go to the starving. I feel that food is a human right because we need food to stay nourished and healthy; food is not only a necessity but a human need.
In Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, food falls under physiological needs. A physiological need is something that is necessary to survive. The consequence of a lack of food can result in increased mortality rates and poorer school outcomes. " Additionally, 49 million Americans struggle to put food on the table"(Dosomething.org). I believe this is because of money and lack of resources. If jobs paid more than minimum wage, I do not think putting food on the table would be a problem (Dosomething.org). Food deserts are also a part of the reason we have hunger in poorer communities. What is a food desert? A food desert is an area where grocery stores and shops that sell fresh food are too far away. Food deserts can be a problem because kids would rather go to their local gas station and get unhealthy food. The benefits of improved food accessibility are, better health outcomes, a decrease in crime, and improved education outcomes for students.
In elementary education, nutrition programs for students can help with health and learning issues. Most schools have breakfast before school, but for students who struggle to get to school on time, this may be a problem. In a nutrition program where teachers and principals have breakfast in the classroom, the following resulted were reported: "student alertness (76%), better attendance (57%), fewer disciplinary problems (54%), fewer visits to the school nurse (55%) and fewer tardy students (49%)" (learningfirst.org). Behavior and health improvement were noted as an all around improvement to the school.
Working to bring larger grocery stores to neighborhoods and also providing accessibility to farmer’s markets could decrease hunger and help keep people healthy. Grocery stores help circulate money into the community and bring jobs. Green space for community gardens bring people together and farmers markets allow access to fresh foods. Since SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participants have access to farmers markets sales nationwide, sales have topped $11.7 million. (Policylink.org)
In conclusion, I believe that food should be human right because we need it to survive. There is significant proof that kids without food do worse in school than children that are properly nourished. I think money plays a big part in why children go hungry.
Works Cited
"10 Quotes on World Hunger - The Borgen Project." N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2016. borgenproject.org/10-quotes-world-hunger.
"49 Million Americans Struggle to Put Food on the Table." N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2016. webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20110907/49-million-americans-struggle-to.
Bell, Judith, MPA, et. al. "Access to Healthy Food- Why It Matters." Policylink.org. Policy Link/ The Food Trust, Nov. 2
"Students Too Hungry to Learn: A Challenge We Can Solve ..." N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2016. learningfirst.org/students-too-hungry-learn-challenge-we-can-solve>.
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| Carleetur. 18 August 2014. Stop Hunger Now. Web:wikimediacommons |
In Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, food falls under physiological needs. A physiological need is something that is necessary to survive. The consequence of a lack of food can result in increased mortality rates and poorer school outcomes. " Additionally, 49 million Americans struggle to put food on the table"(Dosomething.org). I believe this is because of money and lack of resources. If jobs paid more than minimum wage, I do not think putting food on the table would be a problem (Dosomething.org). Food deserts are also a part of the reason we have hunger in poorer communities. What is a food desert? A food desert is an area where grocery stores and shops that sell fresh food are too far away. Food deserts can be a problem because kids would rather go to their local gas station and get unhealthy food. The benefits of improved food accessibility are, better health outcomes, a decrease in crime, and improved education outcomes for students.
In elementary education, nutrition programs for students can help with health and learning issues. Most schools have breakfast before school, but for students who struggle to get to school on time, this may be a problem. In a nutrition program where teachers and principals have breakfast in the classroom, the following resulted were reported: "student alertness (76%), better attendance (57%), fewer disciplinary problems (54%), fewer visits to the school nurse (55%) and fewer tardy students (49%)" (learningfirst.org). Behavior and health improvement were noted as an all around improvement to the school.
Working to bring larger grocery stores to neighborhoods and also providing accessibility to farmer’s markets could decrease hunger and help keep people healthy. Grocery stores help circulate money into the community and bring jobs. Green space for community gardens bring people together and farmers markets allow access to fresh foods. Since SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participants have access to farmers markets sales nationwide, sales have topped $11.7 million. (Policylink.org)
In conclusion, I believe that food should be human right because we need it to survive. There is significant proof that kids without food do worse in school than children that are properly nourished. I think money plays a big part in why children go hungry.
Works Cited
"10 Quotes on World Hunger - The Borgen Project." N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2016. borgenproject.org/10-quotes-world-hunger.
"49 Million Americans Struggle to Put Food on the Table." N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2016. webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20110907/49-million-americans-struggle-to.
Bell, Judith, MPA, et. al. "Access to Healthy Food- Why It Matters." Policylink.org. Policy Link/ The Food Trust, Nov. 2
"Students Too Hungry to Learn: A Challenge We Can Solve ..." N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2016. learningfirst.org/students-too-hungry-learn-challenge-we-can-solve>.
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