Food Insecurity in the Rural United States: An Examination of Struggles and Coping Mechanisms to Feed a Family among Households with a Low-Income

Abstract

Households with a low-income in rural places experience disproportionate levels of food insecurity. Further research is needed about the nuances in strategies that households with a low-income in rural areas apply to support food security nationally. This study aimed to understand the barriers and strategies that households with a low-income in rural areas experience to obtain a meal and support food security in the United States. We conducted a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews among 153 primary grocery shoppers with a low-income residing in rural counties. A majority of family’s ideal meals included animal-based protein, grains, and vegetables. Main themes included struggles to secure food and coping mechanisms. Ten categories included affordability, adequacy, accommodation, appetite, time, food source coordinating, food resource management, reduced quality, rationing for food, and exceptional desperation. These results can inform public health professionals’ efforts when partnering to alleviate food insecurity in rural areas.

Regional Variability in the Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Diet Quality among United States Children

“…This aligns with a recent report highlighting that food insecurity was most prevalent in principal cities located within large urban areas compared to rural areas [ 43 ]. Nevertheless, this finding is contrary to some previous research findings [ 44 , 45 , 46 ], revealing that children living in rural areas have higher rates of food insecurity than children living in urban areas. However, it is also important to note that the difference in food insecurity status between urban and rural children was not statistically significant after controlling for other factors, such as household income and race/ethnicity.…”

Which Program Implementation Factors Lead to more Fruit and Vegetable Purchases? An Exploratory Analysis of Nutrition Incentive Programs across the United States

“…A qualitative study among food insecurity experts suggested that although the high cost of nutrient-rich foods is a barrier encountered by SNAP participants, enhancing nutrition education with more flexible formats (e.g., point -of-purchase prompts like recipe demonstrations) in tandem with incentives may lead to greater impact when compared with programs offering incentives alone [ 39 ]. It is also important to acknowledge that not all individuals with a low income want or need traditional/didactic nutrition education, affordability is the most limiting factor to a healthy diet, and other supports can help [ 5 , 7 , 9 , [10] , [11] , 40 ]. For instance, another NTAE case study reported that many NI grantees also provide participants with assistance in navigating incentive earning and redemption, as a part of nutrition education [ 41 ].…”

Associations between daily food insecurity and parent and child well-being.

“…The majority of participants are Latinx and participated in at least one federal food assistance program. The implications of food insecurity in rural communities are under-researched (Byker Shanks et al, 2022). Although rates of food insecurity in rural areas mimic rates in urban areas (Coleman-Jensen et al, 2020), communities with the highest prevalence of food insecurity are disproportionately rural (Hake et al, 2022).…”