There is no shame in seeking support to ensure you and your family have enough nutritious food to live full, active and healthy lives.
About 1 in 9 working-age Veterans faces food insecurity. Like millions of other Americans, many Veterans are forced to choose between necessities like purchasing food, paying rent or keeping up with their bills.
But it’s important to understand that you aren’t alone if you’re experiencing challenges with accessing healthy and affordable food. Learn more about food insecurity and what resources and services are available to support you.
What Is Food Insecurity?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods.
With the rising costs of food, child care and health care, Veterans can experience food insecurity the same way any person can, but Veterans may face it for additional reasons, including:
- A difficult transition to civilian life – Finding a job and permanent housing can take some time after transitioning out of the military.
- Physical or mental health conditions – Some Veterans manage physical and mental health conditions from their time in the military, which can make it difficult to secure steady employment.
- Spouse unemployment or underemployment – During their time in the military, a Veteran’s spouse or partner may have been underemployed or unemployed because of relocations, deployments or other reasons connected to your military service.
What Resources Are Available to Help?
Dealing with food insecurity can feel isolating, but millions of people from every county in the U.S. experience it every day.
You aren’t alone and there is no shame in seeking support to ensure you and your family have enough nutritious food to live full, active and healthy lives.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Food Security Office aims to improve food security, access to nutritious diets and healthful nutrition education for Veterans. Some helpful resources include:
- A self-screening tool Veterans can use to determine whether they need assistance
- Access to registered dietician nutritionists to help Veterans plan low-cost meals and shop on a budget
- Social workers who can connect Veterans with local resources and help them apply for benefits and services
- Educational handouts such as a daily meal plan example, filled with healthy foods for $5.63 per day, and more healthy and low-cost eating ideas using canned and dried foods
The USDA also offers several resources aimed at nutrition security, including:
- 16 federal nutrition assistance programs you may qualify for such as:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to families to supplement their grocery budget to afford nutritious food. Click on your state within the SNAP State Directory of Resources to find contact and application information.
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, which provides supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education for pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk.
- Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids, which offers free meals at neighborhood locations, grocery benefits to families, meal deliveries and more depending on your location.
- USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse, a hunger hotline available by phone or text. Speak to a representative who can help you find food resources near you.
Feeding America has a lot of great resources as well, including:
Blue Star Families has additional food insecurity resources, such as
You don’t have to suffer in silence. If you’re struggling to provide enough nutritious food for you and your family, reach out and get the support you need.