Hunger in the summer: seasonal food insecurity and the National School Lunch and Summer Food Service programs

Authors:
NORD Mark, ROMIG Kathleen
Journal article citation:
Journal of Children and Poverty, 12(2), September 2006, pp.141-158.
Publisher:
Routledge, part of the Taylor and Francis Group

This study examines the effects of summertime meals provided by the National School Lunch and Summer Food Service programs on households’ food insecurity. The authors use seasonal differences in the survey schedule of the Current Population Survey Food Security supplement to overcome self-selection bias. From 1995 to 2001, the survey alternated between spring and summer. Seasonal differences - higher prevalence of food insecurity in the summer - were greater for households with school-age children than for other households. Among households with school-age children, seasonal differences were greater in states providing small numbers of Summer Food Service Program meals and summertime school lunches than in other states.

Subject terms:
meal services, nutrition, poverty, children, families;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
United States
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1469-9389
ISSN print:
1079-6126

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