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Background: The US Latino/a population disproportionately lives in poverty and experiences household food insecurity, especially households with children. The Household Food Security Survey Module (FSSM) was originally developed among rural White women. Despite wide use in English and Spanish, how well the FSSM captures the food insecurity experiences of Latino/a households is not well known., Objective: This study explored how Latino/a caregivers understood, interpreted, and perceived FSSM items and responses, and how well quantitative FSSM responses captured their reported food insecurity experiences., Design: Trained researchers conducted in-depth cognitive interviews in a qualitative study., Participants and Setting: Interviews were conducted between October 2021 and August 2022 with Latino/a adults (N = 62) experiencing food insecurity while caring for a child (aged 18 years or younger) in the same household, and living in California, New York, or Texas., Statistical Analysis Performed: Qualitative analysis using iterative summaries for data reduction focused on item interpretation, response patterns, and cross-cutting themes., Results: Participants generally understood FSSM items as intended. The most salient findings were themes that applied across multiple FSSM items rather than wording issues with specific items. Underreporting of food insecurity was linked to nonaffirmative ("never") responses to items referencing not having enough money for food while describing reliance on nonmonetary resources (eg, food assistance or food pantries); emotional sensitivity to discussing food insecurity, particularly as it related to children; stigma and emotions related to skipping meals; and limited response options that participants believed did not reflect their experiences. These issues influenced multiple items, impeding ease of responding and leading to inaccurate responses in English- and Spanish-language versions., Conclusions: Assessing coping strategies and providing more acceptable response options could enhance FSSM validity. Considering emic perspectives of Latino/a caregivers and how food access experiences differ from quantitative survey measures of food security could strengthen policy and programs., (Copyright © 2023 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Context Food insecurity matters for women's nutrition and health. Objective This review sought to comprehensively evaluate how food insecurity relates to a full range of dietary outcomes (food groups, total energy, macronutrients, micronutrients, and overall dietary quality) among adult women living in Canada and the United States. Data sources Peer-reviewed databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science) and gray literature sources from 1995 to 2016 were searched. Data extraction Observational studies were used to calculate a percentage difference in dietary intake for food-insecure and food-secure groups. Results Of the 24 included studies, the majority found food-insecure women had lower food group frequencies (dairy, total fruits and vegetables, total grains, and meats/meat alternatives) and intakes of macro- and micronutrients relative to food-secure women. Methodological quality varied. Among high-quality studies, food insecurity was negatively associated with dairy, fruits and vegetables, grains, meats/meats alternatives, protein, total fat, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamins A and C, and folate. Conclusions Results hold practical relevance for selecting nutritional targets in programs, particularly for nutrient-rich foods with iron and folate, which are more important for women's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To describe how characteristics of food retail stores (potential access) and other factors influence self-reported food shopping behavior (realized food access) among low-income, rural Central Appalachian women. Design and Sample Cross-sectional descriptive. Potential access was assessed through store mapping and in-store food audits. Factors influencing consumers' realized access were assessed through in-depth interviews. Results were merged using a convergent parallel mixed methods approach. Food stores ( n = 50) and adult women ( n = 9) in a rural Central Appalachian county. Results Potential and realized food access were described across five dimensions: availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability, and accommodation. Supermarkets had better availability of healthful foods, followed by grocery stores, dollar stores, and convenience stores. On average, participants lived within 10 miles of 3.9 supermarkets or grocery stores, and traveled 7.5 miles for major food shopping. Participants generally shopped at the closest store that met their expectations for food availability, price, service, and atmosphere. Participants' perceptions of stores diverged from each other and from in-store audit findings. Conclusions Findings from this study can help public health nurses engage with communities to make affordable, healthy foods more accessible. Recommendations are made for educating low-income consumers and partnering with food stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food environment poses many challenges to low-income rural residents as they struggle to sustain themselves and their families. Rural settings in the United States are characterized by poorer food access and availability, including costlier and lower-quality produce, in comparison with urban settings. The practices employed by low-income residents to cope with these rural food environments have nutritional consequences and sometimes even broader health implications. However, these practices can also be interpreted as acts of creative agency. Using insights from earlier work on the environmental determinants of food-related behaviors, and a sociological perspective on the role of individual agency in the process of structuration, this research categorizes food-related hardships, acquisition strategies, and resources, and demonstrates how food access is negotiated within the more or less flexible constraints of rural settings characterized by the unavailability of inexpensive, high-quality foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the efficacy of The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre® (THK/LCA) program to improve nutrition outcomes of low-income Texans. The THK/LCA program draws from established health promotion and nutrition education models, including the Social-Ecological Model, the Health Belief Model, and Social Cognitive Theory. Additionally, this culturally sustaining education program incorporates insights from scholars like Drs. Gloria Ladson-Billings, Django Paris, and H. Samy Alim. Central to the curriculum is the Hispanic tradition of sobremesa, emphasizing connections and information sharing around the table after a meal. THK/LCA primarily aims to serve low-income Texans facing systemic barriers to food access. THK/LCA classes are held in community spaces like libraries, health clinics, and schools, and recruitment is conducted in collaboration with community organizations. The service population is defined as individuals or families with income less than 185% of the poverty line or who live in an area designated as low-income/low-access by USDA's Food Access Research Atlas. THK/LCA is a community-engaged, peer-facilitated, interactive 6-week cooking and nutrition class series that emphasizes the selection and preparation of fresh, nutritious, and economical foods in alignment with traditional foodways. Pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up surveys were administered to obtain information on program completion, meals provided, changes in fruit and vegetable intake, nutrition knowledge, cooking skills, and home-cooked meal preparation. Counts and percentages were determined using Tableau data analysis software. Three hundred and sixty-five Texans participated in THK/LCA classes, with 196 participants completing all 6 classes in a series. The equivalent of 4,851 meals were provided to participants. Most participants reported increases in fruit and vegetable consumption (80%), nutrition knowledge (89%), cooking skills (86%), and cooking more meals at home (80%). THK/LCA has demonstrated success in improving access to fresh and nutritious foods among low-income people living in Texas. Next steps will include an evaluation of program expansion efforts. None [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mexican-origin women in the U.S. living in colonias (new-destination Mexican-immigrant communities) along the Texas-Mexico border suffer from a high incidence of food insecurity and diet-related chronic disease. Understanding environmental factors that influence food-related behaviors among this population will be important to improving the well-being of colonia households. This article focuses on cultural repertoires that enable food choice and the everyday uses of technology in food-related practice by Mexican-immigrant women in colonia households under conditions of material hardship. Findings are presented within a conceptual framework informed by concepts drawn from sociological accounts of technology, food choice, culture, and material hardship. Methods: Field notes were provided by teams of promotora-researchers (indigenous community health workers) and public-health professionals trained as participant observers. They conducted observations on three separate occasions (two half-days during the week and one weekend day) within eight family residences located in colonias near the towns of Alton and San Carlos, Texas. English observations were coded inductively and early observations stressed the importance of technology and material hardship in food-related behavior. These observations were further explored and coded using the qualitative data package Atlas.ti. Results: Technology included kitchen implements used in standard and adapted configurations and household infrastructure. Residents employed tools across a range of food-related activities identified as forms of food acquisition, storage, preparation, serving, feeding and eating, cleaning, and waste processing. Material hardships included the quality, quantity, acceptability, and uncertainty dimensions of food insecurity, and insufficient consumption of housing, clothing and medical care. Cultural repertoires for coping with material hardship included reliance on inexpensive staple foods and dishes, and conventional and innovative technological practices. These repertoires expressed the creative agency of women colonia residents. Food-related practices were constrained by climate, animal and insect pests, women's gender roles, limitations in neighborhood and household infrastructure, and economic and material resources. Conclusions: This research points to the importance of socioeconomic and structural factors such as gender roles, economic poverty and material hardship as constraints on food choice and food-related behavior. In turn, it emphasizes the innovative practices employed by women residents of colonias to prepare meals under these constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of an adequate household food supply is critical for the older population. There is little work that has examined food security and the influence of nativity on food security among older Mexican Americans living along the Texas-Mexico border. Using data from 140 older women (age ≥ 50 y) who participated in the 2009 Colonia Household and Community Food Resource Assessment (C-HCFRA), we examined demographic characteristics, health characteristics, food access and mobility, federal and community food and nutrition assistance programs, quality of food environment, food security, eating behaviors, and alternative food sources. 77% of participants experienced food insecurity, with 68% experiencing very low food security. Very low food security was associated with being born in Mexico, adjusting for household income and food assistance program participation. This article provides compelling evidence for enhanced research efforts that will better understand coping strategies and the use of food and nutrition assistance programs for reducing hardship associated with very low food security among older U.S.- and Mexico-born Mexican American women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food insecurity is a critical problem in the United States and throughout the world. There is little published data that provides insights regarding the extent and severity of food insecurity among the hard-to-reach Mexican-origin families who reside in the growing colonias along the Texas border with Mexico. Considering that culture, economics, and elements of the environment may increase the risk for food insecurity and adverse health outcomes, the purpose of this study was to examine the relation between household and community characteristics and food insecurity. Methods: The study used data from the 2009 Colonia Household and Community Food Resource Assessment (CHCFRA). The data included 610 face-to-face interviews conducted in Spanish by promotoras (indigenous community health workers) in forty-four randomly-identified colonias near the towns of Progreso and La Feria in Hidalgo and Cameron counties along the Texas border with Mexico. C-HCFRA included demographic characteristics, health characteristics, food access and mobility, food cost, federal and community food and nutrition assistance programs, perceived quality of the food environment, food security, eating behaviors, and alternative food sources. Results: 78% of participants experienced food insecurity at the level of household, adult, or child. The most severe - child food insecurity was reported by 49% of all households and 61.8% of households with children. Increasing levels of food insecurity was associated with being born in Mexico, increasing household composition, decreasing household income, and employment. Participation in federal food assistance programs was associated with reduced severity of food insecurity. Greater distance to their food store and perceived quality of the community food environment increased the odds for food insecurity. Conclusions: The Mexican-origin population is rapidly expanding; record numbers of individuals and families are experiencing food insecurity; and for those living in rural or underserved areas such as the colonias, the worst forms of food insecurity are an ongoing reality. The rates of households with adult and child food insecurity in this border area are alarming and among the highest reported. Clearly, systematic and sustained action on federal, state, and community levels is needed to reduce household, adult, and child food insecurity that integrates cultural tailoring of interventions and programs to address food and management skills, multi-sector partnerships and networks, expansion of food and nutrition assistance programs, and enhanced research efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "The Relationship Between Dietary Quality and Food Insecurity for a Sample of Low-Income Mothers" by Cassandra Johnson et al. is presented.

Abstract: There is a paucity of studies acknowledging the existence of alternative food sources, and factors associated with food purchasing from three common alternative sources: vendedores (mobile food vendors), pulgas (flea markets), and vecinos/amigos (neighbors/friends). This analysis aims to examine the use of alternative food sources by Mexican-origin women from Texas-border colonias and determine factors associated with their use. The design was cross-sectional. Promotora-researchers (promotoras de salud trained in research methods) recruited 610 Mexican-origin women from 44 colonias and conducted in-person surveys. Surveys included participant characteristics and measures of food environment use and household food security. Statistical analyses included separate logistic regressions, modeled for food purchase from mobile food vendors, pulgas, or neighbors/friends. Child food insecurity was associated with purchasing food from mobile food vendors, while household food security was associated with using pulgas or neighbors/friends. School nutrition program participants were more likely to live in households that depend on alternative food sources. Efforts to increase healthful food consumption such as fruits and vegetables should acknowledge all potential food sources (traditional, convenience, nontraditional, and alternative), especially those preferred by colonia residents. Current findings support the conceptual broadening of the retail food environment, and the importance of linking use with spatial access (proximity) to more accurately depict access to food sources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To determine the efficacy of the Bobcat Bounty (BCB) food pantry to address food security among international college students. BCB provides free groceries, recipes, and information about campus and community resources. Following a socio-ecological design, a team of students completed weekly reflections and discusses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to food security and the current BCB operations. BCB shoppers identifying as international students, approximately one-third of BCB participants. BCB is a student-led food pantry supporting students and staff at Texas State University (TXST). This program was launched in 2018 by the Food Security Learning Community within the Nutrition and Foods Program. To describe the needs experienced by international college students, BCB recruited current international students accessing BCB to participate in a series of virtual focus groups. Zoom focus groups were designed to collect information about BCB services. Trained moderators led three focus groups using a semi-structured guide. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed. Analysis included peer debriefing and coding, with a two-coder structure. The initial theme structure included content and construct themes of social ecology and food security. Eighteen international graduate students (22-32 years old) participated in focus groups. Preliminary findings suggest a strong reliance on BCB services, including weekly grocery-style pantries, recipes, distribution of cooking utensils, and information about campus services. Findings highlighted opportunities to integrate BCB with University student services to further address campus food security. Additionally, participants discussed many barriers to campus food security, including access to culturally appropriate foods, and identified an advocacy opportunity for BCB to facilitate communication with university administration. BCB is an essential resource and is protective against food insecurity on the university campus. Next steps will include identifying ways to increase access to culturally appropriate foods and creating forums to discuss food security issues among international students at TXST. NIFA; University Advancement fundraising campaign donations, Texas State University [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Latino/a population is a large and fast-growing population in the country, which has experienced a disproportionate burden of food insecurity compared with the national average. There is a need to understand how Latino/a parents use different strategies to maintain food security. To understand the food security management and coping strategies of Latino/a households through in-depth interviews. A qualitative study with remote in-depth interviews, conducted in Texas (Oct. 2021-Aug. 2022), with Latino/a parents and caregivers living in Central Texas. Trained interviewers used an interview guide (≈75 minutes/interview). Data came from a multi-site study with cognitive and exploratory interviews related to food insecurity. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was completed through transcript review, summary sheets, coding, and peer-debriefing. A codebook was developed based on prior experience, the literature, and rounds of initial coding and discussion. The goal of analysis was to identify common patterns and develop themes and subthemes. Twenty Latino/a parents and caregivers completed interviews (16 female and 4 male participants). Most participants were Mexican heritage and spoke primarily English (3 Spanish speakers). Overall, participants described similar food security management and coping strategies, despite differences in lifecourse experiences or household characteristics. Inflation and rising food prices, the COVID-19 pandemic, and global events affected food choices and access to food assistance. Strategies included limiting or rationing food, skipping meals, value food shopping strategies, food assistance from food pantries/banks, churches, and federal food assistance programs, such as SNAP or WIC. Some participants described challenges accessing federal food assistance programs, such as eligibility restrictions. External factors exacerbated food insecurity, but community resources, like food banks/food pantries, and federal programs, like SNAP or WIC, were important to maintain food security. Given reauthorization of important nutrition policies, this study contributes additional evidence for strengthening nutrition and food assistance programs. Future work is needed to understand how management or coping strategies for Latino/a households. USDA This research is supported by the Food Security 25 Small Grant Program, funded through U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service in collaboration with Tufts University and University of Missouri (59-4000-0-0067, subaward #AG9033). This research is also supported by U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture under award number 2021-77040-34877 (Nutrition LEADers Learning Community). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]