 Food hardship is not a new dilemma to Americans. Each year, people across the country struggle to afford enough food, and according to a Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) report released this month, food hardship rates are increasing.
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 Although many rural Americans grow the majority of our food supply, they are widely affected by hunger. Hunger is detrimental to the health and well-being of all food insecure people, but living in a rural area can make living with hunger even worse.
 Hunger is an issue that almost 800 million people in the world face every day. In Arizona alone, there are over 1 million people who are food insecure. The United Nations started a program to globally combat these devastating food security and malnutrition problems. September is Hunger Action Month, an opportunity to spread the word, take action on the hunger crisis, and dedicate ourselves to a solution. Join the #HungerActionMonth conversation all month long, and watch our video below for more ways you can make a difference.  Each year, the beginning of summer marks the beginning of fun, friends and a welcomed break for school children across the state. But for many Arizona students, this time of year also marks the end of daily, nutritious, and reliable meals.
Nearly half a million students in the state rely on free or reduced school lunches during the school year, according to the most recent Food Research & Action Center report. For many students, these guaranteed meals may be the only source of nutritious food they can count on each day. The school cafeteria doors may be closed for the summer, but hunger doesn’t go on vacation. March is wrapping up, which also means the end of National Nutrition Month. Put your best fork forward all year long with all of the tips and resources we covered throughout the month!
This month, we talked about how what we put on our plate nurtures us, as well as the importance of connecting with one another over a nutritious meal. Eating meals together builds bonds, and with a concentration on nutrition, can be a foundation for a lifetime commitment to healthy eating. Read this blog to learn more about how to imbue your children and teens with healthy habits that can last a lifetime. Reference these tips on how to shop for nutritious food without breaking the bank, and check out these ideas for boosting your wellness in the beautiful Arizona outdoors. We also discussed the link between eating breakfast and the academic success of elementary school children for National School Breakfast Week. Visit our blog to revisit all of our discussions about the role nutrition plays in the health of our families and communities. Also, look for information about how SNAP-participating families can get more fresh food for less at local farmers markets on our Double Up Food Bucks Arizona blog. To help make every month Nutrition Month, take a look at some of our infographics that provide more tips on nutritious foods abundant in the spring, nutritious seeds, building strong bones, and more. Not only are they informative, but also easy to share with your family, friends, and communities! We’re celebrating National Nutrition Month in March, but this week also marks the 28th National School Breakfast Week. National School Breakfast Week was founded with the goal of providing information about the federal School Breakfast Program and promoting the link between eating a healthy breakfast and improved academic performance.
Breakfast is often hailed as the most important meal of the day. A healthy breakfast sets the tone for the rest of your day and staves off the dreaded “afternoon slump,” but research also shows that breakfast is particularly vital for children’s success in school.  We’ve talked about food systems on our blog before, and its likely you’ve seen many efforts to donate to and highlight one component of our local food system: emergency food programs.
You already know that the food system refers to the production of food, policies surrounding food in communities, and our consumption habits. But what happens when our food system is not sustainable or equitable and cannot provide enough food for everyone? Unfortunately, this is the reality across America and the world today.  Last week, we talked about a central part of our work here at Pinnacle Prevention: food systems in Arizona. Our team has a vision for healthy communities across our state, and our primary way of achieving these food system goals is through systems change.
In general, systems change represents a shift in the way communities make decisions about services and programs, as well as the ways these services are delivered to citizens. This shift is made possible through partnerships and collaboration across communities, including direct community input, stakeholders and agencies. Systems change creates lasting impact on multiple levels of influence.  Graphic courtesy of Nourish Initiative, www.nourishlife.org Here at Pinnacle Prevention, much of our work revolves around local food systems in Arizona. We are all part of the food system, though most of us don’t realize it. The food system is comprised of nearly every aspect of food, including the environment in which it is grown, production, demand, processing, transport, and where it is consumed and disposed. Each and every component is complex in its own right. Our mission is to encourage and build healthy, sustainable food systems in our state and communities.
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