(Family Features) Food insecurity isn’t a new problem in the United States, but the economic upheaval created by the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the problem.

During the pandemic, households in the United States with children experienced an increase in food insecurity, despite overall rates of food insecurity staying the same. In 2019, 13.6% of households with children were food insecure, but by 2020, that number increased to 14.8%, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In general, child food insecurity rates are higher than overall food insecurity rates, according to the annual Map the Meal Gap study conducted by Feeding America, a nationwide nonprofit network of food banks. According to data from the Children’s Defense Fund, this is particularly prevalent among low-income families, single mother households and Black and Hispanic households.

What Food Insecurity Means for Children
Food insecurity and hunger are closely related but not quite the same. People who are food insecure don’t have reliable, ongoing access to an adequate supply of affordable, nutritious food. Hunger is a physical condition; food insecurity reflects barriers to obtaining food such as finances, physical location and transportation.

Infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies because their nutrient needs are high, especially in relation to the size of their stomachs and appetites. Caregivers in food-insecure households may have little choice but to settle for cheaper, energy-dense but nutrient-poor foods. As a result, food-insecure infants and toddlers are not receiving adequate nutrition even when they may be receiving enough calories to satisfy hunger.

Even if a child isn’t physically starving, inadequate nutrition can negatively affect health in numerous ways, including immune system function, low weight, learning and developmental delays, vitamin deficiencies and more.

Ways to Help Promote Better Nutrition
Support good nutrition during infancy and toddlerhood for your own children and others in the community with these practical tips:

• Participate in (or introduce those in need to) aid programs. Government nutrition assistance programs help provide essential nutrition needs during infant and toddler years. One example is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides a variety of resources including food and health care referrals to support mothers and young children at nutritional risk, including pregnant, breastfeeding and post-partum women, as well as infants and children up to age 5.
  
  Another example is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides benefits low-income families can use to purchase nutritious foods. For children and adults who are enrolled in certain care programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) helps ensure they have access to nutritious meals and snacks.
• Make purchases that work extra hard. In addition to producing foods that encourage better nutrition for children, some brands also make contributions that help offset food insecurity. For example, for every box of Plum Organics Super Smoothies purchased, the company donates a pouch to a child in need through its “The Full Effect” program. The smoothie is a specially formulated blend of fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains with no added sugars designed to fight malnutrition and help fortify the diets of children who don’t have access to regular, healthy meals.
• Act as a role model for healthy choices. Children learn by example, so be sure your little ones see you enjoying nutritious snacks, filling your plate with appropriate portions and preparing well-rounded meals. When kids are exposed to a wide range of healthy options early in life, those food choices become the norm as they grow older.
• Volunteer at a food bank. Getting hands-on by donating your time at a local food bank can help you understand the complexity of food insecurity. Many nutritious selections are perishable, and transporting and storing perishable goods is costly. Volunteers help offset a food bank’s operational expenses by contributing labor to sort donated items, prepare deliveries and more.

To find more information about foods that provide infants and toddlers the nutrients they need, visit plumorganics.com. Photos courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Plum Organics

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(Family Features) A menu of filling, delicious recipes is just what your family needs to make each school day a successful educational adventure. Satisfying lunch and dinner ideas can give loved ones the fuel they need while delicious desserts provide motivation for growing minds to get homework finished before enjoying a treat.

When weeks get hectic due to busy schedules, these recipes offer simple solutions to make cooking easier while limiting time spent in the kitchen. Start with a lunch that’s as easy to make as it is to pack in a lunchbox, recharge in the evening thanks to a veggie-forward main course and satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth with a chocolatey favorite to round out the day.

Keep your family full and energized each school day with more recipe ideas at Culinary.net.

Make School Lunches a Breeze

There’s a lot to remember when sending your student off to school each morning, from backpacks and school supplies to last night’s homework. Don’t forget one of the key ingredients to a successful day: lunch.

These Cheeseburger Turnovers provide the energy little learners need to power through their afternoon lessons. One winning idea to make the week easier is to prep a full batch of these easily packable, kid-friendly handhelds Sunday night so you’ve got lunch ready for each day.

To find more school day recipe inspiration, visit Culinary.net.

Cheeseburger Turnovers

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 can flaky biscuits
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• dill pickle slices, halved
• 1 egg, beaten

1. Heat oven to 375 F.
2. In large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until beef is thoroughly cooked and onions are tender. Drain. Stir in ketchup and mustard.
3. Separate biscuit dough. On ungreased baking sheet, flatten biscuit dough to form 6-inch rounds. Spoon beef mixture onto one side of flattened dough. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with dill pickle half. Fold dough over filling. With fork tines, press dough edges to seal. Cut two slits in top of dough to release steam. Repeat with remaining dough, beef mixture, cheese and pickles.
4. Brush each turnover with egg wash.
5. Bake 18-22 minutes, or until deep golden brown.

A Perfect Pasta for School Nights

Weeknight meals are all about putting tasty dishes on the table in a short amount of time so you can share precious moments together despite busy schedules.

In a matter of minutes, you can prepare this Lentil Bolognese with Veggie-Based Penne for a quick yet flavorful recipe that can be enjoyed by little ones and adults alike. Featuring Veggiecraft Farms Cauliflower Penne as its key ingredient, this family meal makes it easy to incorporate vegetables without sacrificing taste. Available in popular shapes like penne, spaghetti and elbow, and made with lentils, peas and cauliflower, zucchini or sweet potato, the veggie-based pastas are gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, Kosher and good sources of protein and fiber.

Visit veggiecraftfarms.com for more information and family-friendly recipes.

Lentil Bolognese with Veggie-Based Penne

• 1 cup dry French green lentils or brown lentils
• 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1 box Veggiecraft Farms Cauliflower Penne

Toppings:

• fresh basil
• Parmesan cheese
• red pepper flakes

1. Cook lentils according to package directions. Drain then return to pot and add marinara and vegetable broth. Stir well and simmer over low heat about 10 minutes.
2. Cook penne according to package directions.
3. Top cooked pasta with lentil Bolognese, fresh basil, Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.

A Heaping Serving of Homework Motivation

Heading back to school doesn’t have to mean forgetting the fun of warm weather treats. Once the homework is done and you’ve enjoyed dinner with loved ones, turn your attention to a dessert that tastes like it was prepared by a professional baker.

This S’mores Skillet starts with a sweet brownie base made with Domino Light Brown Sugar and is then infused and topped with traditional s’mores ingredients. Just combine in a skillet then bake – or grill for that familiar outdoor feel – until warm and gooey.

Find more dessert ideas to sweeten up back-to-school season at DominoSugar.com.

S’mores Skillet

Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup Domino Light Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup mini marshmallows, divided
• 6 graham crackers, roughly crumbled, divided

1. Preheat oven or grill to 350 F.
2. Place medium heat-proof bowl over medium saucepan simmering with water. Add butter, 1/4 cup chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate; melt. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool 15 minutes.
3. In small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt.
4. In large bowl, mix eggs, sugar and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture and mix until well combined. Stir in flour mixture. Add 1/4 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 cup mini marshmallows and three graham crackers to batter.
5. Pour mixture into 8-inch skillet. Top with remaining mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and graham crackers. Grill or bake 10-12 minutes. Remove from grill. Cool 10 minutes and serve.

SOURCE:
Veggiecraft Farms

Domino Golden Sugar

https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage

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Last Updated on July 16, 2026 by Daily News Staff

(Feature Impact) When you picture a schoolchild sitting down at a cafeteria table and opening their lunchbox, you’re probably already imagining there’s a sandwich inside. After all, it’s a classic back-to-school staple that parents rely on for ease, convenience and nutrition when they’re trying to get everyone out the door on time – all you have to do is put bread and fillings together, and you’re good to go. That, of course, only leaves the question of which bread and fillings to choose.

A new survey conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of Nature’s Own indicated that modern parents care a lot about nutrition when deciding which kind of bread to buy, with 88% of survey respondents agreeing that feeding their kids wholesome bread feels like an easy parenting win.

With clean, simple ingredients that balance taste and nutrition, Nature’s Own bread supports an attainably healthy lifestyle for busy families. Whether you choose a classic white bread, reach for a whole-wheat loaf or need to account for dietary restrictions, you can feel confident you’re selecting bread that’s free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.

For a nutritious lunch that fits the bill for 85% of parents who show strong interest in breads made with whole grains, pack this Ham, Turkey, Bacon and Cheese Pocket made with honey wheat bread. The flavorful mixture of deli meats and American cheese baked to perfection make every bite satisfying. Consider getting the whole family involved assembly-line style to make multiple batches at once, cutting down on time in the kitchen during the week ahead while encouraging learning opportunities as kids count ingredients and measure fillings.  

Some school days call for simple, fun comfort food, and that’s where the Fluffernutter comes in. Soft bread, creamy peanut butter and fluffy marshmallow make for a combination that nourishes kids of all ages not just physically, but emotionally. Whether you pack it as a lunchbox surprise or have it ready as an after-school treat, this is a sandwich that promises sweetness and nostalgia – a perfect fit for the 78% of parents who agreed that sandwiches are a canvas for small moments of care, like notes in lunch bags.

Since sandwiches are so customizable, you can easily adapt these recipes to your family’s unique preferences and needs. Whether you decide to use different seasonings or swap to a multigrain bread, there’s no such thing as a wrong sandwich decision as long as it works for you.

To view ingredients and decide what kind of loaf you want to stock up on during the school year, visit naturesownbread.com.

Ham, Turkey, Bacon and Cheese Pocket

• 8          slices Nature’s Own Honey Wheat Bread
  
• 1/4       pound deli turkey
  
• 1/4       pound deli ham
  
• 4          slices cooked bacon
  
• 4          slices white American cheese
  
• 1          egg
  
• 1          tablespoon cold water
  
• 1          teaspoon coarse salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Chop turkey, ham and bacon and toss together. Set aside.
3. Using knife, cut off crust on each piece of bread.
4. With rolling pin, roll and flatten each slice of crustless bread. Take four slices and place spoonful of chopped meats in middle of each slice. Top with broken slices of cheese.
5. Place remaining slices of crustless bread on top of each pocket.
6. In small bowl, crack egg and add water. Beat together. Dip fork into egg mixture and crimp each edge of pocket until two slices are sealed together. Repeat on each pocket. Brush top of each pocket with remaining egg mixture and sprinkle salt on top.
7. Place on sheet pan and bake until golden brown, 7-10 minutes.
8. Let cool a few minutes and enjoy.

Fluffernutter Sandwich

Total time: 10 minutes

Servings: 1

• 2          tablespoons peanut butter
  
• 2          slices Nature’s Own Butterbread
  
• 2          tablespoons marshmallow fluff

1. Spread peanut butter on one bread slice. Spread marshmallow fluff on second slice. Put both slices together to form sandwich.

SOURCE:

Nature’s Own