Top 5 Kawalan ng Seguridad sa Pagkain Mga alamat

May kakilala ka bang food insecure? Maaaring magulat ka, dahil ang mga palatandaan ng kawalan ng kapanatagan sa pagkain ay hindi palaging halata.

Ano ang food insecurity? Pareho ba ito ng gutom?

Ang gutom ay isang pakiramdam na nararanasan mo kapag hindi ka pa kumakain. Ito ay isang pisikal na pakiramdam ng kakulangan sa ginhawa, habang ang kawalan ng pagkain ay isang pang-ekonomiyang kondisyon. Kapag ang isang tao ay walang katiyakan sa pagkain, nangangahulugan ito na wala silang paraan upang regular na ma-access ang sapat na masustansyang pagkain. Sa mga sambahayan na walang katiyakan sa pagkain, ang mga tao ay madalas na kailangang pumili sa pagitan ng pagkuha lamang ng kung ano ang kanilang kayang bayaran – na kadalasang mura at/o kulang sa sustansya – o laktawan ang pagkain. Ang pamumuhay sa isang pinahabang estado ng kawalan ng seguridad sa pagkain ay maaaring magkaroon ng negatibong epekto sa pisikal, emosyonal, panlipunan at mental na kagalingan.

In Silicon Valley — one of the wealthiest regions in the country — food insecurity is near all-time highs and higher than the national average. Right now, 1 in 6 neighbors counts on Second Harvest for nutritious food, and half are kids and seniors.

Helping our community understand the complexities that our neighbors face shines a light on just how hard it is to live in a very high-cost region on low wages, and hopefully increases the empathy we have for the people who are working hard every day to provide for their families.

Nasa ibaba ang limang karaniwang alamat tungkol sa kawalan ng seguridad sa pagkain.

This is one of the most common food insecurity myths, but if it were true, Second Harvest would be providing food to nearly 13,000 people. That's how many residents don't have a permanent place to call home according to the most recent count in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Instead, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley provides food to nearly 500,000 people every month. 

The truth is the vast majority of kids, families and seniors we serve are housed – but after paying for the high cost of housing in Silicon Valley, and managing other fixed costs/bills, many people find that they can’t afford to buy enough nutritious groceries with what’s left over at the end of the month. That’s why most of what Second Harvest provides fresh produce, dairy, grains and pantry staples that our clients can use to create and enjoy balanced, home-cooked meals.

The truth is the high cost of living in Silicon Valley means that even people who are working — sometimes at multiple jobs — can’t always make ends meet. In a recent survey of our clients, the majority of households reported at least one person is working. But nearly 60% of those employed households can’t cover their monthly expenses.

The high costs of essentials like rent, food and childcare already take up a huge portion of the budget for neighbors living on fixed incomes or working hard in important jobs that keep our community running. Now, additional cuts to government benefits will push families who were barely getting by into deeper crisis. When every dollar is already stretched thin, even small reductions in support can have devastating ripple effects.

Ang totoo, hindi mo laging makikita kapag may food insecure. Maaaring nakabili sila ng magandang kotse o disenteng damit noong sila ay ligtas sa pananalapi, ngunit dahil sa kamakailang pagkawala ng trabaho o isang pangyayaring nagbabago sa buhay, hindi nila kayang bumili ng sapat na malusog na mga pamilihan para sa kanilang pamilya. Maraming dahilan kung bakit maaaring may magagandang bagay ang isang tao at kailangan pa rin ng tulong sa pagkain.

With the high cost of living in Silicon Valley, it’s difficult for a lot of hardworking people to pay their bills, let alone save money. In a recent survey of Second Harvest clients, nearly 55% of respondents said they have less than $100 in savings. That means many families are just a paycheck away from a financial disaster. While some people may have purchased “nicer things” when they had more money, hitting unexpectedly tough times can change things overnight – material possessions are not always an indication that people are financially stable.

Hindi namin gustong maghintay ang mga tao hanggang sa mawala sa kanila ang lahat bago sila humingi ng tulong, ngunit sa kasamaang-palad, marami sa aming mga kliyente ang umaabot lamang kapag ang kanilang mga aparador ay hubad. Ang tulong sa pagkain ay makakatulong sa mga indibidwal at pamilya na manatili sa bahay sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng pondo para sa pabahay, mga bayarin at iba pang gastusin.

You may think it's not possible for someone to need food assistance if they are overweight. Doesn't that mean they eat too much already? It's easy to understand why this food insecurity myth persists. The truth is it's not uncommon for people who are food insecure to be overweight or even obese.

Sa isang 12-estado na pag-aaral of 66,553 adults, those who were food insecure had a 32% greater risk of being obese compared with those who weren't. Food insecurity and obesity have a complicated relationship, and there are a number of reasons why that's true.

Our clients are often juggling multiple jobs, have limited transportation options and are trying to stretch their food dollars to the end of the month any way they can. In a recent survey of Second Harvest clients, nearly 85% of respondents reported the cost of nutritious food makes it hard for them and/or their households to stay healthy. The impact of being economically unstable, a reliance on cheap fast foods and stress-induced hormones can all drive cravings and decisions around food, which can then lead to obesity. 

Ang mga mas murang pagkain tulad ng mga fast food at murang meryenda ay malamang na mas mataas sa asukal, taba at calories. Maaari ka nilang pansamantalang punuin ngunit hindi nagbibigay ng sapat na sustansya na kailangan ng ating katawan, kaya naman ang mga komunidad na may mababang kita ay may posibilidad na may mas mataas na rate ng diabetes pati na rin ang mataas na presyon ng dugo at iba pang mga isyu sa kalusugan. In fact, in a recent survey of Second Harvest clients, more than 70% of respondents reported that someone in their household has pre-diabetes, diabetes, high blood pressure or a heart condition.

We know that nutrition has a critical impact on the long-term health of community members. The supply of nutritious food we source and distribute — such as fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, protein, grains and pantry staples — is crucial to ensuring that all our neighbors have access to foods that support their health and well-being.

Knowing how to prepare and enjoy the food we provide also makes a difference. Our Community Health and Nutrition team, together with our dedicated Health Ambassador volunteers, help ensure that clients and their families feel confident and inspired to turn their groceries into flavorful meals, all while honoring culture, tradition and personal preferences.

Ito marahil ang pinakanakapipinsalang alamat tungkol sa kawalan ng seguridad sa pagkain dahil kinukuwestiyon nito ang integridad ng mga pumupunta sa atin na naghahanap ng pagkain para sa kanilang mga pamilya. Ang totoo ay mas nababahala tayo sa mga taong hindi nakakakuha ng sapat na masustansyang pagkain upang manatiling malusog ngunit hindi pa rin humihingi ng tulong dahil natatakot sila sa panlipunang stigma at paghuhusga ng paghingi ng suporta. Ang mga survey na isinagawa namin sa mga nakaraang taon ay nagsasabi sa amin na karamihan sa mga tao ay nag-aatubili na makakuha ng tulong sa pagkain kahit na kailangan nila ito.

Kadalasan alam namin na ang mga taong tumatanggap ng pagkain mula sa Second Harvest na kung hindi man ay kayang bumili nito ay bihira dahil nakikipag-usap kami sa mga tao na pumupunta sa aming mga grocery distribution site - ang mga nanay na nag-aalala tungkol sa pagbibigay ng sapat na masustansyang pagkain para sa kanilang mga anak, ang mga nakatatanda na Nais makasigurado na hindi sila masyadong kumukuha kaya may natitira pang pagkain para sa iba, at ang mga mag-aaral sa kolehiyo na nagpapasalamat sa tulong habang nagpupumilit silang magbayad para sa paaralan at iba pang pangunahing pangangailangan.

Hinihikayat namin ang sinumang interesadong maunawaan kung paano naaapektuhan ng kawalan ng pagkain ang aming komunidad at kung ano ang aming ginagawa upang matugunan iyon volunteer with us at makilala ang ilan sa mga pamilya, nakatatanda at mga mag-aaral sa kolehiyo na umaasa sa aming mga serbisyo upang mapanatili ang access sa masustansyang pagkain at lahat ng mga benepisyong kasama nito.