Are 1 in 5 Oklahoma children food insecure?
According to the nonprofit Feeding America, in 2020, 19.2% of children in Oklahoma were classified as food insecure. Among these, 73% were eligible for federal nutrition assistance programs.
Food insecurity is defined as the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Oklahoma's rate of child food insecurity is higher than the national average of 16.1%.
The state is also 1 of 6 states with significantly higher general household food insecurity than the U.S. average. Hunger Free Oklahoma estimates that 33% of the state’s population lives in areas with limited access to nutritious food.
Various factors influence food insecurity, including unemployment and poverty. In the U.S., Black, Latino, rural, and Southern households all experience statistically higher rates of food insecurity than average.