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Food security means having enough food and not having to choose between food and other basic needs. Nutrition security builds on that. It means getting enough healthy food consistently and putting that food to best use — not only what to eat, but where to find it and how to prepare it.

It's estimated that about 1 in 10 households in the U.S. experienced food insecurity in 2020.* The COVID-19 pandemic increased awareness of the problem and its disproportionate impact on under-resourced communities.

The AHA believes in the right to healthy food for all people to live their best lives. Nutrition security is our priority.

^{* . U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.}

When people struggle with making their food dollar stretch further, they may have to sacrifice quality or variety or even skip meals to make ends meet.

The results can be devastating, with increased risk of: 

• Obesity, heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer
• Trouble in school for children and teens
• Increased stress and poor mental health

Keep reading to learn how to bring delicious nutritious foods to the table, even when dollars are tight, how to help others who are experiencing nutrition insecurity, and what AHA is doing to fight for equitable access for all people to healthy diets for healthy hearts.