Summer-EBT: Forget the politics, it’s about our kids

According to the Idaho Foodbank, nearly 1 in 10 of our kids are food insecure, living with uncertain access to adequate food due to economic and social conditions. Food insecurity negatively affects overall health. Studies have found that food-insecure kids are more likely to be developmentally delayed.

Feeding America, a nonprofit network of more than 200 food banks, reports children who do not get adequate nutrition have a higher risk of developing asthma, anemia, and behavioral problems (hyperactivity, anxiety, and aggression in school-age children). Furthermore, food-insecure individuals are more likely to develop diet-sensitive chronic conditions such as diabetes.

School meal programs help ensure our next generation of Idahoans don’t go hungry for part of the year. The Summer-Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program allows families of food-insecure children to purchase food when children are off during the summertime. A recent AP news story, published in the Sunday, February 18th edition of the Idaho Press, provided reasons that 13 states declined the federal funds available for the Summer EBT program. Some states reported providing other options for their food-insecure children, but others spouted false rhetoric. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds claimed that “An EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.”

As registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), we recognize the confusion surrounding the food insecurity- obesity paradox. Though it may seem counter- intuitive, 40% of children living in lower socioeconomic households are both food insecure and obese. Research has unveiled a cascade of reasons why food-insecure kids can become obese: Affordable options do not equal nutritional options. Food-insecure families cannot afford nutrient-dense foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. They forgo healthier options because of their higher per-calorie cost. The more affordable options are often ultra-processed foods, which are high in fat, salt, and sugar. Kids who regularly consume ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop obesity and other chronic health conditions.

Ultra-processed foods negatively impact kids’ microbiomes. The foods children eat impact the composition of their gut’s microbiome—the collection of microorganisms in our body that help maintain health. Regular consumption of ultra-processed foods induces unfavorable changes in the make-up of the microbiome, promoting excessive abdominal weight and obesity.

Food-insecure children experience chronic stress.

In the body, chronic stress promotes high levels of the hormone cortisol. Elevated cortisol cues children to eat foods high in fat and sugar.

Sustained periods of stress are thus associated with overeating.

Food insecurity promotes disordered eating patterns. For kids who are food insecure, going hungry is a reality. Periods of hunger make them worry about when they will get their next meal. Children who are food insecure develop patterns of binging or overeating when food is available because there will be times they go without food.

The bottom line: The Summer EBT Program helps families purchase nutrient-dense foods that can reduce the risk of obesity among food-insecure children. Lack of access to the Summer EBT Programs, in contrast, can increase their risk of becoming overweight and obese.

In Idaho, Summer Meal Programs help some food-insecure children receive healthy meals.

These programs, unfortunately, do not reach the rural areas where food insecurity rates are the highest. All young Idahoans deserve access to the foods needed to be healthy and reduce their risk of developing childhood obesity. In 2023 and 2024, Idaho missed the deadline for federal funds to implement the Summer EBT, which would have helped 107,000 young Idahoans. The FY2025 budget excluded funding for Summer EBT. Affirmative action is critical to avoid repeating this mistake.

Barbara Gordon, EdD, RDN, FAND, Vice Chair, Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger.

Jenifer Reader, MHE, RDN, Convener, Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger. Ruth Schneider, MPH, RDN, FAND, Convener, Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger