What is Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity means not always having reliable access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life. Some households experience food insecurity for a short time, while others face it for longer periods.

No matter how long it lasts, food insecurity can affect health, stability and overall well-being. It is often linked to changes in income, rising costs, unexpected expenses or life transitions—and it can happen to anyone.

How Food Insecurity Affects Individuals and Families

Food insecurity impacts more than hunger. Research shows it can affect:

• Physical health, including increased risk of chronic disease
• Mental and emotional well-being, such as stress and anxiety
• School and work performance, making daily responsibilities harder to manage

Families often do everything they can to protect their children. Even so, limited access to nutritious food has been linked to delayed development and long-term health challenges for children.

Food insecurity is also about nutrition quality. When budgets are tight, families may be forced to buy less food, skip meals or choose lower-cost options that do not provide the nutrients their bodies need.

Food Insecurity in Virginia

Food insecurity looks different across states and communities. According to recent estimates from Feeding America, more than 700,000 Virginians experience food insecurity each year—about 1 in 12 people.

While many households have seen economic improvements since the pandemic, rising food prices and inflation continue to make it harder for some families to stay food secure.

What Virginia Is Doing to Help

Virginia supports a range of nutrition programs designed to reduce food insecurity and improve access to healthy food. These programs serve children, families, older adults and individuals facing hardship.

Key programs include:

• National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

These programs are managed through partnerships between the:

• Virginia Department of Social Services
• Virginia Department of Education
• Virginia Department of Health

Together, these agencies work to ensure that food support is accessible, dignified and responsive to community needs.

Learn More and Find Support

Virginia offers many resources to help individuals and families access food and nutrition assistance. Exploring available programs can help reduce stress, stretch food budgets and support long-term health.

Visit the food and nutrition assistance resources section of this site to learn more about programs and services available in your community.