Hidden Hunger | Understanding its Impacts on Food Insecurity

Hidden Hunger | Understanding its Impacts on Food Insecurity
Let's take a moment to reflect.
Over 40% of university students face food insecurity nationwide. Due to the increasing costs of tuition, rent, textbooks, and a myriad of others; food remains one of the few flexible costs for students. As defined by the United Nations, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences.
A report from the Alma Mater Society said that visits to the AMS Food Bank had increased nearly 500 per cent since 2019. Hundreds of students across UBC campus walked out to voice their concerns about food insecurity and the rising cost of food. In their words, they are hungry for change.
This hunger presents itself in many forms. Whether it be low intake of or the consumption of low quality foods, food insecure students are at risk of not meeting their micronutrient needs. This is the problem of hidden hunger.
To better understand the needs of UBC students we organized three household potlucks. The potlucks were intended to give these students the opportunity to share their personal experiences living and studying in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Here we had a chance to explore what food security, community eating, and access to culturally relevant food means for them.
Wherever you are, there are efforts you can make to support food security initiatives on UBC campus.
If you would like to learn more about:
UBC Farm 👉 ubcfarm.ubc.ca/
UBC Sprouts Café 👉 www.ubcsprouts.ca/
AMS Food Bank 👉 www.ams.ubc.ca...
Agora Café 👉 blogs.ubc.ca/a...
UBC Food Hub 👉 foodhub.ubc.ca/
Here are ways you can support food security initiatives on UBC campus:
Volunteer at the UBC Farm 👉 ubcfarm.ubc.ca...
Volunteer at UBC Sprouts 👉 www.ubcsprouts....
Volunteer at Agora Café 👉 blogs.ubc.ca/a...
Donate to Agora Café 👉 blogs.ubc.ca/a...
Donate Food to the AMS Food Bank 👉 www.ams.ubc.ca...
Thank you so much for watching this video. Thank you to everyone who participated - this would have not been possible without you.
References
Student Food Insecurity
www.utsc.utoro...
www.ams.ubc.ca...
Micronutrient Deficiency
ourworldindata...
Climate change and food security: risk and responses, FAO, UN
www.fao.org/3/...

[@MaddyA]

We'd love to know, what did YOU learn from watching this video? Please share below in the comments. Thank you to those who have taken the time to watch this video! This has been months in the making and Kate and I are beyond excited to be able to finally share it with you. We hope this video has helped you understand how micronutrient malnutrition and food insecurity affect people worldwide.

[@asssssli]

This video is so good - I especially love the student perspectives, thank you for giving them a voice!!

[@sylviecoxmusic]

Incredible vid!

[@MaddyA]

Thank you Sylvie! So glad to have you be a part of it :)

[@adelinethames5747]

An amazing video by an amazing pair!! Honored to hold some pasta in the video and to be a part of a community having these convos and sharing these dishes 🥰

[@MaddyA]

Thank you Addie!! Sprouts is beyond amazing and the food is delicious... especially the mac n "cheese"

[@katesotelo2046]

Such a wonderful video to work on! Truly an enlightening experience on the ubc community

[@MaddyA]

I agree! Thanks for working with me :D

[@heidicollie]

Incredible work!! Such an important issue 🙌🏼

[@MaddyA]

Thanks so much Heidi! Certainly something we need to talk about more!

[@tessamok6868]

AHHH made me so so proud to be a part of this lil community!!! you guys weaved together so many different points about cultural eating + toxic diet thinking + inaccessibility to necessary info about nutrition and of course to a sustainable supply of GOOD FOOD, all while staying so true to the student experience. feeling hungry n heard.... so potluck next week?

[@MaddyA]

Tessa! My heart is so full 🤗 Thank you again for being a part of this project - we really appreciate your honesty and willingness to share more about your experience!

[@jkeystone4954]

Great video - it's jam-packed with so much good info & observations. I really appreciate the diversity of student perspectives & concerns.

[@MaddyA]

Thank you! We definitely tried to share as much as we could, thinking about a variety of factors! So happy that came through in the video :)

[@helenasai1449]

This is such a good and informative vid! Food insecurity is such a huge issue and something a majority of people I go to school with struggle with it too, so it’s really nice to see people talking about it

[@MaddyA]

Thank you, Helena!

[@gregdklein]

Such an important topic and issue to grapple with. I appreciate you all sharing so many different people’s stories, and in such a great short film. Well done!

[@MaddyA]

It truly is! It was a challenge, but I think it turned out great. Thank you so much, Greg!

[@marinagalvao9889]

incredible video!! really great job you guys, thank you for shedding light on this

[@MaddyA]

Thank you so much Marina!

[@williamwong2413]

That was a great video! The importance of what we are putting in our bodies isn't stressed enough and it was great to see people discuss what can be done so that more people understand this information and allow it to affect their daily lives. :)

[@MaddyA]

Thank you William! There is great importance in starting the conversation and hopefully it will be continued beyond this video :)

[@chris9415]

Such an informative video! I feel like I learned a lot about the struggle of food insecurity which is never spoken about much, but is so real and detrimental for many people to this day (clever title, Hidden Hunger!). Food is indeed a human right. It is imperative that we really push to ensure that our future has quality food/produce from healthy and sustainable sources (while also making sure it is ETHICAL food production). Thank you for voicing this issue!

[@MaddyA]

Hi Chris! Thank you so much for sharing - Kate and I really appreciate your willingness to reflect and share! You have certainly captured many of the things that are a key focus in the world and future of food.

[@natswworld]

loved it! such an informative and creative video, you captured all aspects so well

[@MaddyA]

Glad you liked it!!

[@mofangei]

W video as always