Hungry Children

Ten Ways to Help

Every week I’ll be sharing my personal stories and my thoughts and recommendations on healthy food, intuition, movement, growth mindset and women, all sprinkled with a touch of spirituality.

I’m writing about some of my life experiences – the good and the bad - with the hope that they resonate with you. Mine is not a linear path but a winding road with twists and turns - a life filled with family, friends, gratitude and love. Where has your path taken you?

Today I am a trained Holistic Health Coach and a major foodie. I love healthy, clean, organic food and to share my passion for wellness with anyone who will listen!

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Let’s Dive In….

If you’ve been reading my blog or followed me on Instagram you know that I’m passionate about food, nutrition, wellness, and longevity. Every day I think about healthy food, what to cook, and how to best take care of my family. Blah, blah, blah. Let’s be honest, this is a privilege. I don’t even like the word privilege; it’s overused and has too many meanings. But I am. When it comes to buying apples, I have the luxury of choosing organic.  When I consider where to buy groceries, Whole Foods, Publix, or Instacart, I have no restrictions. I am beyond fortunate to have such abundance, and I am grateful. Yet I understand, I am also privileged.  

In spite of my privilege, it does not go unnoticed by me that millions of young children in America go to school hungry every day.

This fact has always disturbed me. The thought of kids going to school in the morning with an empty belly is unacceptable. An article recently caught my attention, and I went down a rabbit hole. On the FEEDING AMERICA site:

“Summer is the hungriest season of the year for millions of kids.” 

Did you know - 

• 1 in 5 kids in America, especially in low-income communities, live with hunger.

• Almost 30 million students in the U.S. receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year. But when summer arrives, millions of these kids will go hungry.

• Black and Latino children are nearly twice as likely to face hunger.

• Children who experience food insecurity may have trouble focusing and learning in school.

• Kids who don't get enough food face higher risks of health conditions like anemia and asthma.

• Hungry kids have less energy and are more easily distracted and less interested in schoolwork, have lower math scores, and often repeat a grade.

• Hungry kids come to school late or miss school entirely.

• Children often go to school in the morning having eaten their last meal at school lunch the day before. 

“Walk into a school building on a Monday and see how many children haven’t eaten all weekend. Ask a nurse how many kids come to the office with a belly ache because they haven't eaten anything.” - from No Kid Hungry site

When was the last time you ate lunch at Noon and didn’t eat again until lunch the next day? I’ve fasted for 24 hours a couple times but let me tell you, it’s no walk in the park. When you’re hungry, you’re tired, not focused, and you’re thinking about food all the time!

We all know an elementary teacher who keeps snacks in her desk for the kids that show up in the morning looking weary and fatigued. She knows that there was no hot breakfast at home. She knows if she wants her hungry student to learn, play, and participate she may be their only source of nutrition. So, she gives them Goldfish or animal crackers or if they are lucky a box of cereal and milk. It’s an unfair burden on the teacher. It’s a broken system. I don’t have the answers. But it weighs on me.  

With summer fast approaching, kids’ food needs may be overlooked.

We look forward to the summer months. Kids going off to camp, swimming, vacations, beaches, and ice cream. Lots of ice cream! But what about the kids that depend on that special teacher for their daily breakfast and the daily school lunch? Are these children eating lots of ice cream at the local Polar Cave Ice Cream Parlor?  Sadly, no.

What to do?

If this weighs on you like it does for me, let’s brainstorm how to help. Let’s try to make a difference. I’ve done some homework and come up with a list of options to support food stability for children. It may not be the answer but it’s something. And something is better than nothing.  

 Ten Ways to Help Childhood Hunger

1. Educate yourself;  SUN Bucks or Summer EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer), offer grocery benefits of $120 per eligible school-aged child during the summer. Additional benefits include SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program) and WIC (women, infants, and children).

2. Local Food Pantries are a great place to offer your support through donations or volunteering. Some communities offer Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP) through their local food banks to provide free or low-cost meals to help alleviate hunger during the summer months when school is out. 

3. FEEDING AMERICA – a nationwide movement to help hardworking people gain access to the food they need to thrive.

4. NO KID HUNGRY – ending childhood hunger by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast.

5. Have you heard of Little Free Pantry? There are hundreds across the country.

6. Learn about the Summer Feed and Read program at Feed the Children.

7. Check in with your local Boys and Girls Club.

8. Watch  A Place at the Table – YouTube documentary.

9. Learn more about End 68 Hours of Hunger — a public not-for-profit effort to confront the approximately 68 hours of hunger that some school children experience between the free lunch they receive at school on Friday afternoon and the free breakfast they receive at school on Monday morning. 

10. Consider reading -  End 68 Hours of Hunger

PS – I do not represent any of these organizations.  My goal is to simply provide information. 

If we each do a little something we can all make a big impact!

You and only you know what is best for your body, mind, and spirit. 

WHAT’S INSPIRING MY PURSUIT OF GREAT HEALTH LATELY

Our handyman’s name is Carl. The first time he came by I was making my TLC Granola. He said the smell was incredible so of course I gave Carl a jar and I told him about my cookbook. Since then, every time he stops by he always asks about the progress of the book. He’s requested a signed copy. Recently Carl had open heart surgery. I made him my Lemon Delight Bundt Cake. He texted me, 

“Morning Mrs. Bane wow. It’s a perfect cake its so balanced with a surprisingly curd texture at the bottom and the sweetness of the cake is not overly sweet it’s perfect in every way. Thanks for sharing and it looks too good to cut its Easter Sunday dessert, but I cheated. Don’t tell.”

So, I’m changing the name of the recipe for the cookbook:

Photo: Mandi Warner

Carl’s Lemon Delight Bundt Cake (recipe borrowed from a friend)

Ingredients

Cake

• 2 1/2 cups flour 

• 1 1/2 cups sugar 

• 1 Tablespoon baking powder 

• 3/4 cup orange juice 

• 3/4 cup vegetable oil 

• 2 teaspoons lemon extract 

• 4 large eggs 

Glaze

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar 

• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice 

 Directions                                              

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour a Bundt pan.  In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, and baking powder. Add the orange juice, oil, lemon extract, and eggs. Beat for 3 minutes. Pour into a bundt pan. Bake for approximately 50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Using a long thin skewer, poke deep holes into the cake at 1-inch intervals.  

While the cake is baking, make the glaze by mixing the sugar and lemon juice in a bowl. Remove the cake from the oven. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Invert onto baking rack over cookie sheet. While the cake is cooling, pour the glaze over the cake and sprinkle it with confectioners’ sugar. 

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