Stan Shanling

And let's move on to food insecurity. Today we have Sophia Linares-Coy, who is the executive director of the Food Group. And one thing I didn't check, is the Food Group just in Minnesota, Sophia? It's just in Minnesota. Okay. So she's the executive director of this group. We'll get into that in a little bit. She has worked in hunger relief her entire career.

And let's move on to food insecurity. Today we have Sophia Linares-Coy, who is the executive director of the Food Group. And one thing I didn't check, is the Food Group just in Minnesota, Sophia? It's just in Minnesota. Okay. So she's the executive director of this group. We'll get into that in a little bit. She has worked in hunger relief her entire career.

You know, Clarence, I'm sure you'll agree with this. It seems like in general, the country has access issues, okay? Big time access issues, you know, whether it be food or whether it be transportation or whether it be healthcare or, you know, it just seems like, you know, and maybe, I don't know, but maybe part of the problem is, is that people don't know where to go. for a lot of these things.

You know, Clarence, I'm sure you'll agree with this. It seems like in general, the country has access issues, okay? Big time access issues, you know, whether it be food or whether it be transportation or whether it be healthcare or, you know, it just seems like, you know, and maybe, I don't know, but maybe part of the problem is, is that people don't know where to go. for a lot of these things.

Okay, like, for instance, if somebody came to me today and said, you know, we really are having a hard time putting food on the table. I'll be honest with you. And if I wanted to help, I would, I would have to go online. I would really have to go online in order, as opposed to it, this topic, being in our psyche, you know, oh, you should contact the food group.

Okay, like, for instance, if somebody came to me today and said, you know, we really are having a hard time putting food on the table. I'll be honest with you. And if I wanted to help, I would, I would have to go online. I would really have to go online in order, as opposed to it, this topic, being in our psyche, you know, oh, you should contact the food group.

You know, it's just, it's like one of those types of things that I think is problematic. Clarence, hold on one second. I want to follow up. How is it that... Minnesota ranks, I guess, if that's a fair word, with other states or other regions of the country. Are we okay comparatively or even though having some is not good at all? But where do we sit?

You know, it's just, it's like one of those types of things that I think is problematic. Clarence, hold on one second. I want to follow up. How is it that... Minnesota ranks, I guess, if that's a fair word, with other states or other regions of the country. Are we okay comparatively or even though having some is not good at all? But where do we sit?

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

The food group is the Director of Programs and Operations. She's been that since 2018. Prior to that, she served as the Associate Director of Hunger Solutions in Minnesota, where she worked on federal and state policies and expanded cross-sector partnerships with policy makers and farmers markets. You know, it's interesting. When I grew up, we didn't even have farmer's markets.

The food group is the Director of Programs and Operations. She's been that since 2018. Prior to that, she served as the Associate Director of Hunger Solutions in Minnesota, where she worked on federal and state policies and expanded cross-sector partnerships with policy makers and farmers markets. You know, it's interesting. When I grew up, we didn't even have farmer's markets.

Yeah. You know, um, I think, and for our listening audience, we're going to have a follow-up show on this, on weight loss medications. And so we talk about food insecurity as possibly being a stigma. You add medications to that. to help people control obesity, for instance, there's also stigma. And stigma in general just doesn't make any situation better. It just complicates the whole thing.

Yeah. You know, um, I think, and for our listening audience, we're going to have a follow-up show on this, on weight loss medications. And so we talk about food insecurity as possibly being a stigma. You add medications to that. to help people control obesity, for instance, there's also stigma. And stigma in general just doesn't make any situation better. It just complicates the whole thing.

So, all right, I'm gonna back up into some comments that you were talking about, Clarence. It's like, okay, are there groups that are at higher risk for food insecurity?

So, all right, I'm gonna back up into some comments that you were talking about, Clarence. It's like, okay, are there groups that are at higher risk for food insecurity?

Yeah, yeah. So Maddie is curious about this whole concept of a food desert. Why don't you comment on that? It's just like, again, this is kind of vocabulary that's kind of relatively new, you know, deserts. And tell us about it.

Yeah, yeah. So Maddie is curious about this whole concept of a food desert. Why don't you comment on that? It's just like, again, this is kind of vocabulary that's kind of relatively new, you know, deserts. And tell us about it.

We can talk about that a little bit, too. Her favorite food. Everybody's got a favorite food, right? And hers happens to be pizza. So, Clarence, what's your favorite food?

We can talk about that a little bit, too. Her favorite food. Everybody's got a favorite food, right? And hers happens to be pizza. So, Clarence, what's your favorite food?

Hello, everybody. Welcome to Health Chatter. Today's episode is on food insecurity, which is an interesting topic. We have a great guest. Get to that in a second. We have a great crew that makes all our shows successful. For you, the listening audience, we have Maddie Levine-Wolf, Aaron Collins, Deandra Howard, that do our background research for all our shows. Thank you to all of you.

Hello, everybody. Welcome to Health Chatter. Today's episode is on food insecurity, which is an interesting topic. We have a great guest. Get to that in a second. We have a great crew that makes all our shows successful. For you, the listening audience, we have Maddie Levine-Wolf, Aaron Collins, Deandra Howard, that do our background research for all our shows. Thank you to all of you.

Yeah, and it's troubling. It really is troubling that people don't have access to good supermarket. Let me bring up the idea of farmer's markets. So I think I mentioned before our show started that as a kid, I remember growing up and we really didn't have farmers markets that, like we see today.

Yeah, and it's troubling. It really is troubling that people don't have access to good supermarket. Let me bring up the idea of farmer's markets. So I think I mentioned before our show started that as a kid, I remember growing up and we really didn't have farmers markets that, like we see today.

S-E-E. Anything you see. Well, primarily. Primarily, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Mine's some good ice cream, and so I have to keep it under control, you know? Anyway, so, Sophia, thanks for being with us today. It's a pleasure having you. So let's start this out by, you know, again, in my career, and maybe in yours as well, Clarence, the concept of food insecurity was never there.

S-E-E. Anything you see. Well, primarily. Primarily, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Mine's some good ice cream, and so I have to keep it under control, you know? Anyway, so, Sophia, thanks for being with us today. It's a pleasure having you. So let's start this out by, you know, again, in my career, and maybe in yours as well, Clarence, the concept of food insecurity was never there.

I remember distinctly out in Los Angeles, there's the infamous farmers market there that's been there forever. but it's not like one that crops up on a weekend or whatever. So tell me how farmers markets kind of play out in all of this and how they perhaps have helped the access issue.

I remember distinctly out in Los Angeles, there's the infamous farmers market there that's been there forever. but it's not like one that crops up on a weekend or whatever. So tell me how farmers markets kind of play out in all of this and how they perhaps have helped the access issue.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Why would you eat something that's ugly?

Why would you eat something that's ugly?

I never had heard about food insecurity. It was probably there. but we really didn't legitimize it per se with programs, et cetera. So let's first start out with what is food insecurity and then maybe a follow-up to that is how do you measure that? How do you determine if someone is food insecure and who makes that determination? So go ahead.

I never had heard about food insecurity. It was probably there. but we really didn't legitimize it per se with programs, et cetera. So let's first start out with what is food insecurity and then maybe a follow-up to that is how do you measure that? How do you determine if someone is food insecure and who makes that determination? So go ahead.

So let me couple two themes that that seem to be interwoven here. One is culture. So we all come from different cultures. And you mentioned towards the beginning of the show, we're sitting around the table and there are certain culture, there are certain religious things. How does culture fit into this whole thing of, food insecurity.

So let me couple two themes that that seem to be interwoven here. One is culture. So we all come from different cultures. And you mentioned towards the beginning of the show, we're sitting around the table and there are certain culture, there are certain religious things. How does culture fit into this whole thing of, food insecurity.

It seems to me that if you, if you have food insecurity on one hand, it's like maybe you put kind of your cultural stuff aside for, for a time and really focus on just getting food. But on the other hand, I would anticipate that there's some angst there. If you're not able to assume foods that, um, are consistent with your culture. So how do you deal with that?

It seems to me that if you, if you have food insecurity on one hand, it's like maybe you put kind of your cultural stuff aside for, for a time and really focus on just getting food. But on the other hand, I would anticipate that there's some angst there. If you're not able to assume foods that, um, are consistent with your culture. So how do you deal with that?

Yeah. So let's talk about health outcomes a little bit. Regardless if you're experiencing food insecurity or not, people come down with health issues. Okay. And so let's combine, for instance, somebody who's been recently diagnosed as, for instance, diabetic. And at the same time, they are dubbed food insecure. So

Yeah. So let's talk about health outcomes a little bit. Regardless if you're experiencing food insecurity or not, people come down with health issues. Okay. And so let's combine, for instance, somebody who's been recently diagnosed as, for instance, diabetic. And at the same time, they are dubbed food insecure. So

Is there work within the food group that links health-related issues with food insecurity?

Is there work within the food group that links health-related issues with food insecurity?

Which is great. So, um, You've obviously talked about work that's being done in Minnesota. Can you give us some sense for our audience what might be done in other states or where they can link to get assistance in other states?

Which is great. So, um, You've obviously talked about work that's being done in Minnesota. Can you give us some sense for our audience what might be done in other states or where they can link to get assistance in other states?

So given our kind of our crazy political situations in, in the United States, are these programs like SNAP or, you know, WIC, you know, a women infant children program or the national school lunch programs, are they, in trouble or can we assume that historically they've been pretty stable?

So given our kind of our crazy political situations in, in the United States, are these programs like SNAP or, you know, WIC, you know, a women infant children program or the national school lunch programs, are they, in trouble or can we assume that historically they've been pretty stable?

Okay, true. You never know, right?

Okay, true. You never know, right?

Are there new programs, political, you know, policy oriented programs in the wings or are these kind of this trifecta that we just mentioned? Are those pretty much the stable ones right now?

Are there new programs, political, you know, policy oriented programs in the wings or are these kind of this trifecta that we just mentioned? Are those pretty much the stable ones right now?

So, OK. All right.

So, OK. All right.

So thank you. Connecting with Clarence's question, let's just say that you know nothing about this subject and all of a sudden you need to know something because either you're in need or a friend is in need or whatever. if in this day and age, typically people go to the website. Okay.

So thank you. Connecting with Clarence's question, let's just say that you know nothing about this subject and all of a sudden you need to know something because either you're in need or a friend is in need or whatever. if in this day and age, typically people go to the website. Okay.

So what would you recommend to our listening audience to put in as a search item, like something like what food help or just something? What, what, what is it that you, because they, they obviously aren't going to know the names of all these programs, et cetera.

So what would you recommend to our listening audience to put in as a search item, like something like what food help or just something? What, what, what is it that you, because they, they obviously aren't going to know the names of all these programs, et cetera.

What would you put in for a search?

What would you put in for a search?

that you have for your work and your assistance and your help for everyone. And so if for nothing else, thank you for that. It really is special. We have good resources in the state of Minnesota and hopefully analogous ones in other states as well. So thank you for being on Health Chatter today. For our listening audience, we've got great, great shows coming up.

that you have for your work and your assistance and your help for everyone. And so if for nothing else, thank you for that. It really is special. We have good resources in the state of Minnesota and hopefully analogous ones in other states as well. So thank you for being on Health Chatter today. For our listening audience, we've got great, great shows coming up.

We have shows, like I mentioned in the show, weight loss medications, narcissism, organ donation, loneliness. And we also were able to get the new dean of the School of Public Health in Minnesota to be on our show. So we've got some great shows coming up. Thanks for listening to Health Chatter and keep health chatting away.

We have shows, like I mentioned in the show, weight loss medications, narcissism, organ donation, loneliness. And we also were able to get the new dean of the School of Public Health in Minnesota to be on our show. So we've got some great shows coming up. Thanks for listening to Health Chatter and keep health chatting away.

So, all right. So you mentioned food. one in 10 or one in eight during the pandemic. How is that determined? Are there officials that go out and ask this or are there surveys that are done or how is it that we get this measurement?

So, all right. So you mentioned food. one in 10 or one in eight during the pandemic. How is that determined? Are there officials that go out and ask this or are there surveys that are done or how is it that we get this measurement?

So, all right. So a healthcare provider, let's follow up on that a little bit. So, you know, healthcare providers, you know, even when you go through your normal physical, ask you certain questions and one could be around this and, and Then what do they do? So let's just say they ask me and they say, Stan, you know, do you have a hard time getting, you know, meals on the table?

So, all right. So a healthcare provider, let's follow up on that a little bit. So, you know, healthcare providers, you know, even when you go through your normal physical, ask you certain questions and one could be around this and, and Then what do they do? So let's just say they ask me and they say, Stan, you know, do you have a hard time getting, you know, meals on the table?

And I happen to say yes. What do they do? Do they do they then what refer you to someone, some group like like yours, for instance? What what's what might be the process?

And I happen to say yes. What do they do? Do they do they then what refer you to someone, some group like like yours, for instance? What what's what might be the process?

And also, just so everybody knows, our background research is available on our website. So you can, the listening audience, you can see it as well. Matthew Campbell is our production manager, gets all the shows out to you, the listening audience. And also Sheridan Nygaard does some background research and marketing for us. Thank you. To everybody, you're second to none.

And also, just so everybody knows, our background research is available on our website. So you can, the listening audience, you can see it as well. Matthew Campbell is our production manager, gets all the shows out to you, the listening audience. And also Sheridan Nygaard does some background research and marketing for us. Thank you. To everybody, you're second to none.

Wow.

Wow.

Clarence is my co-host for our show. We've been doing 85 plus shows now. It's been a real joy. So Clarence, as always, thank you. Human Partnership is our sponsor. Great community health organization. Does some great community programming out in the community. And we suggest that you check them out. as well at humanpartnership.org. I'm Stan Shanling, one of your hosts.

Clarence is my co-host for our show. We've been doing 85 plus shows now. It's been a real joy. So Clarence, as always, thank you. Human Partnership is our sponsor. Great community health organization. Does some great community programming out in the community. And we suggest that you check them out. as well at humanpartnership.org. I'm Stan Shanling, one of your hosts.

So let's talk about the numbers a little bit. So, you know, a research group and this kind of reflects what you mentioned before in 2020. 13.8 million households, now this is nationally, were food insecure at some time during the year. Wow. Okay, now 44.2 million people lived in households that had difficulty getting enough food to feed everyone. And that was in 2022.

So let's talk about the numbers a little bit. So, you know, a research group and this kind of reflects what you mentioned before in 2020. 13.8 million households, now this is nationally, were food insecure at some time during the year. Wow. Okay, now 44.2 million people lived in households that had difficulty getting enough food to feed everyone. And that was in 2022.

And that was up almost 34 million people from the year prior. So, all right, let's talk about that jump. What caused that particular jump? I'm sure part of it was the pandemic, but that's a lot. So what caused it, at least from what we can gather?

And that was up almost 34 million people from the year prior. So, all right, let's talk about that jump. What caused that particular jump? I'm sure part of it was the pandemic, but that's a lot. So what caused it, at least from what we can gather?