The lack of adequate access to the appropriate selection, quality, or amount of food to maintain a healthy lifestyle has the potential to take both a physical and mental toll on developing teens. In 2023, military teens shared their experiences regarding food insecurity in the National Military Family Association (NMFA) Military Teen Experience Survey. Of the 939 NMFA survey respondents ages 13 through 19, over one-third (37%) reported experiencing some level of food insecurity within the past 30 days.
This webinar highlights emergent data around military teens’ experiences and the impacts of food security on their lives. Presenters also discuss BLOOM: Empowering the Military Teen, a resource created by military teens for military teens. This network’s goal is to connect teens to each other, create space for them to talk about their unique experiences, and find support from fellow military teens. Additionally, presenters share current advocacy efforts to combat food insecurity in the uniformed services.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe statistics around military teens and their experiences of food insecurity
- Identify how food insecurity may affect a teen’s mental well-being and daily life
- Examine NMFA resources for teen support (i.e. BLOOM network)
- Discuss how local communities, states, and the federal government can respond