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A "smart" way of addressing food insecurity in the digital age

M. Phan, E. Hickey, A.F. Beck, M.D. Klein
Pediatrics

Maya is a 4-year-old girl who is presenting to our office for her well-child check. A familiar mark on her social screening questionnaire reveals that her family is worried that their food budget will run out before the end of the month. As we enter the room, we catch Maya’s mother in a yawn; she apologizes because she came straight from an overnight shift. Maya and her sister, both with juice-stained lips, are immersed in a video that is playing on their mother’s smartphone as we discuss growth charts and inhalers. Finally, we turn to Maya’s dietary history and the potential reality of food insecurity (FI). As our conversation starts, the phone rings, interrupting the video and our conversation. The family’s ride is out front, and they cannot wait. As they are rushing out the door, all we can do is provide them with a list of local food pantries. We are left dissatisfied. With recent advances in technology, how might we have more effectively and efficiently addressed this family’s FI?

Phan M, Hickey E, Beck AF, Klein MD, Real FJ. A "smart" way of addressing food insecurity in the digital age. Pediatrics. 2018;142(1). PMID: 29907702. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2018-1336

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Publication year
Resource type
Commentaries & Blogs
Social Determinant of Health
Food/Hunger