Access to nutritious food is one of the most powerful drivers of children’s health and development, yet for many families, it is not always easy to maintain. Across the United States, millions of children live in households that rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure they have consistent access to healthy meals. When programs like SNAP are reduced or restricted, it becomes harder for families to maintain that stability, putting children’s health and well-being at risk.
At Connecticut Children’s, we see the importance of consistent access to nutritious food every day, and we are committed to being part of the solution through our Start Childhood Off Right (SCOR) program, which identifies families facing food insecurity and connects them with resources for healthy foods.
Here’s why consistent access to nutritious food is essential for helping children grow, learn, and thrive.
1. Nutrition Fuels Brain Development
The early years are a period of rapid brain growth. Nutrients such as iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids are essential for learning, attention, and memory. When children experience food insecurity, it can lead to developmental delays and lower test performance.
Research shows that early nutrition influences brain structure and function, making it one of the most important investments in a child’s future.
2. Nourishment Supports Physical Growth and Health
Healthy growth requires consistent access to nutritious meals. Without enough calories and key nutrients, children are more likely to experience stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and long-term health complications.
Hunger and poor nutrition can also worsen chronic conditions, increase hospital visits, and make recovery slower.
3. Hunger Affects Emotional and Social Well-Being
Food insecurity does not only harm the body; it affects emotional health as well. Children who experience hunger are more likely to show signs of anxiety, irritability, and difficulty focusing in class.
Consistent access to food helps children feel safe and stable, supporting both mental health and social development.
4. Nutrition Supports School Attendance and Academic Success
Children who eat well are better able to learn. They have more energy, stronger concentration, and improved academic outcomes.
Research shows that children from food-secure households are about 57 percent less likely to miss school than those from food-insecure households. When families lose access to SNAP benefits or other nutrition supports, the effects are often visible in classrooms as attendance drops and learning suffers.
5. Food Access Shapes Lifelong Health
Reliable access to nutritious food in childhood lays the groundwork for lifelong health. Children who eat well early on are less likely to develop conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or obesity later in life.
When nutrition programs are impacted, it does not just affect families today; it affects the health trajectory of an entire generation.
Connecticut Children’s Response: Start Childhood Off Right (SCOR)
To address the needs in our community, Connecticut Children's is home to the Start Childhood Off Right (SCOR) program, an initiative of the Office for Community Child Health.
Through the two-question Hunger Vital Sign screening used in primary care offices and the Emergency Department, providers identify families who may benefit from access to food. Once identified, SCOR connects families with community resources and provides fresh fruit and vegetable vouchers, funded by Rite Aid, Cigna, and Stop & Shop, that can be redeemed at four Hartford-area grocery stores, Walmart, and Stop & Shop.
By integrating food access screening into medical care, SCOR helps families meet a fundamental need and ensures that children have the nourishment required to grow, learn, and thrive.
A Shared Responsibility
Hospital-based programs such as SCOR are vital, but they cannot replace the reach and stability of national nutrition supports such as SNAP and school meal programs. When those programs are weakened, the effects ripple through families, schools, and healthcare systems.
Every child deserves reliable access to healthy food. Supporting both community-based initiatives and strong public nutrition programs ensures that no child’s potential is limited by hunger.