Food insecurity is an ongoing challenge for many California families with young children

The RAPID California Voices project asks parents and caregivers of young children in California about their family’s economic circumstances, well-being, use of child care, and more. This multi-year, statewide survey aims to understand the experiences of California families with children under age 6, lift up parent voices, and promote the design of real-time data-informed policies and programs that support families.

Having consistent access to food is critical to the well-being of children and families. Research indicates that young children who experience food insecurity face increased risks of developmental delays, poor health outcomes, and behavioral difficulties. During the critical early years when children’s brains are rapidly developing, consistent access to adequate nutrition is essential.

Because of this, we ask parents about their family’s access to food and experiences of food insecurity. This fact sheet uses data collected between July 2024 and January 2026 from California parents of children under age 6 to document families’ experiences of food insecurity.

Nearly half of surveyed California families with young children report food insecurity

Food insecurity is a widespread challenge among surveyed California families with young children.

We measure experiences of food insecurity by using six food security items developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and identify food insecurity as the presence of two or more of these experiences:

• The food that we bought just didn’t last, and we didn’t have money to get more.
• We couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals.
• Did you or other adults in your household ever cut the size of your meal or skip meals because there wasn’t enough money for food?
• If yes, how often did this happen?
• Did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn’t enough money for food?
• Were you ever hungry but didn’t eat because there wasn’t enough money for food?

From July 2024 to January 2026, an average of 32% of surveyed California parents experienced food insecurity.

The rate increased over 2025, and in January 2026, 47% of parents reported experiencing food insecurity, the highest rate recorded during this timeframe.

Parents’ responses to RAPID’s open-ended survey questions describe the experiences of families facing food insecurity. California parents from across the state wrote about feeling stressed about food costs and skipping meals or reducing their own portions to ensure their children have enough to eat. Some parents wrote about their struggles to qualify for food assistance and having to make difficult decisions around which basic needs to pay for, like the tradeoff between food and rent.

“The impact of inflation on our shopping cart. We receive less food and pay more at the grocery store.” Parent in Ventura County

“As a single parent caring for two children, accessing food is difficult. I’m dollars short of qualifying for CalFresh. I’m having to starve myself so my children can eat.” Parent in Sacramento County

“[My biggest concern is] money. I’m a single mom of three between 11 and 4. My oldest is special needs. They keep raising everything, food and housing. I always have to choose between one or the other. I feed my kids and make sure rent is paid but I’m hungry and I’m diabetic.” Parent in Los Angeles County

“Affordability of child care, home and auto insurance, and groceries. Everything has just gotten unaffordably expensive.” Parent in Yuba County

“[What helps the most right now is] visiting my mom because if we eat at her house then we don’t have to worry about eating at ours, where supply is low, limited, and rationed. However, due to guilt I may skip eating at my mom’s, telling her I just ate and to only feed the kids. I don’t want my parents to know how much I’m actually struggling.” Parent in Los Angeles County

“Making sure that we have enough food to feed ourselves [is my biggest concern].” Parent in Sutter County

“The challenge is that food is expensive but try to be creative and make sure everyone still eats something and not starve with what we do have!” Parent in San Benito County

“Makes me worry about if I will be able to afford all the groceries for the month sometimes.” Parent in Los Angeles County

Families who use CalFresh report disruptions in food access

Many families with young children rely on nutrition programs and other supports to meet their household’s food needs.

Between October 2025 and November 2025, a 43-day federal government shutdown disrupted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) nationwide, leading to reductions and delays in food support for millions of Americans, including 5 million Californians who rely on CalFresh, the state-based SNAP food assistance program.

In addition to the food insecurity analysis described in this fact sheet, we also analyzed RAPID data from December 2025, one month after the shutdown formally ended. This analysis focused on California families who reported currently using CalFresh, to understand if the shutdown impacted families’ access to the food benefit. Parents rated the level of impact the government shutdown was having on their CalFresh benefit using a 5-point scale: not at all, a little, some, a lot, or very much.

Nearly three in four (73%) surveyed California parents who used CalFresh reported shutdown-related delays in CalFresh benefits, and 51% reported that these delays affected their household “a lot” or “very much.”

Additionally, we asked parents using CalFresh if they received support from county or local community organizations to help cover the delay in CalFresh benefits: 62% received partial support from local organizations that didn’t fully meet their family’s needs, 24% received no support, and 4% received support that fully met their needs. Nine percent were unsure if supports were available.

A substantial number of parents surveyed turned to community organizations for food support but reported that these sources of support were unable to fully meet their family’s food needs. This highlights the importance for families with young children of both stability in federal food assistance programs and robust local support that can fill gaps in federal programs.

California parents using CalFresh responded to open-ended questions in December 2025 about their experiences and expressed concerns about having enough food for their families. Parents attributed their struggles to food affordability challenges and CalFresh disruptions, and wrote that they had to cut back or stretch their food supplies.

“CalFresh has been helpful but also it isn’t enough. With the prices increasing on food it helps but still prices are high.” Parent in Santa Barbara County

“[The CalFresh lapse in benefits] was extremely stressful but we eventually got our November benefits.” Parent in Santa Cruz County

“We have a food pantry that helped us somewhat during this time. I also used more than usual of our income for food and supplies.” Parent in Los Angeles County

“It’s a service that really helps me a lot to meet my needs. Food is expensive and even though what I receive is not a lot, it helps somehow.” Parent in Santa Clara County

“I am very thankful for my SNAP benefits, it helps a lot because of the rent being so high.” Parent in San Bernardino County

“CalFresh has helped us stretch our budget during tough times.” Parent in Fresno

Conclusion

Parents’ reports of ongoing food insecurity and CalFresh disruptions document the challenges families face in maintaining access to food. Understanding both the food insecurity challenges families experience and the disruptions that families face when food assistance programs are paused can inform policies and programs that support consistent access to food for California families with young children.