White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

On Wednesday, October 26th, the Biden Harris Administration hosted the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years. The Administration released a National strategy with actions the federal government will take to create solutions to these complex challenges (White House National Strategy on Hunger Nutrition and Health (whitehouse.gov)). The conference discussed a commitment to ending hunger. This conference consisted of elected officials, advocates, activists, and leaders of business, faith, and philanthropy from coast to coast. This conference’s bold goal is to end hunger in America and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030. The effects of food hunger are far reaching. When families can’t afford healthy food options, it’s harder for children to succeed in school, and it can lead to mental and physical health challenges for families. Furthermore, families of color, those living in rural communities and territories, and low-income families—structural inequality, such as disparities in educational and economic opportunities and lack of access to health care, safe housing, and transportation, make the impact of hunger and diet-related diseases even more severe. The COVID-19 pandemic has made these problems even worse, reinforcing the need for urgent, sustained action. This conference gave Beyond the Crisis a wider network of contacts such as local, state, territory and tribal governments; Congress; the private sector; civil society; agricultural workers; philanthropists; academics; and the Federal Government. Beyond the Crisis will continue to work alongside its partners to improve food access and affordability, integrate nutrition and health, empower consumers to make healthy food choices, and ensure policies and programs to reduce disparities in hunger.