{"id":13711,"date":"2025-10-08T14:39:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T14:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/texas\/?p=13711"},"modified":"2025-10-08T14:39:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T14:39:29","slug":"new-poll-highlights-mounting-pressure-of-food-costs-on-texas-families-affecting-health-finances-and-overall-wellbeing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/texas\/2025\/10\/08\/new-poll-highlights-mounting-pressure-of-food-costs-on-texas-families-affecting-health-finances-and-overall-wellbeing\/","title":{"rendered":"New Poll Highlights Mounting Pressure of Food Costs on Texas Families Affecting Health, Finances, and Overall Wellbeing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Texas adults overwhelmingly demand bipartisan action to reduce childhood hunger\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

[October 8, 2025, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS]<\/b> \u2013 A new poll from No Kid Hungry Texas finds the rising cost of food continues to outpace income, worsening financial strain and food insecurity across the state. The data shows that families, particularly parents of school-aged children, are being forced to make painful choices between food and other essential expenses, often at the expense of their health and well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

The poll found 85% of Texans say the cost of food is rising faster than their income, <\/span>up from 81% just one year ago<\/span><\/a>. As food prices continue to climb, seven-in-ten Texans (71%) report making difficult tradeoffs between paying for food and paying or saving for other essentials like rent, utilities, medical bills, or transportation. Many parents say they are skipping meals themselves so their children can eat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe food affordability crisis is getting worse, and it\u2019s hurting families in profound ways,\u201d said Stacie Sanchez Hare, director of No Kid Hungry Texas. \u201cWhen the fear they won\u2019t be able to afford enough food for their children is driving parents into both debt and depression, it\u2019s clear the system is broken.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The poll also reveals significant health consequences tied to high grocery costs. Families reported worsening mental and physical health due to the stress of affording food. Parents, in particular, shared experiences of anxiety, fatigue, mental and physical illness stemming from inadequate nutrition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the face of these circumstances, Texans want their elected officials to take action on hunger. Eighty-nine percent believe that ending childhood hunger should be a bipartisan goal, and 82% would like to see elected officials do more on this issue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During the 89th Legislative Session, Texas lawmakers achieved bipartisan agreement to implement Summer EBT, a federal program that provides additional grocery benefits during the summer to help families bridge the school meals gap. However, Governor Abbott vetoed funding for the program after the session, a decision opposed by two-thirds (67%) of Texans. The poll found that the vast majority of Texas adults (80%) would like the state to participate in this federal program.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTexans can\u2019t afford to keep falling behind,\u201d added Sanchez Hare. \u201cPrograms like Summer EBT are proven, federally funded, and widely supported by the public. With food costs rising faster than paychecks and Texas one of just 12 states left out, the time to act is now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Topline findings of the 2025 poll include:<\/b><\/p>\n