{"id":13912,"date":"2026-09-23T07:00:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T07:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/texas\/?p=13912"},"modified":"2026-09-22T23:59:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T23:59:30","slug":"half-of-parents-in-texas-are-skipping-meals-to-afford-enough-groceries-for-their-household","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/texas\/2026\/09\/23\/half-of-parents-in-texas-are-skipping-meals-to-afford-enough-groceries-for-their-household\/","title":{"rendered":"Half of Parents in Texas are Skipping Meals to Afford Enough Groceries for their Household"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wednesday, September 23, 2026<\/b>
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Parents are making devastating trade-offs as grocery prices rise and Texans lose SNAP benefits.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

MEDIA CONTACT: <\/b>Georgina Seal, georgina@evergreenstrategygroup.com<\/span><\/p>\n

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[SAN ANTONIO, TX]<\/b> \u2013 New research* released today by <\/span>No Kid Hungry Texas<\/span><\/a> finds parents are stretching every dollar to shield their children from hunger amidst rising grocery prices. Nearly 8 in 10 (78%) parents are making trade-offs to put enough food on the table, including by delaying payments, skipping meals, and putting off medical care. And 6 in 10 Texans say it’s hard to ensure their household has enough nutritious food.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One mom from Collin County shared, \u201cI can no longer afford fresh fruits and vegetables that I used to pay for weekly. Some days I don\u2019t have dinner to feed my 10-year-old other than rice.\u201d These struggles are more pronounced over the summer, when families lose access to school meals.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Grocery and gas prices have outrun what Texas families can keep up with,” said Stacie Sanchez, director of No Kid Hungry Texas. “No parent should have to skip meals to feed their kids, but that is the reality facing too many hardworking Texans today. We know programs like SNAP, Summer EBT and school meals work to reduce hunger, improve health and academic outcomes, and bolster local economies. This research demonstrates that folks across the state want to see those programs protected, strengthened, and available to all kids in Texas who need them.”<\/span><\/p>\n

These findings come as <\/span>650,000 Texans, <\/span>including more than 310,000 kids<\/span><\/a>, have lost access to SNAP in the last year as federal cuts to the program have gone into effect. These cuts also threaten access to school meals, as families who lose SNAP benefits also lose automatic eligibility for free meals. Entire school districts are also at risk of losing eligibility for the Community Eligibility Provision, as Houston ISD, Northeast ISD (San Antonio), and other districts are already experiencing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 89th Legislative Session, lawmakers eliminated the cost of reduced-price school meals for families, a historic investment in the health and well-being of children across the state. Next session, the legislature will have another opportunity to ensure children have the nutrition they need to thrive all year round by funding Summer EBT, a proven program already operating in 37 states that provides additional grocery benefits to eligible families during the summer months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Toplines from the 2026 poll include:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n