Children need enough healthy food to grow, but food can cost a lot. Many families worry that they will run out of food and not have enough money to buy more each month.

When you go to the doctor with your child, you might be asked one or two questions about whether your family has enough food. It's OK to answer honestly. These answers are just to give the health care team an opportunity to give you resources and support.

They can explain government nutrition programs and connect you with local support like food pantries and food banks. Here are some programs that may help your family.

--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): SNAP is also known as "food stamps." To get SNAP, you must apply in your state and meet certain requirements. Applying for or receiving SNAP will not affect your immigration status. If your child was born in the United States, he/she may qualify, especially if he/she receives Medicaid, and it will not affect your immigration status.

--Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): This program helps with breastfeeding support, baby formula, nutrition advice or other needs for infants and children. You can also get referrals to health care providers through WIC.

--School meals: Children can get breakfast, lunch or after-school meals during the school year.

--Summer meals: When school is out, there are meal options for children through the summer meals program and summer EBT program.

--Child and Adult Care Food Program: Children who attend child care or after-school care programs that participate in this program can get meals and snacks.

But what if your family does not qualify for food benefits through SNAP, WIC or meals at school or child care? Ask your pediatrician about food pantries, food banks and emergency food resources.

Food pantries come in many forms, including community centers, places of worship and nonprofit groups. Some even have mobile pantries that travel to neighborhoods in need.

When you visit a food pantry, they may ask for some information about you such as your ZIP code, an ID or other information that can show you live in the area they serve. Not all food pantries require an ID, but they may ask for other information. Depending on where the pantry is located, they may need this information to find out if there is another pantry located closer to you that you can visit.

They’ll also ask how many people live in your household to help them figure out how much and what kind of food you need.

Food pantries usually get food from local food banks, grocery stores, food drives, farms and restaurants. Some have non-food items like hygiene products or clothes, too.

Food pantries may have limited hours and days so be sure to check their schedules before you visit. And they may have limits on when and how many times you can visit. This is to make sure there is enough food for all the families that visit them.

By comparison, a food bank is a place that gathers, prepares and delivers food from various sources, such as food manufacturers, government agencies and farmers. Food banks store food and hire drivers to deliver it to local food pantries and other nearby places.

Some food banks offer extra food services, such as help applying for SNAP, classes on how to prepare and cook healthy meals, career resources and health related needs such as blood pressure checks. Some even provide summer and after-school meal programs for those in need.

There are also ways to find help if you need food right away.

--211: Call or text 211 or go to the 211 website to be connected to local services. The number can be used almost anywhere in the U.S. Staff and volunteers connect people with food, housing, help with utilities and more. Information is available in multiple languages.

--FindHelp: Locate free or low-cost food and get information about housing and financial assistance and health care. Visit FindHelp.org.

--Hunger hotline: Call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) or visit Hunger-Free America.

--Feeding America: Search by ZIP code for school food pantry, mobile food pantry and local meal programs.

--Anti-hunger organizations: Search by state for local anti-hunger organizations that help families find resources

Remember, you are not alone. Many families have difficulty buying food, especially with high grocery prices. Everyone deserves to have enough nutritious food at home. Your pediatrician can help connect you with resources to help you feed your family.

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Kimberly Montez, MD, MPH, FAAP, is an Associate Professor of General Academic Pediatrics and Social Sciences & Health Policy at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. As a health services researcher and child health advocate, Dr. Montez has expertise in the social drivers of health, including food insecurity. She is a co-author for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Food Research & Action Center Food Insecurity Toolkit for Pediatricians. Dr. Montez serves as an official spokesperson for the AAP and as an associate editor for the journal, Pediatrics.

Kofi D. Essel, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a community pediatrician at Children's National Hospital (CNH) and Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University (GWU) School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. Dr. Essel has dedicated his career to advocacy/research around health care and public health workforce training, health disparities, and community engagement, with expertise and national recognition in the areas of addressing diet-related chronic disease and food insecurity with patients and families. He is a co-author of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Food Research & Action Center Food Insecurity Toolkit for Pediatricians and a member of the AAP Section on Obesity Executive Committee.

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