The Right to Food: The Lived Experiences of Youth with Special

Dietary Needs while Living in Situations of Food Insecurity

Christina Hyland

Agenda

Overview of PRP/Research Question Defining Key Concepts Highlights of the Literature Review Methodology: Research Method &

Paradigm Data Collection/Data Analysis Methods Findings Some Suggestions

Research Question

What are the challenges and lived experiences of youth who have special dietary needs and/or restrictions, while living in situations of food insecurity?

Defining Food Insecurity

The limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.

Literature Review Canada’s Current State of Food Insecurity

› United Nations Special Reporteur of the Right to Food, Oliver De Shutter (2012)

The Charitable Model and Response to Food Insecurity in Canada › 1 in 12 households in Canada live in situations of

food insecurity, while the use of food banks has risen 31.4% in Ontario since 2008

› 55% of food banks have had to significantly scale back the quantity of food supply

› More than 55% of food banks were purchasing their own food to keep up with the demand which forced over 8% to close early or not open because of a lack of food

Literature Review Cont’d

Physical, Mental Health and Social Implications

Youth Strategies to Mitigate Gaps in the Literature

Methodology: Research Method & Paradigm

Method: Hermeneutic Phenomenology

› Focuses on a more deeper understanding of the "meaning of the experience to the experiencer"

Paradigm: Interpretivist Paradigm

› To achieve an understanding of the world, one must access individuals' descriptions and the meanings they attribute to their lived experiences

Critical Theory› Works towards un-mapping and

challenging oppressive and "distorted" ideologies, practices and perspectives embedded within systemic structures and performed at times unknowingly through everyday taken for granted social relations

Human Rights-Based Framework › Human rights relate to the conditions,

basic needs and freedoms to which all humans are entitled and at liberty to, simply by virtue of their humanity

Data Collection/Data Methods

Recruitment of the Participants › A snowball or purposive theoretical

sampling method In-depth Semi-structured Interviews Template Analysis.

› Immersing oneself within the text in order to surface overarching themes, and to then draw out further in-depth themes within them

The Participants 8 participants

› 5 -Youth Resource Centre Type 1 Diabetes Weight loss condition Pregnant and Parenting Halal Heart Condition

› 2 -Alternative School Paleo/Lactose Intolerant Vegetarian Diet

› 1 Local Grassroots Food Justice Group Soy Lecithin allergy and Gluten Intolerance

Findings Theme 1: Physical Health Implications of

Food Insecurity for Youth with Special Diets › The Domino Effect

Theme 2: Psychological Dimensions of Food Insecurity for Youth with Special Diets › Future Fears and Interlocking Stressors

Theme 3: Social Dimensions of Food Insecurity for Youth with Special Diets. › Multiple Webs of Stigmatization: "Beggars Can't

be Choosers" › Impact on School, Work and Relationships:

Social Exclusion and Belonging

Theme 4: Exposing and Challenging the Societal Misconceptions around Food Charity› Community Kitchens and Meal Programs:

The Problem Lies Within › Food Banks: Interlocking Challenges

Theme 5: "Walk a Mile in the Youth's Shoes" › The Special Diet Allowance: a Second

Chance

“What I would say to the government, is basically put yourself in their shoes. Walk a mile in the youth shoes that are in the streets, that have nowhere to go, that sleep in a cardboard box maybe or under an overhang or in shelters, and don't know where their next meal is coming from. All I ask is for more resources more housing and a little more income for these youth who are in need, and a Special Diet Allowance for youth who have other needs, cause you never know what these youth are dealing with these days, medical, mental, physical…the government doesn't realize that this is no laughing matter, like this is a serious situation these youth are in need of help, that's why they're called youth "at-risk". They're not on the streets causing trouble, they're on the streets for a reason because they have no other place to go, they have no source of food they have no income, and they're looking for help and even though they don't say it, they need it, and the government needs to step up and start helping. They speak of it and its their time to act on it. “

-James

Some Suggestions

Think about what your passionate about

Starting early/allotting time Literature Review Tips Class feedback and accessing available

resources Trust your instincts What you can do right now