Food is medicine: A Sacramento pediatrician’s plea to protect SNAP | Opinion
Every day in our pediatric clinic, I see the quiet signs of hunger in Sacramento’s children: a 5-year-old whose stomachaches keep her out of kindergarten, and a middle-schooler who can’t focus because dinner was a bag of chips. For more than a quarter-million people in Sacramento County, the state’s CalFresh program —California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — keeps food on the table.
But the future of those benefits is uncertain because of the ongoing federal government shutdown and delays in federal funding.
Until recently, November benefits were expected to be paid on schedule. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture signaled that, without a congressional appropriation for the current fiscal year, it lacked the authority to fund SNAP for all recipients. Congress’ lack of progress on passing a 2026 budget package has triggered the ongoing federal government shutdown and funding shortfalls for critical safety-net programs like SNAP/CalFresh.
Two federal judges have ordered the USDA to tap into contingency funds to keep benefits flowing, yet even with these orders, the rollout of funds remains unclear. Federal officials have warned that payments to states may be delayed for a week or more, while the exact amount per household remains undecided.
At the same time, California officials confirm that households may experience delays in benefit delivery and continue to encourage families to apply and recertify but advise of possible delays. Meanwhile, local food banks and pantries are bracing for a surge in demand.
In the clinic, food insecurity shows up as slow growth in toddlers, frequent illness in children, behavior problems in school and difficulty concentrating in the classroom. Children who lack regular access to nutritious meals are more likely to develop chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. They are also more likely to struggle academically and face long-term mental health challenges.
These are not simply social-service issues, they are medical issues. When families are forced to cut back on meals or rely solely on charitable food sources, the physical and developmental toll on children is real and measurable.
It might be tempting to frame hunger as a failure of individual families. But in my experience, the families I care for are doing everything they can: working, caring for children, coping with illness or job loss and dealing with rising housing and utility costs. Programs like SNAP/CalFresh are not handouts, they are critical public health and economic security tools.
There is ample evidence demonstrating that SNAP/CalFresh participation improves health outcomes and decreases risk for developing chronic disease. Research also shows that each dollar of SNAP benefits generates more than a dollar in local economic activity, supporting grocery stores, farmers and community markets across the region. When benefits are delayed or cut, the effects ripple through the local economy as well as through clinic waiting rooms.
As a pediatrician, my responsibility extends beyond diagnosing iron deficiency or obesity. I screen for food insecurity at every visit, ask simple questions about whether families are worried about running out of food, document the responses and refer families to local resources, such as the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. I also have an ethical obligation to speak up when policy decisions threaten children’s health.
Access to adequate nutrition is preventive medicine — it is as essential as immunizations or safe water.
Sacramento has a strong tradition of community support for its families and children, and right now, that tradition matters more than ever. Here’s how the community can help: Donate to local food banks and pantries, such as the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, and volunteer when possible. Contact your elected representatives and urge them to protect SNAP/CalFresh funding and to create automatic state-level backup plans, so children do not go hungry when federal processes stall.
We can all speak openly about hunger in our social circles and professional networks because reducing stigma helps families seek the assistance they need.
Children cannot learn when their stomachs are empty; they cannot grow or thrive when their bodies are in survival mode. When government inaction interrupts nutritional supports, it doesn’t just cut off meals, it cuts off opportunity: In our clinic, I see the cost of that in tired faces, anxious parents and quiet despair behind words like “We’re managing.”
We have the data, we know the consequences and we have the tools. The question is now, will we act?
Healthy children make a healthy community, and that means we must treat food access as a vital part of child health. Let’s make sure no child in Sacramento goes to bed hungry.
Dr. Brighton Alvey, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is a pediatrician practicing in Sacramento County with a doctorate degree in medicine. Dr. Maura Reilly, PhD, MPH, a public health educator, also contributed to this piece.