• A recent article highlights the pressing issue of food insecurity among adolescents in the United States, with a particular focus on Baltimore.

• Nearly 13% of US children and 26% of Baltimore's youth face food insecurity, severely impacting their health and development.

• Adolescents' higher calorie needs and limited access to food make them especially vulnerable, often pushing them towards risky behaviors to obtain food.

• Existing food assistance programs fall short of addressing their unique needs, and stigma further discourages them from seeking help.

• HeartSmiles, a nonprofit affiliated with the Johns Hopkins Center for Adolescent Health, is making strides with initiatives like an online food pantry and the Granny Project cooking show, which will provide essential food support to Baltimore's youth.

• The article calls for policymakers to better consider adolescents in food assistance programs and highlights the need for research into solutions such as Instacart cards for SNAP benefits.

• It emphasizes the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships to combine food access with services like job training and community gardening.

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