13 VOL. 79, NO. 1, SPRING 2020 Human Organization, Vol. 79, No. 1, 2020 Copyright © 2020 by the Society for Applied Anthropology 0018-7259/20/010013-11 Introduction F ood insecurity refers to having limited or uncertain access to adequate amounts of safe and nutritious foods (USDA 2018). Experiencing food insecurity has negative impacts on one’s health and well-being, including increased risks for chronic diseases, obesity, and mental health disorders (Hadley and Crooks 2012). However, food insecurity is especially consequential for adolescents ages eleven to eighteen years. Adolescence is a critical time of physical and cognitive growth within the life course. It is essential that teens receive an adequate diet and appropriate nutrition in order to develop and mature properly and avoid future long-term health consequences. Despite the sensitivity of the demographic to food insecurity, food-insecure teens remain an understudied population. While there is a growing body of literature focusing on the effects of food insecurity, there has been little research concentrating specifcally on Mecca Burris is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Anthropology at Indiana University. Her research interests broadly include food inse- curity, nutrition, life history theory, adolescence, and food policy. She would like to acknowledge the local Juvenile Welfare Board, community organizations, and teens for their assistance and participation in this project. Sarah Bradley is a Ph.D. candidate, at the University of South Florida Department of Anthropology; Kayla Rykiel is a Community Health Fellow at Project Horseshoe Farm in Greensboro, Alabama; David Himmelgreen is Professor and Chair in the Department of An- thropology at the University of South Florida. Teen Food Insecurity: Finding Solutions through the Voices of Teens Mecca Burris, Sarah Bradley, Kayla Rykiel, and David Himmelgreen Teens are vulnerable to food insecurity for both biological and social reasons. This study aimed to better understand the factors that underpin teen food insecurity and the coping strategies teens employ when faced with limited food access and hunger. A sociodemographic survey including the USDA’s Self-Administered Food Security Survey Module for Children Ages 12 Years and Older, focus groups, and photovoice were used to collect data on the demographics, food insecurity prevalence, and experiences of food insecurity among thirty-eight teens from fve different communities in Tampa Bay, Florida. Results showed that approximately 44 percent of teens were food insecure. Factors that associated with food insecurity included: (1) negative perceptions of food quality, food options, school administration, food waste, and food assistance utilization; (2) school and programming issues including the timing of meals, portion sizes, and regulations associated with food and access; (3) stigma and bullying; and (4) socioeconomics. Teens relied on their communities (e.g., friends, churches), illegal activities (e.g., stealing), cheap and unhealthy foods, jobs, or their teachers to cope with food insecurity. The fndings highlight signifcant opportunities for food security interventions that target the unique nutritional needs and social experiences of adolescents. The study was funded by the county Juvenile Welfare Board. Key words: food insecurity, adolescence, teens, school nutrition, photovoice, competitive foods, applied anthropology the prevalence of teen food insecurity and the experiences of food-insecure teens. Food insecurity can cause poor health outcomes stem- ming from both overnutrition, undernutrition, and micronutri- ent defciencies in teens (Cook and Frank 2008). Malnutrition stemming from food insecurity during childhood can result in lowered immunity, growth stunting, early or delayed puberty, and heightened risks for adult-onset diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension (CDPH 2015; Cook and Frank 2008; Locher et al. 2005). In addi- tion, food insecurity is associated with mental stress such as worry and anxiety surrounding food, socioeconomics, and, especially among adolescents, fear of judgment from others (Connell et al. 2005). Approximately 12 percent of households in the United States are food insecure, and 4.5 percent of households have very low food security (Coleman-Jensen et al. 2018). United States households with children tend to be at an even higher risk of food insecurity, with nearly 16 per- cent of households currently food insecure (Coleman-Jensen et al. 2018). Furthermore, research shows that households with older children have higher rates of food insecurity (Nord 2009; Ralston et al. 2017). In 2015, food insecurity was more than twice as prevalent among households with teens compared to households with children four years or younger (Ralston et al. 2017) This disproportion may be due to the fact that younger children are buffered against food insecurity and hunger by adults or older siblings more often than older children (Nord 2009). In addition, families with children fve years or younger can receive assistance from the