Food Is Health
Published on August 26, 2026
Food is health. Public health helps make sure everyone can get safe, healthy, and affordable food.
The Food Is Health campaign brings together Hunger Action Month and National Food Safety and Education Month to show that good health depends on having enough nutritious food and knowing how to prepare and store it safely.
The food we eat affects our health at every age. Healthy food supports safe pregnancies, helps children grow, prevents long-term illness, and promotes healthy aging. When families have reliable access to nutritious food, they are more likely to have better physical and mental health.
Public health supports healthy communities by teaching food safety and helping prevent foodborne illness. It also connects people to food assistance programs, promotes healthy choices, supports breastfeeding and maternal nutrition, addresses hunger, and works with community partners to make nutritious food easier to find and afford.
Hunger Action Month & Food Insecurity
September is Hunger Action Month (HAM), a nationwide effort to raise awareness about hunger in America and inspire action. This is also a time to create awareness about food insecurity.
This initiative aims to engage with our community, increase awareness, provide education, and promote Hunger Action Month (HAM).
- Promote Hunger Action Month on social media.
- Create awareness about food insecurity.
- Engage with the community to get involved, donate, or volunteer.
Food insecurity is when families must choose between having enough food to eat and paying a medical or utility bill or rent. Food should not be an impossible choice.
Yet, for millions of people in America, a daily meal isn’t a choice between different dishes. It’s a choice between food and other crucial needs—like medicine, electricity, or childcare.
- Why It Matters
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- Food insecurity impacts daily well-being and long-term health.
- It is linked to higher risks of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
- In Bexar County, hunger disproportionately affects vulnerable neighborhoods and families with children.
NOTE: National Hunger Action Day is September 29, 2026. This is a day to take action and create awareness of food insecurity. Go orange for Hunger Action Month.
- Take Action During Hunger Action Month
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- Wear orange on September 29 to show support.
- Donate food or funds to the San Antonio Food Bank or local food drives.
- Volunteer your time at community food markets or distribution events.
- Use your voice—share a photo in orange on social media with hashtags #HungerActionMonth, #EndHungerNow, and #HENSA to spread awareness.
National Food Safety & Education Month
National Food Safety Education Month raises awareness about simple steps people can take to prevent foodborne illness.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends four basic food safety steps:
- clean
- separate
- cook
- chill
This means washing hands and surfaces, keeping raw foods away from ready-to-eat foods, cooking food to a safe temperature, and refrigerating food quickly.
Learn more about food safety from the CDC.
Community Partnerships
The City of San Antonio Metro Health works to address the root causes of poor nutrition by:
- Partnering with local organizations.
- Supporting nutrition assistance programs.
- Implementing policies that make healthy foods accessible to people in our community.
Metro Health’s Center for Health and Policy serves as the backbone support for the Health Equity Network (HEN). The HEN is a group of 40 partners working together to reduce health disparities. The HEN works to:
- Expand access to affordable, nutritious food.
- Support families through nutrition programs and resources.
- Advocate for policies that reduce health disparities tied to food insecurity.
Donate or Volunteer
Donate food to nourish neighbors in need, volunteer your time to distribute meals, contribute financially to sustain our efforts, or use your voice to advocate for change.
Learn more about how you can get involved by visiting our partner sites:
Get Help
If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, call 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000, or visit San Antonio Food Bank to find help near you.