#HANGRY Is Ending Childhood Hunger in America

I first experienced the mod term “hangry” when I was 20 during our first family trip to Europe. I remember the moment, clear as day. I was wearing canary yellow linen pants with a white linen blouse. After hours of walking and meandering the streets of Paris, my dad ushered us toward La Sacré-Cœur. By then, lunch had surpassed and it was that critical time of the day when a simple snack would mitigate. I was hungry and let my dad know I needed something to eat. He insisted we visit the Church first and didn’t concede. I was so upset I opted out of going in. I missed an entire 90-minute visit to one of the most monumental infrastructures in Europe. And I still didn’t get to eat until dinner.

I was hangry.

It wasn’t until three or so yeas ago I did some research to understand if the concept was a real thing, and wouldn’t you know, it’s a very real thing for a woman prone to hanger. There is absolutely no irony I inherited that brain function from my dad — the same dad that awakened that very real other side of me.

I’ve learned how to temper my hanger now. I simply eat. I make preemptive moves and ensure I nosh on something, no matter how small proportioned,  to hold me over until a full meal is appropriate or convenient. It’s easy. And saves me a lot of anguish. And those around me… because to be around me when I’m hangry is to know when to excuse yourself from my presence.

But it’s not easy for 1 out of 6 kids in this country. Tempering their hanger isn’t even an option. These children are hungry. They wake up or go to bed hungry. Where you and I can emotionally check ourselves, these kids aren’t developed enough to deal with the implications hunger imparts. It’s unconscionable that, still, in America, we have a huge problem with food equality. That overnight stars and millionaires are born but our most important demographic is hungry. It’s an egregious concept I have a hard time wrapping my heart around.

And so I’m #Hangry.

Hangry for our children.

Hangry that we’re still fighting this fight. 

No Kid Hungry, one of my two passion charities, based right in my hometown, was brilliant in connecting the dots and inspiring all of America to get hangry for their cause in ending childhood hunger. A schoolbus donning caricatures of school aged children is currently touring the U.S., making stops in key cities where you can lend your support by creating a short video telling us why you’re Hangry. Your video will be used a voice to let everyone around you know that you care and that there’s something we can all do.

They invited me to tell Washington, D.C. all about it on a live segment a few weks ago.

Check it out the segment above.  

In conjunction, No Kid Hungry’s annual Dine Out campaign, which runs all of September, allows you to put your money where you mouth is. Over 15,000 participating restaurants around the nation are donating a portion of their proceeds to NKH during the Dine Out month. It’s a super easy way to help. We’re already dining out, right? Why not consider eating at any of the restos whose passion is fueled through the very thing these children need.

How can you help? Help us make #hangry trend on Wednesday, Sept 13th! We want 13 million more people to know that 13 millions hungry kids is too many, and we won’t stop working until that number is 0! Visit the Thunderclap page and show your support. 

For a full list of restaurants and to find ones in your city, visit their site. If you’re in the D.C., visit Ted’s Bulletin and for eery Ted’s tart you purchase, $.10 will go to ending hunger.

Thanks for sharing your strength through DINING OUT and staying HANGRY!

Eat well, love unapologetically, pray with true intention, and take care of yourself.

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