Food insecurity in Canada is rising—but many families are suffering in silence.
In this Where Parents Talk podcast interview, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest, who shares her firsthand experience raising three children as a single mother facing poverty and food insecurity. Her story reveals what daily life looks like when parents must make impossible choices between rent, groceries, and basic needs.
This article answers key questions parents are asking:
- What is food insecurity in Canada?
- How does it affect children’s development and mental health?
- What are the signs a family is struggling?
- Where can parents find help and affordable food options?
With expert insights and real-life perspective, this conversation highlights the importance of community support, school nutrition programs, and reducing stigma.
For informed parents, this is a critical look at how affordability challenges are shaping the next generation—and what can be done to help families thrive.
LORI NIKKEL
CEO, Second Harvest
Order of Ontario Recipient
Co-author, The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste (research project)
Mother of 3
“It’s really navigating what you don’t know how you’re going to pay your bills. What are the bills that are going to come up? What can be paid? What can you do without? There is this emotional and mental toll on you constantly of trying to do mathematical gymnastics of what can I actually do.”
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