Texas families are weighing hard trade-offs at the grocery store, as food costs rise faster than paychecks, a new poll finds.
The poll found that in many homes, the response is no longer just buying fewer extras but skipping meals or eating less. It also points to growing financial pressure as grocery costs outpace paychecks, leading some families into debt, second jobs, and trade-offs between food and other basic bills.
Here's what to know
According to KERA News, a No Kid Hungry Texas survey found that half of Texas families said someone in the household had skipped meals or cut back on eating because food had become too expensive.
A little more than 80% of respondents said grocery prices are rising faster than their income, and more than three-quarters said they are having to weigh food costs against other essentials.
No Kid Hungry Texas director Stacie Sanchez told KERA News the organization conducts this polling every year, but this year's results show parents skipping meals themselves, not just cutting back on items such as meat and other protein.
"Parents are having to make difficult trade-offs," Sanchez said. "They are having to make really hard choices between paying the electric bill or providing nutritious food."
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About 40% of families said they were borrowing to cover groceries, and the poll also showed increased use of "buy now, pay later" services, such as Afterpay or Klarna, for necessities.
More background
Missing meals regularly can affect much more than hunger alone. Physical health, mental health, stress, and children's well-being can all take a hit, especially when nutritious foods become harder to afford.
Sanchez said gas and utility costs are adding to that strain.
"We saw folks having to take on second jobs or join the gig economy," she added. "Texans are dealing with and experiencing these issues every day. We experience the highest food insecurity rate in the nation, and that's showing up."
Federal changes affecting food assistance are adding to the pressure. Sanchez told KERA News that cuts and policy shifts could make the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) harder for families to access.
Analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that June data from Texas shows SNAP enrollment in the state has fallen by more than 315,000 children since the 2025 federal tax-and-spending law reshaped social assistance programs.
What can be done?
At the policy level, Sanchez said Texas could tap additional federal dollars through existing programs, but the state is not fully participating.
She argued that failing to access those resources hurts families who need food assistance and can ripple into health care, education, and the broader economy, particularly when hunger affects people's ability to work.
State and federal decisions about SNAP access can shape whether families keep food on the table.
"In a state like ours, it's not necessarily an issue of capacity," Sanchez noted. "There's enough food for everyone. Scarcity isn't the issue here. It's political will. We want to make sure our elected officials know this is a top priority to Texans."
Where can I learn more?
These pressures extend beyond Texas, with families across the U.S. changing what they buy and eat. The articles here cover grocery inflation, utility costs, food assistance responses, and changing meal habits.
• In Tennessee, families cut fresh produce as grocery bills push more shoppers toward processed food.
• Across the U.S., low-income households are cutting back on groceries as energy bills continue to climb.
• In New York, programs are expanding to keep families from choosing rent over dinner.
• American households are shifting meals toward frozen foods as tighter budgets reshape dinner routines.
• In Ukraine, food inflation keeps climbing as fertilizer shortages drive grocery costs higher.
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