As a Black man, I'm here to tell you that WE ARE IN A FOOD CRISIS AND WE MUST DO BETTER.

Hey all. <br><br>As a Black man who has promoted budget cooking, I gotta tell you.. we are in a very unstable situation right now regarding food costs, and survival. <br><br>**What has happened:**<br><br>- Eggs have jumped up in price, in my area, by 350% in the last 60 days <br>- I work in the grocery industry, and we are constantly seeing massive price hikes on all products<br>- Price hikes are affecting every demographic, but most heavily low-income communities.<br><br>**What this means:**<br><br>- **Food banks are empty and those who rely on them are suffering.** It is imperative that we teach people who rely on food banks how to cook and prepare meals using the ingredients they are given. <br>- **Most meals are mostly expensive now and won't be getting cheaper**. We need to find creative ways to cook affordable dishes with what is available to us.<br>- **Bodily autonomy and the ability to make choices is under attack**. With price hikes on staple ingredients, it is becoming increasingly difficult for low-income communities to make safe, healthy choices for their families.<br><br>**What we can do about this:**<br><br>- **Teach an old dog new tricks.** We need to teach people how to cook in bulk and on a budget using the ingredients that are available to them in their community. <br>- **Food education is key**. We need to teach people how to cook and prepare basic meals from scratch.<br>- **Stop hoarding.** No one should be hoarding food products, especially when people are starving and cannot afford food for themselves.<br>- **Talk to each other.** Communication is key in difficult times like these. No one should be suffering or going hungry when there are so many resources available to us.<br><br>**How you can help:**<br><br>- **Teach a neighbor to cook a meal.** You can make a massive difference in someone's life by teaching them a basic skill.<br>- **Volunteer your time at a food bank.** Food banks are struggling and need volunteers to distribute food to the community.<br>- **Don't hoard food.** No one should be hoarding food products, especially when people are starving and cannot afford food for themselves.<br>- **Advocate for change.** Contact your local government and pressure them to make active changes in your community to help the food crisis.<br><br>Thank you all for listening to my TedTalk. <br><br>Let me know in the comments how you are doing, if you've seen a surge in food prices in your area, and what you're doing to combat it. <br><br>Stay safe, frugal friends. <br><br>If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me via DM or at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])