Dinner Conversations: Tackling Food Insecurity

Description

Three university friends meet for dinner at a downtown Toronto restaurant to catch up. As they settle in, their conversation turns to the rising cost of living in the city, which leads to a heated discussion about food insecurity and how the government should respond. Aaryaa, a biology student, highlights the long-term health consequences of malnutrition, particularly in children. She explains how poor nutrition can lead to developmental delays, behavioural challenges, and chronic illness, problems that disproportionately affect low-income populations. Khadijah, a nursing student, shares how many of her patients rely on food banks or resort to fast food due to limited money, resources, and time to prepare nutritious meals at home. She expresses her frustration over the rising cost of produce and criticizes major grocery chains for prioritizing profit over ensuring affordable access to essential foods. Pahul, a business student, argues that not all companies are exploitative and that rising food prices are often driven by various factors such as inflation, supply chain disruptions, and increased production costs. As the conversation continues, tensions rise as the friends challenge each other’s assumptions and express their disciplinary biases. Despite their differing viewpoints, the group eventually de-escalates the situation through active listening and mutual understanding. They come to recognize that food insecurity is a complex issue that requires interdisciplinary collaboration and acknowledge the value of combining their diverse perspectives to develop sustainable solutions.