http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/05/opinion/a-remedy-for-food-insecurity.html 2016-10-04 19:59:15 A Remedy for Food Insecurity Children’s HealthWatch calls for an increase in food stamp benefits. === To the Editor: Re “ Food insecurity, like any serious illness, threatens the health and development of our children. It’s also costly. Reducing food stamp benefits is not the answer to fighting obesity or lifting thousands of children out of food insecurity. Though incentives and restrictions may aid in the fight, there are other important considerations. It is critical that we increase these benefits to a level that matches the realistic cost of a sustainable healthful diet for families experiencing food insecurity, and that we fill the gap for those who do not qualify for benefits but who still struggle to put food on the table. That’s the kind of “hand up” that will make the difference for families who need it most and give them the opportunity to lead active, healthy lives. JOHN COOK Boston The writer is co-principal investigator of Children’s HealthWatch at Boston Medical Center.