Child Health Rankings: Why Louisiana Ranked 49th

While there’s so much to celebrate about living in Louisiana, a sobering new report highlights a critical issue affecting our state’s youngest residents, early childhood nutrition.

According to the new Childhood Nutrition Index by Juice Plus+, Louisiana ranks 49th out of all 50 states for giving kids ages 1 to 5 a healthy nutritional start. Scoring just 26 out of 100, our state fell roughly 51% below the national average. In fact, Southern states occupy all 10 of the lowest-ranking positions nationwide.

The index evaluated six government datasets tracking poverty, food access, and diet quality. Louisiana’s low rank is largely driven by a few alarming local statistics:

Low Fruit & Veggie Intake: Only 51% of local toddlers eat fruit daily, and just 40% eat daily vegetables.

High Sugary Drink Consumption: Over 68% of young children consume sugary drinks weekly.

Child Poverty & Food Insecurity: Louisiana holds the highest under-five child poverty rate in the nation at 27.3%, alongside a 16.2% household food insecurity rate.

Registered Dietitian Heather Koenig noted that while every parent wants to give their child the best start, families simply don't all begin from the same place regarding access to fresh, affordable options.

So why share this? Because it’s a stark reminder that we must do better for our babies. Ensuring access to healthy, affordable food in every neighborhood takes time, but positive change can start right in our own homes and local communities today.

If you or someone you know is struggling to put fresh, healthy food on the table, please know that local help is available right here in our community. Shreveport families can access wholesome groceries and fresh produce through state programs like WIC, as well as local relief initiatives.

The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana (located at 285 Mt. Zion Rd.) offers wonderful child-focused resources, including the BackPack Program, which provides weekend food bags for kids, and the Kids Café after-school meal program. Taking care of our babies starts with supporting one another, and these local organizations are ready to lend a hand.