Economy affecting low-income family meals

CHICAGO, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- About 36 percent of low-income households in the United States have lowered their food intake because of the country's economic woes, survey results indicate.

USA Today said Friday that according to a Feeding America survey many low-income families are skipping meals or just eating less to save money.

Feeding America President Vicki Escarra said 40 percent of surveyed low-income households also admitted to using their limited funds for food instead of utility payments at some point during the last year.

"We've never seen anything like this," Escarra said, "We're seeing more people come (to food banks) who've never come before."