Table 1 Items in the short form Household Food Security Scale [4]. Figures are frequencies (column percent) except where stated.

3

'Balanced meal'

I/we couldn't afford to eat balanced meals

Affirmative: Often or sometimes true

2

'Food last'

The food that I/we bought just didn't last, and I/we didn't have money to get more

Affirmative: Often or sometimes true

5

'Skip meals'

In the last 12 months, since (date 12 months ago) did you (or other adults in your household) ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals because there wasn't enough money for food?

8

'How often'

If YES, How often did this happen? Affirmative: Almost every month or Some months but not every month

7

'Eat less'

In the last 12 months, did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn't enough money to buy food?

10

'Hungry'

In the last 12 months, since (date 12 months ago) were you ever hungry but didn't eat because you couldn't afford enough food?

Cronbach's alpha