85% of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2008; meaning that every household member always had access to enough food for an active, healthy life. The remaining households (14.6%) were food insecure at least some time during the year, including 5.7% with very low food security.  Food insecutiy means that the food intake of one or more household member was reduced and their eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year because the household lacked money and other resources for food. Prevalence rates of food insecurity and very low food security were up from 11.1% and 4.1%, respectively, in 2007, and were the highest recorded since the first national food security survey was conducted in 1995. The typical food-secure household spent 31% more on food than the typical food-insecure household of the same size and household composition. 55% of all food-insecure households participated in one or more of the three largest Federal food and nutrition assistance programs during the month prior to the 2008 survey.