ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – For the most part, Americans are fortunate when it comes to having enough food to eat.

But the latest government report on food insecurity shows many of us are struggling.

16% of Missouri households and 13% of Illinois households are listed as being food insecure, meaning that at some time in 2011, they had difficulty providing enough food for every member of their family.

Of those households, nearly 7% of Missouri families and almost 5% of Illinois families – which is the national average – experienced what’s termed “very low food security” meaning they were more likely than others to skip meals or go days without food.