in the checkout line. >> reporter: what is that like? >> humiliating. who am i going to upset, myself, my kid, it's not going to be the full fulfillment of a meal. >> reporter: the decisions made in these aisles go way beyond dollars and cents. staying on budget can mean the difference of being on fruits and vegetables and processed food. >> last year more than 38 million people lived in food-insecure households, more than 9 million lived in households with low food security. 6 million in households with children and adults were food insecure. half a million lived in households in which one or more child experienced low security. i recently spoke with an award winning chef and good will ambassador for the united nations world food program andrew zimmer. i asked him how covid exacerbated the food problem in this country. >> just like it's done globally,