Abstract
Food insecurity and smoking are bidirectionally related due to factors such as poverty, stress, and hunger. This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of food insecurity among low-income individuals who have ever smoked, to understand the burden of food insecurity in relation to current smoking status. Participants were recruited from community-based settings and reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Participants experienced complex challenges and employed various coping strategies to address food insecurity alongside various life circumstances. A better understanding of the lived experiences of food insecurity is paramount to address intersecting adverse health behaviors, such as smoking.