The Real Cost of a Healthy Diet
The Real Cost of a Healthy Diet Project published new data on the availability and affordability of healthy food in a September 2008 report entitled "Coming Up Short: High food costs outstrip food stamp benefits." This project, based at the Boston Medical Center and Drexel University's School of Public Health and generously supported by WK Kellogg Foundation and the Claneil Foundation, investigated whether low-income residents in Boston and Philadelphia could buy food for a healthy diet using the maximum food stamp benefit in their neighborhood food stores.
The objectives of the project were:
To determine the cost and availability of a healthy diet, as defined by the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), in three different sized food stores in low-income areas of Boston and Philadelphia
To compare actual food costs and availability with Food Stamp benefit levels and the TFP
To update food price and availability data from the 2005 pilot project, The Real Co$t of a Healthy Diet: Healthful Foods Are Out of Reach for Low-Income Families in Boston, Massachusetts.
Maximum food stamp benefit insufficient to buy TFP in any size food store
The results for the report were collected in 16 stores in Boston and 16 stores in Philadelphia. The graph below shows the average monthy cost of the TFP in both Boston and Philadelphia in small, medium, and large sized food stores in comparison to the maximum food stamp benefit value.
In Boston, the average monthy cost of the TFP was $752, 39% higher than the maximum monthly food benefit for a family of four. In Philadelphia, the average monthly cost of the TFP was $805, 49% above the maximum. Even families recieving the maximum food stamp benefit would have to spend an additional $2,520 in Boston and $3,165 in Philadelphia annually to purchase the Thrifty Food Plan.
Click here to read about Boston-specific data.
Click here to read about Philadelphia-specific data.
Fruitless searches: Where are all the healthy options?
The TFP food list contains 104 items. On average, 16% of the items were not available in participating Boston stores and 38% of the items were not available in participating Philadelphia stores. 
Solutions within Reach
The Thrifty Food Plan is not keeping up with the changing world and steadily increasing food prices. However, innovative solutions are available, given the will to invest in programs like the Food Stamp Program, which has been proven effective time and again.
The Real Cost of a Healthy Diet team recommends, as a priority, the following policy action:
Invest in the Food Stamp Program over the short and long term to boost the economy and reflect changing food price realties. USDA studies show that every $5 of food stamp benefits generates almost twice as much ($9.20) in local economic activity. Short term: increase food stamp benefits to stimulate the economy and ease the squeeze of high food and fuel costs on low-income families. Implement the 2008 Farm Bill to maximize legislated improvements to the Food Stamp Program. Long-term: raise the value of the Thrifty Food Plan beyond basic inflation to keep up with food costs, thereby increasing maximum benefits.
More information about the Food Stamp Program:
Food Stamps as Medicine: A New Perspective on Children's Health
Federal Food Programs - The Food Stamp Program (FRAC)
FNS Food Stamp Program
More Resources on National, State and Local Policy Recommendations in the "Coming up Short" Report:
Child Nutrition Program Reauthorization
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
Calculating U.S. Poverty Thresholds
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)
Streamlining Application Procedures
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
Food System Improvements
The Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness
The Philadelphia Urban Food and Fitness Alliance
The Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative
Boston Bounty Bucks Program
Below, you will find a list of relevant resources:
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