Nearly 47-million Americans rely on the federal food assistance program. But a new study found it does not cover half of what healthy diet costs.
Stephanie Thomas wanted to make healthy meals for her family, but it was not easy on a tight budget.
“I had to get the cheaper brand, the less expensive brand, but the nutritional ingredients weren’t the same,” Thomas said.
Like millions of American families, Stephanie has relied on the SNAP program.
Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, a professor at North Carolina State University, wanted to know if families on a limited budget can afford to eat healthily, so she led a study on SNAP.
“The SNAP program is actually the largest federal food assistance program in the country, “Haynes-Maslow said. “SNAP only really covers about 43-60% of food costs.”
The study found the most expensive diet consisted of meat eaters who only ate fresh fruits and vegetables. And the cheapest?
“Eating a vegetarian diet.”
With a mix of canned and frozen fruits and vegetables. So what are Lindsey’s tips to stretching your food budget without skimping on nutrition?
First, buy in bulk whenever possible. Be coupon savvy, scan newspapers or download apps that do the work for you and do not forget to check food labels.
Stephanie took a cooking class from her local food bank. She learned to make a fiber-packed meal for her family all under ten bucks!
“It’s going to feed you that night, maybe the next night, maybe you send your husband to work with leftovers.”
Keeping families full and happy around the dinner table for years to come.