An Analysis of the Affordability of Harvard, Mediterranean and DASH Eating Patterns for Individuals Enrolled in the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

TL;DR

This study finds that healthy diets like Mediterranean and DASH are too expensive for most SNAP beneficiaries, who face a 'poverty tax' due to limited benefits.

Contribution

The study compares the affordability of three health-focused diets against SNAP benefits using the Thrifty Food Plan framework.

Findings

MED and DASH eating patterns typically exceed the daily maximum SNAP benefit for calorie intakes above 2100.

SNAP benefits are cheaper when relying on fluid milk and refined grains rather than whole foods emphasized in healthier diets.

Health-centered diets like MED and DASH are unaffordable for SNAP beneficiaries, highlighting a disparity in food access.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: In FY 2024, 12.3% of the U.S. population was enrolled in the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, the principal food and nutrition program of the U.S. government. Herein, we analyze the cost of the Harvard (HHEP), Mediterranean (MED) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating patterns (EPs) to ascertain if they are affordable with the maximum allowable SNAP benefit. Methods: We utilize the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) framework to analyze the cost of each of these alternative EPs across 15 age/sex groups. Results: We find that the MED and DASH EPs’ costs typically exceed the daily maximum SNAP benefit for those consuming more than 2100 calories. Conclusions: Our result suggests that reliance on fluid milk, allowance of more refined grains, starchy vegetables, red meat, added sugar and sodium and indifference toward food quality and freshness when calculating the maximum SNAP benefit reduces its cost in comparison to diets less reliant on fluid milk and more reliant on whole grains, fish, nuts, and fresh fruits and vegetables, a commonality shared by the HHEP, MED and DASH EPs. Health-centered alternative diets such as MED and DASH cannot be purchased with maximum allowable allocations of SNAP benefits, meaning that a poverty tax is placed on SNAP beneficiaries.