SNAP (formerly called food stamps) isn’t enough for families to afford the healthy diet the federal government recommends. It would cost a family of four, with two adults and two children, as much as $627 more per month than they receive in food stamps to eat the recommended healthy diet, according to new research. The recommended diet, as expressed in USDA’s MyPlate, suggests putting fruit and vegetables on half a plate, and protein and grains on the other half. The daily recommendation for women ages 31 to 50 is 1.5 cups of fruit; 2.5 cups of vegetables; 6 servings of grains (a slice of bread is a serving); and 5 servings of protein (an ounce of meat or an egg is a serving). Researchers considered a variety of ways a family could meet the dietary recommendations. The most expensive way is to eat all fresh food. The least expensive diet is vegetarian, evenly divided between fresh, frozen, and canned food.
Source: Charlotte (NC) News Observer, 10/20/17, SNAP-Diet Gap
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