In FY 2024, 12.3% of the U.S. population was enrolled in the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the main food assistance program. A study analyzed the costs of three healthy eating patterns: the Harvard Healthy Eating Pyramid (HHEP), Mediterranean (MED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). Using the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan framework, researchers assessed whether these diets are affordable under the maximum SNAP benefit.

The findings revealed that the costs of the MED and DASH patterns generally exceed the daily maximum SNAP benefit for individuals consuming more than 2,100 calories. The study indicates that diets relying heavily on fluid milk, refined grains, starchy vegetables, red meat, added sugars, and sodium allow for lower costs under SNAP compared to those emphasizing whole grains, fish, nuts, and fresh produce. This suggests that healthier diets like MED and DASH are not attainable within SNAP’s limits, effectively imposing a “poverty tax” on beneficiaries who seek to eat healthily.