The recent expiration of emergency food stamp allotments allowed for the COVID-19 pandemic to come at an inopportune moment for several reasons.
Secondly, due to the high inflation rate, food costs remain at historic highs. Second, diet-related medical disorders like diabetes and obesity are on the rise in the United States, particularly among low-income families that rely on food stamps to purchase groceries.
Food stamps, also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, are distributed to eligible households to help with food purchases. Many of these households received additional benefits during the pandemic, but those payments terminated at the beginning of March.
When this occurred, many SNAP members saw their monthly payments drop by $95 or more, making it even more difficult to afford nutritious food. The expiration of emergency SNAP benefits coincided with the publication of a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicating that diabetes and obesity are on the rise.
The study covered approximately 13,000 patients, according to Health Exec. Their statistics showed that the prevalence of various cardiovascular risk factors had increased over time. For example, the prevalence of hypertension increased from 9.3% in 2009-2010 to 11.5% in 2017-2020.
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SNAP Benefits Recipients’ Healthy Food Options
Better food can help people prevent these medical issues, but far too many SNAP recipients either do not explore or cannot afford healthier diet options.
According to research, Americans with household incomes at or below the poverty line consume fewer vegetables. Just 7% of adults in poverty consume enough veggies, compared to 11.4% of those in the top income bracket.
On the plus side, SNAP beneficiaries in many places of the country have greater access to healthier food and wellness options than in prior years. Several farmer’s markets across the country accept SNAP, allowing beneficiaries to purchase low-cost local and organic fruits and vegetables.
SNAP consumers can also purchase nutritious food from organizations such as FarmboxRX, which distributes fresh produce to impoverished communities while also providing nutritional education and wellness programming. These kinds of programs are especially crucial now that millions of SNAP households are receiving lower monthly payouts.
FarmboxRx’s approach to food poverty is to distribute food boxes that are high in healthful fruits and vegetables and are frequently personalized to specific diets. The boxes feature meals approved by qualified dieticians and nutritionists, mental health exercises and games, and budget-friendly eating suggestions. Its wellness program includes instructional sessions as well as meal-prep guidelines.
The company is on a mission to enhance the health of low-income and at-risk households through “food as medicine” delivery, with the ultimate objective of diverting families away from serious health problems.
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