Can Food Stamps Do More To Improve Food Choices? An Economic Perspective
by
Joanne Guthrie,
Margaret Andrews,
Elizabeth Frazao,
Ephraim Leibtag,
Biing-Hwan Lin,
Lisa Mancino,
Mark Nord,
Mark Prell,
David Smallwood,
Jayachandran Variyam, and
Michele Ver Ploeg
Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-29) September 2007
Cover image
Food stamp recipients, like other Americans, struggle with nutrition problems associated with choice of foods, as well as amounts. This series of Economic Information Bulletins compiles evidence to help answer the question of whether the Food Stamp Program can do more to improve the food choices of participants. It examines the role of affordability and price of healthful foods in influencing food choices and the likely success of any policy targeted at changing food choices through food stamp bonuses or restrictions. It also examines other approaches to changing food choices, including nutrition education and potential strategies drawn from behavioral economics literature. Meaningful improvements in the diets of food stamp recipients will likely depend on a combination of many tactics. Measuring the effect of any policy change on food choices and health outcomes remains a challenge.
Keywords: Food Stamp Program, food consumption, food prices, food expenditures, nutrition education, behavioral economics, food choices, diet, health, fruits and vegetables, Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program, FANRP
In this publication...
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Report summary, Pdf file 114 kb
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Overview: Can Food Stamps Do More To Improve Food Choices? (EIB-29-1), Pdf file 359 kb
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Stretching the Food Stamp Dollar: Regional Price Differences Affect Affordability of Food (EIB-29-2) , Pdf file 208 kb
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Higher Cost of Food in Some Areas May Affect Food Stamp Households’ Ability To Make Healthy Food Choices (EIB-29-3) , Pdf file 210 kb
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Food Spending Patterns of Low-Income Households: Will Increasing Purchasing Power Result in Healthier Food Choices? (EIB-29-4) , Pdf file 318 kb
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How Do Low-Income Households Respond to Food Prices? (EIB-29-5) , Pdf file 219 kb
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Nutrition Information: Can It Improve the Diets of Low-Income Households? (EIB-29-6) , Pdf file 198 kb
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Making Healthy Food Choices Easier: Ideas From Behavioral Economics (EIB-29-7) , Pdf file 152 kb
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How Can We Tell If We Are Making a Difference? ERS Efforts To Improve Evaluation of Nutrition Outcomes (EIB-29-8) , Pdf file 130 kb
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Download the entire series and the related Amber Waves article in pdf format, Pdf file 2,011 kb
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For more information, see:
See a related article from Amber Waves: Improving Food Choices—Can Food Stamps Do More?
Food Assistance and Nutrition Programs briefing room
Food Stamp Program briefing room
"Food Assistance: How Strong Is the Safety Net?" by Michael Le Blanc, Biing-Hwan Lin, and David Smallwood, in Amber Waves, Vol. 4, No. 4, USDA, Economic Research Service, September, 2006.
"Food Stamps and Obesity: Ironic Twist or Complex Puzzle?" by Michelle Ver Ploeg, Lisa Mancino, and Biing-Hwan Lin, in Amber Waves, Vol. 4, No. 1, USDA, Economic Research Service, February, 2006.
