The Real Cost of a Healthy Diet Project investigated the availability and affordability of healthy food in two cities. This project, based at the Boston Medical Center and Drexel University’s School of Public Health, examined whether low-income residents in Boston and Philadelphia could buy food for a healthy diet using the maximum food stamp benefit in their neighborhood food stores. The study found that even families receiving the maximum food stamp benefit would have to spend an additional $2,520 in Boston and $3,165 in Philadelphia annually to purchase the Thrifty Food Plan.

Coming Up Short: High food costs outstrip food stamp benefits (The Real Cost of a Healthy Diet: 2008)

The Real Cost of a Healthy Diet Project, based at Boston Medical Center and Drexel University’s School of Public Health, is a community food security research and youth development project. The project investigated whether low-income residents in Boston and Philadelphia could buy food for a healthy diet using the maximum food stamp benefit in their neighborhood food stores.