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How inflation is hurting the diets of low-income Americans
How inflation is hurting the diets of low-income Americans
Rising inflation at the supermarket has changed the way Americans buy food, altering family menus and daily diets as shoppers stretch their dollars to feed their families. Higher food prices hurt those with lower incomes the most, limiting access to healthy food and impacting long-term health.
In particular, the price of healthy foods has surged. One study from the University of Warwick found that Americans for fruits and vegetables due to enormous fixed costs in supplying them to markets, resulting in less consumption of these healthier foods. A 2022 national survey by the Cleveland Clinic found that the perceived high cost of healthy food was the biggest barrier to a healthier diet, saying so.
The result is that Americans are compensating by eating too many sugary and ultra-processed foods—which tend to be cheaper and more durable—and not enough fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-rich whole foods. Despite government programs encouraging and subsidizing healthy foods, the problem is only growing.
"There's evidence that inflation continues to shape food choices, particularly for low-income Americans who prioritize price over healthfulness," Constance Brown-Riggs, a registered nurse and nutritionist specializing in diabetes care, told Stacker.
According to the International Food Information Council's 2024 Food & Health Survey, at least cited price as a key driver of food purchases; however, just over half (55%) of low-income households ranked healthfulness as a top factor. In contrast, the healthfulness of food purchases only became more important than the price for those households earning $100,000 or more.
"These results highlight the disparity in how income influences food priorities," Brown-Riggs said, adding that higher food prices often increase food insecurity. "These shifts increase the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity."
The United States Department of Agriculture's reflects this need for better-quality American diets. The most recent index found that Americans (above the age of 2) scored an average of 58 out of 100, which is hardly encouraging.
"It has become increasingly clear that diet-related chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, liver disease, some types of cancer, and dental caries [cavities], pose a major public health problem for Americans," the found. Adults over 60 did a bit better, averaging a score of 61.
partnered with Stacker to examine how rising prices for healthy foods impact low-income families, using data from the USDA's Healthy Eating Index.
Americans aren't eating enough whole foods
While several factors contribute to the quality of American diets, rising prices are a meaningful component. With the cost of goods rising across the economy, consumers must make difficult choices regarding necessities like food.
The USDA estimates that experienced food insecurity in 2023, an increase of 1 million households since 2022. About 3.2 million families with children under 18 had to reduce or skip their meals altogether. With increasing costs at the cash register, everyday healthy foods may be too expensive for millions of Americans. As a result, many are skimping to fill their shopping carts, but more affordable foods can sometimes come at a higher cost to their long-term health.
When cost is a factor, more people opt for these processed foods, which tend to be cheaper, have longer shelf lives, and produce a short-term feeling of being full due to containing higher carbohydrates, Aimee Aristotelous—nutritionist and bestselling author of nutrition books like "Almost Keto" and "The Whole Food Pregnancy Plan"—told Stacker.
"These items are convenient, calorie-dense, widely accessible, and marketed aggressively," Aristotelous said. Cheap and easily available items like this include breakfast cereals, pasta, deli meats, ultra-processed snack foods, sugary beverages, shelf-stable and frozen meals, and packaged desserts.
"The health implications of these processed foods are dire, as most consist of empty calories that offer little nutrition," Aristotelous added. In other words, she said, the average American diet, when cost-conscious, lacks sufficient whole foods.
