Topic > Socioeconomic Nutrition - 889

Low socioeconomic status and its correlates, such as low education, poverty, and poor health, impact our society as a whole. Inequalities in the distribution of wealth, the distribution of resources, and the quality of life are increasing in the United States and around the world. There are many ways to combat this reality, and some are much simpler and more practically applied than others. A smart and simple change can be adapted immediately. It has the potential to drastically impact the quality of life of people with lower socioeconomic status. The proposed change would be to alter the list of foods covered by America's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP), as it could have a dramatic impact on the health of those most likely to suffer from heart disease which is currently the leading cause of death in the United States. states (AHA). Currently, “SNAP benefits can be used to purchase all food items, excluding: beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco; any non-food item; vitamins and medicines; foods that will be consumed in the store; or hot foods” (snap.org). The SNAP program should instead be available only to pay for healthy foods because this policy change would provide better nutritional, medical, and economic value to the United States. While “everything in moderation” is a commonly used phrase for a healthy diet, it can be very difficult for those who depend on assistance programs to incorporate healthier, whole, unprocessed foods into their diet. For many who have relied on this assistance for years, this is an incorrect assumption. Processed foods are believed to be cheaper and more filling alternatives to healthy food. A study recently cited in "Fruits, Vegetables Cheaper Than Unhealthy Snacks" compared... halfway through the article... this new method. This certainly will not eliminate processed foods from the diets of fast food eaters, but it will force them to use earned income instead of immediate benefits and reevaluate the need for processed foods. These alarming facts and statistics shown demonstrate that some overhaul of the SNAP program is necessary. Action must be taken not only for the good of those in need, but also for the financial well-being of America. Increasing the amount of whole foods consumed by those with lower incomes and who are on SNAP would undoubtedly change both problems for the better. The policy change would reduce the funds needed to help those in need by decreasing the amount spent on medical assistance programs and helping maximize every dollar spent on food. This seems to be one of the easiest ways to make a change for the better in our country.