Healthy foods are generally more expensive than unhealthy ones. Diet experts often recommend using the outer aisles when grocery shopping to find the freshest products with the fewest calories and preservatives. Though lean meats and fruits and vegetables are the best bets nutritionally, they are also more expensive. The high cost of healthy foods affects people who are less fortunate or have to feed a large family. The affordability of unhealthy food choices actually contributes to weight gain.
Research Shows that Women on Food Stamps Gain More Weight
Ohio State University's Center for Human Resource Research published a 14-year study in Economics and Human Biology. They compared 6,000 food stamp users to 4,000 non-users and found that women in the first category weighed more and gained weight more quickly than those not using food stamps. In fact, users had a 1.5 point higher BMI than non-users. This is equal to 5.8 pounds.
Why Women Gain Weight While Using Food Stamps
The fact that women on food stamps had a higher BMI may also be linked to poverty. Families in debt are at risk for weight gain. Putting food on the table for a family is expensive. Making it a healthy meal costs even more and a lot of families simply can't afford it. Compare the cost of a healthy home-cooked meal such as grilled salmon, baked potatoes, fresh fruit and a salad to a simple pasta dish like macaroni and cheese or spaghetti. Obviously the first option requires more ingredients, all of which are more expensive than a box of pasta.
The average amount of food stamps participants of the study received in 2002 was just $81 per month. While a family would get more than that based on the number of people living in the home, it still isn't enough money to provide a healthy meal most nights of the week. It forces food stamp users to shop for cheaper items to stay within their budget. Calorie-dense, fat-laden convenience foods are often the only choices because they are more affordable and make the food stamps stretch further.
Make Food Stamps Stretch
It is undoubtedly difficult to buy healthy groceries with very limited funds. You can make food stamp stretch using these tips:
- Load up on fresh foods when they are on sale
- Make things from scratch
- Use leftovers wisely
- Plan your meals for the week or month
- Use a list when shopping and don't stray from it
- Freeze fruits and vegetables that you buy when they are in season
- Control portion sizes
Weight gain can be effected by the high cost of healthy foods, but it isn't an all or nothing situation. If you have a plan, carefully select your food and make healthier choices even some of the time you can maintain your weight or lose weight while using food stamps.
Tracy Rose - Tracy Rose is a powerflifter who holds the state record in deadlifting and has had success in her own weight loss journey.
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