Healthy Food Benefit Programs, Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, and Food Security

Is a healthy food benefit program for low-income households associated with fruit and vegetable intake and food security?This cohort study with 1973 participants found the healthy food benefit program was associated with a 5.5 percentage point–increase in food security and a 7.5 percentage point–increase in the proportion of participants consuming fruits and vegetables 3 or more times per day in enrolled vs wait-listed households.These findings suggest healthy food benefit programs could improve fruit and vegetable intake and food security among low-income populations.

Corresponding Author: Melissa A. Knox, PhD, Department of Economics, University of Washington, Box 353330, Seattle, WA 98195 (knoxm@uw.edu).

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