A new study published in the November issue of Health Affairs underscores the positive impact of the Healthy Helping produce prescription program that provided North Carolinians facing food insecurity with $40 a month to spend on fruits and vegetables during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SNAP beneficiaries who participated in Healthy Helping doubled their purchases of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes while enrolled in the program.Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the nonprofit Reinvestment Partners found that Healthy Helping participants doubled their purchases of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes while enrolled in the program, spending $27 more every month on these healthy foods. What’s more, their spending at the participating supermarket chain increased by $57 per month — more than the $40 incentive amount — suggesting they may have prioritized this retailer for their grocery shopping during the intervention.
Read The Full Article at UNC Gillings School of Public Health
