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Food & Nutrition Equity

Hunger is a problem in America. Almost 13% of Americans report experiencing food insecurity. At the same time, those who rely on nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), report that some of the top barriers to healthier eating are the affordability of food, a lack of cooking skills and lack of time to prepare foods.

Frozen food is a solution in providing convenient, year-round nutrition and affordable meals for every community. Easy to follow, on-package instructions help consumers prepare meals with minimum equipment, cooking skills, or time and satisfy diverse preferences by aligning with cultural norms. Frozen foods also help shoppers save valuable time otherwise needed for food preparation and reduce waste.

Consumers on a budget can still enjoy a healthy diet while integrating frozen food into their meals. A report from USDA’s Economic Research Service showed that the Low-Cost Thrifty Food Plan could be achieved for a family of four utilizing canned, frozen, fresh and dried varieties of food.

Infographics

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Achieve the Dietary Guidelines for Americans with Frozen Foods

Americans are striving for nutritious and affordable meal options that are easy to prepare. To evaluate the feasibility, nutritional value and affordability of a weekly menu consisting primarily of frozen foods, menu modeling was used to bring recommended U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food patterns to life with frozen foods.