The Thrifty, Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans each represent a nutritious diet at a different cost. The Thrifty Food Plan is the basis for food stamp allotments. (All files are PDFs unless otherwise noted.)


Cost of Food ― 1994 to Present

• News Release (Jan. 30, 2008) ― American Food: Still the Best Deal in the World

• Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels, U.S. Average (These are the most recent Cost of Food numbers.)

• Official USDA Alaska and Hawaii Thrifty Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home

Other Current Publications

• Development of the CNPP Prices Database (report, food prices database)

• The Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans: 2007 Administrative Report

• Thrifty Food Plan, 2006 Report

Related Websites

For information on putting the Thrift Food Plan into practice, please see the Food Stamp Nutrition Recipe Finder database, which contains recipes for use by nutrition educators working with the Food Stamp eligible population.

Archived Publications

Recipes and Tips for Healthy, Thrifty Meals
The meal plans and recipes were developed and evaluated by The Pennsylvania State University under contract with the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Four-person families with limited incomes prepared and evaluated the menus and recipes for taste and quality. Note: This publications is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 1995 and the Food Guide Pyramid and is provided here for historical purposes.

• The Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans: 2003 Administrative Report

• Thrifty Food Plan, 1999: Administrative Report

Last Modified: 10/15/2008