Using actual food sales data, NielsenIQ created a county-level multiplier to reflect the local cost of food. To develop the average cost of a meal, we use this multiplier to weight the national average amount spent on a meal by the food secure - $3.13. We also use the county-level multiplier to weight the national average of additional money a food insecure person reports needing per week to meet their food needs - $17.64. To calculate the total additional money required to meet food needs in 2019, we multiply the weekly amount by the number of food insecure people in the selected

Availability of government support for households varies based (in part) on the household income as it relates to the poverty level. The thresholds shown below apply to the national average; it is important to know that individual states can and have increased their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the food stamps program) thresholds from 130% up to 200% of the poverty level. This increases the number of people who are eligible for SNAP, the cornerstone of the federal nutrition safety net. Food Insecure Individuals *Due to rounding, totals may range from 99-101%

Program eligibility is determined by income The income bands shown reflect percentages of the federally established poverty line, which varies based on household size. These percentages are used to set eligibility thresholds for nutrition programs. How is food insecurity related to poverty? Although related, food insecurity and poverty are not the same. According to the USDA, 33% of food-insecure households live above 185% of the poverty line. Note below, however, that 185% of the poverty level is still less than $50,000 for a family of four. For families with medical expenses or who are located in areas with a high cost-of-living, it’s easy

Food insecurity refers to USDA’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Food-insecure households are not necessarily food insecure all the time. Food insecurity may reflect a household’s need to make trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing or medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods.