Is $69 for a week of groceries realistic? The Banner goes shopping.

Key Points:

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan, used since the 1960s to set SNAP benefits, provides a government guideline for the minimum grocery budget to meet nutritional needs, but it may not reflect current food prices accurately.
• Recent experiments by reporters shopping in the Baltimore region showed difficulty staying within the Thrifty Food Plan budget, with actual grocery costs often exceeding the recommended amounts, especially for families with specific dietary preferences.
• Food prices have risen significantly since 2022 and remain above pre-pandemic levels, while wages and SNAP benefits have not kept pace, making it increasingly expensive for households to afford groceries.
• The Thrifty Food Plan is based on outdated 2021 data and does not adjust for local inflation differences or updated dietary guidelines, limiting its effectiveness for SNAP recipients amid rising food costs.
• Experts and advocates agree that the current Thrifty Food Plan budget is insufficient for a standard family of four to maintain a nutritious diet in many metropolitan areas, including Baltimore.