America faces significant challenges with affordable, healthy food due to a combination of systemic, economic, and logistical factors. Key issues include the prevalence of “food deserts” in low-income areas, higher costs for nutritious food compared to processed alternatives, and limited transportation, which makes accessing supermarkets difficult for millions. This is alarming since healthy food insecurity today could mean heart disease tomorrow.
Key Reasons for Limited Affordable Healthy Food the U.S.:
- Food Deserts and Swamps: Many low-income neighborhoods lack large supermarkets (“food deserts“) and instead are dominated by small, expensive corner stores or, conversely, a high density of cheap fast-food outlets (“food swamps”).
- High Cost of Nutrition: Healthy, fresh foods are often more expensive to produce, transport, and sell than processed items. Americans pay roughly 40% more for fruits and vegetables compared to other foods, with prices surging during inflation.
- Systemic Inequity and Logistics: Supermarkets often avoid lower-income areas, and low-income residents may lack personal vehicles to travel to stores in more affluent areas, with public transit often being insufficient.
- Subsidies and Infrastructure: Federal agricultural policies often heavily subsidize crops used in processed foods (like corn and soy for high-fructose corn syrup) rather than “specialty crops” (fresh fruits and vegetables), making processed food cheaper to produce.
- Time and Convenience Constraints: Preparing nutritious, fresh food is time-intensive, creating a barrier for families working multiple jobs who may rely on faster, processed meals.
- Shorter Shelf Life: Fresh, healthy items perish quickly, raising costs for retailers, whereas processed, nutrient-poor foods have a long shelf life, allowing for lower prices and higher, more consistent profit margins.
US States Where Healthy Eating Is Actually Affordable
The February 2026 report on healthy eating across America found that New Jersey offers the best access to nutritious food. A new study by the supplements brand Ben’s Natural Health examined all 50 states to find where residents can most easily get and afford the fruits, vegetables, and whole foods that make up a balanced diet.
Key Findings
- New Jersey makes healthy eating the easiest, with nearly 800 farmers’ markets and nutritious food costing less than 4% of monthly salaries.
- New Yorkers eat fresh produce more often than anyone else, with 12% of adults saying they regularly include fruits and vegetables in their diets.
- Eating healthy is hardest in North Dakota, where fresh food costs over half of monthly earnings and obesity affects more than 36% of the population.
The research examined how easy it is to eat healthily in each state based on multiple factors. This included how many people regularly eat fruits and vegetables, and how many farmers’ markets operate in each region. The report also examined obesity rates and the share of monthly income spent on nutritious groceries. States received scores from 0 to 100, with higher points indicating that healthy food is easier to find and afford.
Top 10 States with the Best Access to Healthy Food
You can access the complete research findings here.
A Closer Look at the Top 5
1. New Jersey
- Fruit and vegetable consumption: 11.4% of adults eat produce regularly
- Farmers’ market availability: 783 markets
- Obesity rate: 27.7%
- Affordability: Healthy eating costs 3.9% of monthly income
New Jersey ranks first as the state where it’s easiest to eat healthy. The region has 783 farmers’ markets, more than any other state, which gives residents plenty of options for buying fresh produce close to home. Eating healthy here takes less than 4% of salaries as well, making it one of the most budget-friendly states for nutritious food. As a result, about 11% of locals eat fruits and vegetables regularly, one of the highest rates in America.
2. New York
New York comes in second with 780 farmers’ markets spread across the state. Healthy eating costs just 2% of monthly earnings here, the lowest share nationally, so residents can afford nutritious diets without stretching their budgets. Given how affordable it is, around 12% of New Yorkers buy produce regularly, the highest rate in the country. And with this healthy-eating culture, the state’s obesity rate is also lower, at 29.5%.
3. Connecticut
Connecticut is the third-best state for those who want to avoid processed food. There are more than 630 outdoor markets across the region, making it easy to pick up fresh food every day. With so much access, around 1 in 10 residents here say that they eat veggies and fruits regularly. While eating healthy in Connecticut does cost a bit more, taking up 10% of the average salary, it’s still more affordable than what people in neighbouring Vermont or New Hampshire pay.
4. Washington
Washington ranks fourth with nearly 600 local food markets found across the state. Unlike Connecticut, maintaining a balanced diet here is much less expensive, costing resident roughly 4.5% of their take-home pay. This allows around 10% of the population to get fresh products on a regular basis and prepare healthier meals. Access to budget-friendly fresh food also helps explain Washington’s lower obesity rate of 31.5%, roughly 5% below the national average.
5. Massachusetts
Massachusetts rounds out the top five states where eating healthy is easier. The region has almost 500 farmers’ markets where residents can grab fresh products without travelling miles. Buying vegetables and fruits there is also affordable, as those who do end up spending just 5% of their monthly earnings on nutritious food. With so many cheap, accessible markets nearby, over 7% of adults eat produce regularly in the state, and just 27% deal with obesity.
The nutrition expert from Ben’s Natural Health commented on the study:
“About 40% of Americans struggle with obesity, one of the highest rates in the world. But this doesn’t mean people here can’t maintain healthy diets like Europeans do. The real issue is how massive our processed food and fast-food industries have become. They’ve undercut local farmers on price so severely that in some states, finding fresh produce at reasonable prices is nearly impossible. Our economy doesn’t incentivise people to eat healthy, unlike what we see in Europe.”
This article was created at the WHN News Desk in collaboration with Jane Adams on behalf of the natural wellness brand Ben’s Natural Health, a team of doctors, researchers, and dietitians working with the latest research to formulate high-quality, scientifically proven, and clinically effective supplements to provide effective support for your health.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
