Intro/thesis

Brittney Miller

Professor Thomas

Composition 102

17 March 2013

Title

            There is no doubt that millions of people are struggling in America due to the high prices in the grocery stores and even in fast food restaurants. The main victims who are affected by the rise in prices are the low-income families. An article written by the Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter states that the price of a loaf of white bread has risen nearly 25 cents, red delicious apples are up 20 cents a pound, from 96 cents to $1.16, and eggs have jumped from around $1.45 to $2.18. The rise in prices makes low-income families struggle to feed their families healthy foods. Because of this it leads them to buying unhealthy foods for their families.  Adam Drewnowski, who is with the Center for Public Health Nutrition and the Nutritional Sciences Program, states that the low price of energy-dense food encourages low-income Americans to consume an unhealthy diet. Because of the low prices of unhealthy foods it increased the obesity rate in America, but not only did the obesity rate go up so did other medical problems like heart disease and high blood pressure. An article by Tammy Esteves states that According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than one third of adults in the United States were obese in 2009-2010. The high prices in healthy foods are a terrible problem because it affects the entire community, but specifically the low-income families, the suppliers, and even schools. As the prices continue to rise each year due to the struggling economy, communities need to raise awareness and provide information about ways to buy non-expensive healthy foods for their families.