TL/DR –
The Pentagon’s request for over $200 billion to expand the war with Iran is roughly the same cost as an investment in nutrition security for the US, according to an opinion piece. The writer argues that a three-pronged strategy for nutritional security should include access to healthy food, integration into healthcare systems, and improvements to infrastructure for processing and delivering healthy food. There is evidence that a USDA pilot program significantly increased fruit and vegetable consumption among SNAP families, medically tailored meals reduce hospitalizations and overall costs for patients with chronic disease, and supporting local farmers could provide more than $45 billion in annual economic benefits.
Pentagon Requests $200bn for Iran War as Two in Five Young Americans Fail Basic Service Eligibility
The Pentagon has called for US$200 billion to escalate the war with Iran. However, a mere two out of five young Americans satisfy basic service requirements, primarily due to poor health linked to diet. This underscores the necessity for investment in national and nutritional security.
Majority of Americans Struggle with Diet-Related Diseases and Food Access
Many Americans have difficulty accessing healthy food regularly, leading to diet-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. These conditions contribute to nearly 85 percent of U.S. healthcare expenditure. For the expected cost of the Iran war, the U.S. could invest in nutrition security, improving national strength and health.
Policy Focus: Healthy Food Access, Integration into Healthcare, and Infrastructure
To ensure long-term nutritional security, policies must extend beyond temporary food aid and prioritize system design. This includes providing access to healthy food, incorporating it into healthcare, and constructing infrastructure to process and deliver nutritious food.
Healthy Food Access Is Vital in the Fight Against Food Insecurity
Today, limited access to healthy food is not just about individual choices but also policy decisions. By expanding support for nutritious diets through SNAP healthy fruit and vegetable incentives and universal healthy school meals, we can reduce food insecurity and create a consistent demand for healthier foods.
Healthcare Integration and Economic Growth Through ‘Food as Medicine’ Programs
Medically tailored meals and produce prescriptions have been proven to reduce hospitalizations and overall costs for patients with chronic diseases. Integrating nutrition into standard reimbursements would shift the system to disease prevention. According to the Rockefeller Foundation, supporting local farmers through food is medicine programs could yield more than US$45 billion annually in economic benefits.
Infrastructure and Production: The Need for A Healthier Food System
Our current food system is efficient at producing and distributing processed foods but struggles with fresh, nutritious food. Strategic investments in regional processing, cold storage, and distribution, with support for farmers growing diversified crops, can make healthy food more accessible and affordable.
Reinforcing the Pillars of Nutritional Security
By improving access to healthy food, integrating nutrition into healthcare, and investing in infrastructure, we can reinforce the pillars of nutritional security. Over time, the system can become self-sustaining.
National Security is More Than Military Might
Real security is not just about military readiness, but also about the overall resilience of society including health, economic stability, and capacity to withstand shocks. Our current food system fails to meet these priorities. Such a system not only undermines our nation’s health and strength but also results in a diet-related disease crisis that kills Americans every day.
The Urgency to Invest in the Long-term Health and Resilience of the American People
The U.S has shown its ability to mobilize resources when needed. The challenge now is to decide if the long-term health and resilience of the American people is as urgent a matter as the war with Iran.
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