The USDA publishes four food plans—Thrifty, Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal—that estimate the cost of preparing a nutritious diet at home. These estimates are based on national food prices, dietary guidelines, and assumptions about home cooking, and are updated regularly to reflect food inflation.

These plans estimate food costs based on price and nutrition alone, and do not account for food quality, organic or regenerative practices, local sourcing, or investments in long-term food security.