Effect of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Nutrition Education on Nutrition and Health Outcomes of HIV+ Individuals

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the relationship between neighbourhood food environment perceptions and obesity among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) or Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) participants. Design: A cross-sectional study conducted during SNAP-Ed or EFNEP programme participation in six states in the Midwest US between May 2016 and November 2017. Setting: Community centres, food pantries and other SNAP-Ed or EFNEP recruitment locations. Participants: Convenience sample of 1743 low-income, adult nutrition education programme participants. Results: Controlling for participant location and other demographic variables, those who perceived that a large selection of fruits and vegetables were available to them were 22 % less likely to be obese (adjusted odds ratio 0·78, 95 % CI 0·63, 0·97). In addition, participants who perceived the distance to the grocery store where they purchased most of their groceries to be greater than 5 miles were 1·36 times more likely to be overweight or obese than those who travelled shorter distances for their groceries. Conclusions: SNAP-Ed or EFNEP participants’ weight status may be associated with their perceptions of their neighbourhood food environments. Programmes incorporating nutrition education and food access initiatives should attempt to better understand participant perceptions in order to address barriers in their efforts and to ensure that healthy food is accessible to low-income residents.

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Goal-setting program improves nutrition and physical activity among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligible adults

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980019004518 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. 1924-1930

Author(s):

V Karamanian ◽

B Zepka ◽

A Ernst ◽

C West ◽

G Grode ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Goal Setting ◽

Education Program ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Nutrition Education Program ◽

Nutrition Assistance

AbstractObjective:To examine the impact of Nutrition for Life (NFL), a goal-setting nutrition education program, on the knowledge, self-efficacy and behaviour of adults eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education.Design:NFL was developed using a 4-week goal-setting behavioural strategy focused on nutrition, physical activity and meal planning techniques. A quantitative repeated-measures design using self-reported data was collected at pre- and post-interventions and at 1-week and 1-month follow-ups.Setting:Two Federally Qualified Health Centers in Philadelphia, PA, USA.Participants:A total of ninety-eight participants enrolled in the intervention; the majority were women (80·2 %), Black/Non-Hispanic (75·0 %) and 45–54 year old (39·6 %).Results:Participants showed significant improvement in knowledge, self-efficacy and behaviour. Specifically, mean daily intake for vegetables increased by 0·31 cup (P < 0·05) and for fruits by 0·39 cup (P < 0·01) at 1-week follow-up. Participants also showed healthier behaviour at 1-month follow-up. Planning at least seven meals per week increased from 14·8 to 50 % (P < 0·01), completing at least 30 min of physical activity every day in the last week increased from 16·7 to 36 % (P < 0·01) and consuming water with all meals increased from 39 to 70·6 % (P < 0·01).Conclusions:The implementation of a goal-oriented nutrition education program offers a promising approach at achieving positive behaviour change among SNAP-eligible adults.

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Examining Rural Food-Insecure Families’ Perceptions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: A Qualitative Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17176390 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (17) ◽

pp. 6390

Author(s):

Lindsey Haynes-Maslow ◽

Annie Hardison-Moody ◽

Megan Patton-Lopez ◽

T. Elaine Prewitt ◽

Carmen Byker Shanks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Customer Service ◽

The United States ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Funding Formulas ◽

Nutrition Assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical program that helps reduce the risk of food insecurity, yet little is known about how SNAP addresses the needs of rural, food-insecure residents in the United States (U.S.). This study examines how rural, food-insecure residents perceive SNAP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 153 individuals living in six diverse rural regions of Arkansas, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and West Virginia. SNAP was described as a crucial stop-gap program, keeping families from experiencing persistent food insecurity, making food dollars stretch when the family budget is tight, and helping them purchase healthier foods. For many rural residents interviewed, SNAP was viewed in a largely positive light. In efforts to continue improving SNAP, particularly in light of its relevance during and post-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, policymakers must be aware of rural families’ perceptions of SNAP. Specific improvements may include increased transparency regarding funding formulas, budgeting and nutrition education for recipients, effective training to improve customer service, connections among social service agencies within a community, and increased availability of automation to streamline application processes.

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Diet Quality and Associations with Food Security among Women Eligible for Indiana Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1093/jn/nxaa171 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 150 (8) ◽

pp. 2191-2198

Author(s):

Rebecca L Rivera ◽

Yumin Zhang ◽

Qi Wang ◽

Melissa K Maulding ◽

Janet A Tooze ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Whole Grains ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Food Security Status ◽

Usual Intake ◽

Nutrition Assistance

ABSTRACT Background The diet quality among adults receiving nutrition education lessons through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) is currently unknown. Objectives The objectives of this study were to characterize the diet quality of Indiana SNAP-Ed-eligible women; estimate their mean usual intake of fruits, vegetables, dairy, and whole grains compared to Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations; and determine if these dietary outcomes differed by food security status. Methods SNAP-Ed paraprofessionals recruited participants from August 2015 to May 2016 for this secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected as the baseline assessment for a randomized controlled trial. Participants were SNAP-Ed-eligible women aged ≥18 y interested in nutrition education lessons. Dietary outcomes were assessed by one or two 24-h dietary recalls. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010 was used to characterize diet quality. Mean usual intake of food groups was estimated using the National Cancer Institute Method. Food security status was classified using the US Household Food Security Survey Module. Data were analyzed in October 2019. Results Mean ± SEM HEI-2010 total score was 42 ± 0.9 for the study sample. Mean ± SE usual intake of servings of fruits (0.61 ± 0.08 cups [144.32 ± 18.93 mL]), vegetables [1.4 ± 0.10 cups (331.2 ± 23.66 mL)], dairy [1.5 ± 0.11 cups (354.88 ± 26.02 mL)], and whole grains [0.48 ± 0.06 ounces (13.61 ± 1.70 g)] did not differ by food security subgroup. Mean HEI-2010 total score was significantly higher by 4.8 ± 2.0 points for the food-secure than for the food-insecure subgroup (P = 0.01). Mean HEI-2010 component scores were 1.1 ± 0.5 points higher for whole grain (P = 0.01) and 1.0 ± 0.5 points higher for dairy (P = 0.05) in the food-secure than in the food-insecure subgroup. The proportions of the study sample not meeting the DGA recommendations for food group intake were ≥85% for both food-secure and -insecure subgroups. Conclusions Indiana SNAP-Ed-eligible women reported poor diet quality, highlighting their need for nutrition interventions aiming to improve food security and diet as per DGA recommendations in low-income populations.

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Read for Health: State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Delivers Nutrition Education through Children's Literature

Journal of the American Dietetic Association ◽

10.1016/j.jada.2011.06.325 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 111 (9) ◽

pp. A89

Author(s):

E.M. Braunscheidel ◽

C. Miller ◽

L. Lachenmayr

Keyword(s):

Children's Literature ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Children’S Literature ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Health State ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Nutrition Assistance

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Effect of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed) on food security and dietary outcomes

Nutrition Reviews ◽

10.1093/nutrit/nuz013 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 77 (12) ◽

pp. 903-921 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Rebecca L Rivera ◽

Melissa K Maulding ◽

Heather A Eicher-Miller

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Low Income ◽

The United States ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Nutrition Assistance ◽

Study Designs

AbstractThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed) is the nutrition promotion component of SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. SNAP-Ed assists low-income populations in the United States improve dietary intake and reduce food insecurity through nutrition education. This narrative review summarizes current investigations of SNAP-Ed’s effectiveness at improving food security and dietary outcomes, and it can help inform future policy and implementation of the program. There was stronger evidence for SNAP-Ed as an effective means of improving food security (n = 4 reports) than for its effects on nutrition or dietary outcomes (n = 10 reports). Inconsistency in measurement tools and outcomes and a lack of strong study designs characterized the studies that sought to evaluate the effectiveness of SNAP-Ed at improving nutrition or dietary outcomes. Additional rigorous study designs in diverse population groups are needed to strengthen the evidence. In the face of reduced financial SNAP benefits, SNAP-Ed may play an important role in helping to eliminate food insecurity and improve dietary outcomes and, ultimately, the health of low-income Americans.

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Access to Healthier Foods for Idaho Local Food Pantries

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa043_063 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 212-212

Author(s):

Shelly Johnson ◽

Kali Gardiner ◽

Annie Roe

Keyword(s):

Nutrition Education ◽

Low Income ◽

Well Being ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Healthy Foods ◽

Food Bank ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Nutrition Assistance

Abstract Objectives For many struggling with poverty, consuming a nutritious diet while managing an existing chronic condition can be extremely challenging. Often times food bank/pantries offer an emergency resource to help promote health to families in need, however, many of them lack healthy foods to improve nutrition, health and well-being. In Idaho's Kootenai County, over 35,000 people are food insecure, 13.1% of the population with over 6000 of them being children, 17.1% of the population. University Of Idaho Extension Eat Smart Idaho program, with funding from USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education and the Department of Health and Welfare, have created their Healthy Food Bank/Pantry Protocol and Healthy Food Drive Protocol to help mesh our food bank network with healthier food options and give access to healthier foods to our low income families. Methods Eat Smart Idaho's goal is to move as many pantries towards the “choice” model as well as “MyPlate” pantries that will allow nutrition education through signage, demonstrations, recipes and classes. Additionally, a protocol has been written for healthy food drives with the goal of reaching as many individuals with this education as possible. In the last two years, FY2017–2019, the Eat Smart Idaho program serving Kootenai County assisted with over 20 healthy food drives. The Post Falls School District Annual Food Drive which supports the Post Falls Food Bank was a particular success in 2019. This food drive included 7 elementary schools who challenged each other to donate the most food. In 2019, schools were also rewarded for bringing in the most healthy food donations. The Eat Smart Idaho team provided nutrition education assemblies and classroom presentations on how to donate healthy. Healthy food donation lists were also created, as well as displays set up at school locations. Results Ponderosa Elementary received the Eat Smart Idaho Award for donating the most healthy food, additionally, students wrote essays about the importance of donating healthy foods to families in need. The Post Falls Food Drive collected over 10,000 pounds of food and $1700 in monetary donations. Conclusions Providing nutrition education and healthy donation lists serve as a model for managing a healthy food drive, particularly, in the school setting. Funding Sources Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education.

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Does Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reduce Food Insecurity among Households with Children? Evidence from the Current Population Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063178 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3178

Author(s):

Jun Zhang ◽

Yanghao Wang ◽

Steven T. Yen

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Current Population Survey ◽

Population Survey ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Current Population ◽

Households With Children ◽

Nutrition Assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to improve household diet and food security—a pressing problem confronting low-income families in the United States. Previous studies on the issue often ignored the methodological issue of endogenous program participation. We revisit this important issue by estimating a simultaneous equation system with ordinal household food insecurity. Data are drawn from the 2009–2011 Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS), restricted to SNAP-eligible households with children. Our results add to the stocks of empirical findings that SNAP participation ameliorates food insecurity among adults only, but increases the probabilities of low and very low food security among children. These contradictory results indicate that our selection approach with a single cross section is only partially successful, and that additional efforts are needed in further analyses of this complicated issue, perhaps with longitudinal data. Socio-demographic variables are found to affect food-secure households and food-insecure households differently, but affect SNAP nonparticipants and participants in the same direction. The state policy tools, such as broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) and simplified reporting, can encourage SNAP participation and thus ameliorate food insecurity. Our findings can inform policy deliberations.

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