scholarly journals Did School Meal Programs and SNAP Participation Improve Diet Quality of US Children from Low-Income Households: Evidence from NHANES 2013–2014?

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 3574
Author(s):  
Tzuan A. Chen ◽  
Lorraine R. Reitzel ◽  
Ezemenari M. Obasi ◽  
Jayna M. Dave
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
School Meals ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
School Meal ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Low Income Households

Nutrition assistance programs such as school meals and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are designed to provide a safety net for the dietary intake of children from low-income families. However, compared with eligible non-participants, the relationship of diet quality with school meals only and school meals + SNAP is not well understood. The objectives of the study include: (1) To explore whether and to what extent nutrition assistance program participation (school meals only and school meals + SNAP) is related to diet quality; and (2) to examine the differences of diet quality between participating in school meals only, school meals + SNAP, or non-participation among American children. Children aged 5 to 18 years old from income eligible households who participated in the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in this cross-sectional study (n = 1425). Diet quality was measured using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)–2015 and its 13 subcomponents. A Rao-Scott Chi-square test, propensity scores approach, and Analysis of Covariance were performed. Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, weight status, and family monthly poverty index. SAS survey procedures were used to incorporate the appropriate sample design weights. Participation in school meals + SNAP was not associated with higher diet quality compared to eligible non-participants or school meals-only participants. Participation in school meals + SNAP improved the intake of total dairy, but not added sugars or total vegetables compared to school meals only. Overall, school meal + SNAP participation did not significantly improve the overall diet quality of children in low-income households relative to comparable non-participants.

scholarly journals Three-year trends in dietary behaviours among mothers, teenagers and children from SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education) eligible households across California

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Molitor ◽  
Celeste Doerr ◽  
John Pugliese ◽  
Lauren Whetstone
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Dietary Behaviours ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

AbstractObjective:To examine trends from 2015 to 2017 in dietary behaviours and diet quality among low-income mothers, teenagers and children.Design:Cross-sectional telephone surveys using a validated 24 h dietary assessment.Setting:Randomly sampled households with incomes ≤185 % of the US federal poverty level across California.Participants:Survey participants were 13 247 mothers (≥18 years), 3293 teenagers (12–17 years) and 6043 children (5–11 years). Respondents were mostly Latino.Results:Over the 3-year study period, consumption of fruits and vegetables with and without 100 % fruit juice increased (P ≤ 0·05) by at least 0·3 cups/d for mothers, teenagers and children. Intake of water also increased (P ≤ 0·001) by more than 1 cup/d for mothers and children and 2 cups/d for teenagers. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption was unchanged over the 3 years. Overall diet quality, as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015, improved (P ≤ 0·01) for mothers, teenagers and children. Covariates for the fifteen regression models (three age groups by five outcome variables) included race/ethnicity, age, education for mothers, and gender for teenagers and children.Conclusions:The observed increases in fruit and vegetable intake and improvements in overall diet quality during the 3-year period suggest that low-income Californians may have lowered their risk of preventable diseases. However, more intense or strategic SSB-reduction interventions are required. Regional- or state-level, population-based surveillance of dietary behaviours is useful for public health nutrition policy and programme decision making, and can be used to assess potential trends in future negative health outcomes and related costs associated with poor dietary behaviours within at-risk populations.

scholarly journals Prevalence and nutritional quality of free food and beverage acquisitions at school and work by SNAP status

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0257879
Author(s):  
Aviva A. Musicus ◽  
Anne N. Thorndike ◽  
Jason P. Block ◽  
Eric B. Rimm ◽  
Sara N. Bleich
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Free Food ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Food Acquisition ◽  
Assistance Program

Background The dual burden of poor diet quality and food insecurity makes free food—food acquired at no cost—a very important part of the nutrition safety net for low-income families. The goal of this study was to determine the national prevalence and nutritional quality of free food acquired separately in two settings: 1) by children at school; and 2) by employees at work; both stratified by participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Methods Using National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey data (2012; n = 4,826 U.S. households containing 5,382 employed adults and 3,338 school-aged children), we used survey-weighted proportions to describe free food acquisition and linear regression to compare the 2010 Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2010) for free/non-free food acquisition events (i.e., meals) by SNAP status. Analyses were conducted in 2019–2020. Results SNAP households had more free acquisition events (29.6%) compared to non-SNAP households (<185% federal poverty level (FPL) = 22.3%; ≥185%FPL = 21.0%, p’s<0.001). For SNAP-participant children, free acquisition events at school had a higher mean HEI-2010 compared to non-free acquisition events at school (50.3 vs. 43.8, p = 0.033) and free acquisition events by SNAP-non-participant children ≥185%FPL at school (50.3 vs. 38.0, p = 0.001). Free and non-free acquisition events at work had relatively low HEI-2010s, with no differences by SNAP status. Conclusions Over one fifth of all food acquisition events were free, but free food acquisitions at school and work were relatively unhealthy. For children participating in SNAP, free food acquired at school had higher nutritional quality. Improving the dietary quality of free foods could improve the health of families, especially those participating in SNAP.

scholarly journals Associations among Food Security, School Meal Participation, and Students’ Diet Quality in the First School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Sarah Forrestal ◽  
Elizabeth Potamites ◽  
Joanne Guthrie ◽  
Nora Paxton
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
School Nutrition ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
School Meals ◽  
Cost Study ◽  
School Meal ◽  
Chi Squared

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 updated the nutrition standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs (NSLP and SBP) and expanded universal free meals’ availability in low-income schools. Past studies have shown that school meals are an important resource for children in food-insecure households. This analysis used data from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study to classify students as food insecure (FI), marginally secure (MS), or food secure (FS). Diet quality from school and nonschool foods that students consumed was assessed using Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010 scores. Chi-squared and two-tailed t-tests were conducted to compare school meal participation, students’ energy intakes, and diet quality across food security groups. FI and MS students were significantly more likely to participate in NSLP than FS students (79%, 71%, and 49%, respectively). SBP participation followed a similar pattern but was lower (38% FI, 33% MS, and 16% FS). Compared to FS students, FI and MS students more likely attended schools offering SBP, universal free meals, or afterschool snacks and suppers. School meals contributed significantly more energy to FI and MS students’ diets than to FS students (22%, 20%, and 13%, respectively). All groups’ dietary intakes from school foods were of higher quality than non-school foods. These findings highlight the role of school meals in meeting the energy and diet quality needs of FI and MS students.

Role of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Improving Diet Quality: Implications for Nurses

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-70
Author(s):  
Victoria M. Pak ◽  
Erin Ferranti ◽  
Ingrid Duva ◽  
Melissa Owen ◽  
Sandra B. Dunbar
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Health Goals ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides access to healthy food for low-income individuals and households. Food security, however, does not necessarily achieve higher diet quality for beneficiaries. Diet quality is an important consideration for the development and management of chronic illness, a significant public health concern. In this study, we review incentives and disincentives implemented to improve the diet quality, the evidence on SNAP including benefits, challenges, and the politics of funding. New interventions and policies will be needed in order to improve the overall diet quality of SNAP households. SNAP should align with nutritional science to meet national public health goals. Nurses are trusted advocates for patients and the public and are uniquely positioned to aid in this effort. Informed by evidence, nurses willing to leverage their influence, can lead this needed change.

scholarly journals The impact of financial incentives and restrictions on cyclical food expenditures among low-income households receiving nutrition assistance: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sruthi Valluri ◽  
Susan M. Mason ◽  
Hikaru Hanawa Peterson ◽  
Simone A. French ◽  
Lisa J. Harnack
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
The United States ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Added Sugar ◽  
Food Expenditures ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low Income Households

Abstract Background The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest anti-hunger program in the United States. Two proposed interventions to encourage healthier food expenditures among SNAP participants have generated significant debate: financial incentives for fruits and vegetables, and restrictions on foods high in added sugar. To date, however, no study has assessed the impact of these interventions on the benefit cycle, a pattern of rapid depletion of SNAP benefits that has been linked to worsening nutrition and health outcomes over the benefit month. Methods Low-income households not currently enrolled in SNAP (n = 249) received benefits every 4 weeks for 12 weeks on a study-specific benefit card. Households were randomized to one of four study arms: 1) incentive (30% incentive for fruits and vegetables purchased with study benefits), 2) restriction (not allowed to buy sugar-sweetened beverages, sweet baked goods, or candy using study benefits), 3) incentive plus restriction, or 4) control (no incentive or restriction). Weekly household food expenditures were evaluated using generalized estimating equations. Results Compared to the control group, financial incentives increased fruit and vegetable purchases, but only in the first 2 weeks after benefit disbursement. Restrictions decreased expenditures on foods high in added sugar throughout the benefit month, but the magnitude of the impact decreased as the month progressed. Notably, restrictions mitigated cyclical expenditures. Conclusions Policies to improve nutrition outcomes among SNAP participants should consider including targeted interventions in the second half of the month to address the benefit cycle and attendant nutrition outcomes. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT02643576. Retrospectively registered December 22, 2014.

Diet Quality of Atlantic Families Headed by Single Mothers

2006 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Theresa Glanville ◽  
Lynn Mcintyre
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Dietary Adequacy ◽  
Lone Mothers

Purpose: As part of a larger study on food insecurity and dietary adequacy of low-income lone mothers and their children in Atlantic Canada, we examined diet quality among household members. Methods: Network sampling for ‘difficult to sample’ populations was used to identify mothers living below the poverty line and alone with at least two children under age 14. Trained dietitians administered 24-hour dietary recalls weekly for one month to mothers on the dietary intake of themselves and their children. We calculated Healthy Eating Index category scores for eligible mothers (129) and children (303) using Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating and the Nutrition Recommendations for Canadians. Results: Diet quality of low-income lone mothers was poor (35.5%) or in need of improvement (64.5%), with no mother having a good diet. The diet quality of children varied by age, with 22.7% of children aged one to three having a good diet or needing improvement (74.6%), 2.1% of children aged four to eight and no child aged nine to 14 having a good diet, while the diets of about 85% of older children in both age categories needed improvement. Conclusions: Younger children seem to be protected from poor quality diets in households with limited resources to acquire food.

scholarly journals Diet quality from pre-school to school age in Brazilian children: a 4-year follow-up in a randomised control study

2013 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Rauber ◽  
Daniel J. Hoffman ◽  
Márcia Regina Vitolo
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Control Group ◽  
School Age

A previous study demonstrated that dietary counselling for mothers during the first year of life improved overall diet quality of children at pre-school age in a low-income population. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess the long-term effect of this intervention on diet quality of children at school age and examine the tracking of dietary intake throughout childhood. The present study was a follow-up of a randomised controlled trial with children who were assessed at 3–4 years (n 345) and 7–8 years (n 307) of age. We collected two 24 h dietary recalls and assessed diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Analyses were performed by group using a paired t test and a Student's t test for independent samples. Diet quality did not differ between the intervention and control groups at 7–8 years of age (HEI score 65·2 (sd 9·5) v. 64·9 (sd 8·5)). Regarding changes in diet quality from pre-school to school age, we observed the tracking of diet quality in the control group and the loss of the intervention effect in the intervention group. In both groups, the score for fruit and milk intake decreased, while that for saturated fat and dietary variety intake increased. The score for the intakes of grains, meat and legumes, and total fat remained constant for all children. The present data provide evidence that diet quality tracks during childhood since the total HEI score did not differ over time in the control group. The decrease in score for some HEI components did not affect the overall diet quality due to the increase in score for other HEI components.

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