Food Resource Management Education With SNAP Participation Improves Food Security

Authors

• Lucia Kaiser, University of California at DavisFollow
• Virginia Chaidez, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
• Susan Algert, University of California, Davis
• Marcel Horowitz, University of California, DavisFollow
• Anna Martin, University of California, DavisFollow
• Concepcion Mendoza, University of California, Davis
• Marisa Neelon, University of California, DavisFollow
• David C. Ginsburg, University of California, Davis

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

4-3-2015

Citation

Published in Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Volume 47, Number 4 (2015), pp 374-378

DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2015.01.012

Comments

Copyright ©2015 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier, Inc. Used by permission.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the influence of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and participant demographics on nutrition education outcomes.

Methods: At program enrollment (pre) and 1 month later (post), a statewide convenience sample of adults, who participated in the Plan, Shop, Save, and Cook program, completed a 7-item questionnaire to evaluate change in resource management skills (RMS) and running out of food before the end of the month.

Results: Percent of participants (n = 3,744) who reported behavioral improvements in RMS ranged from 38.8%in comparing prices to 54% in reading labels. Female gender and Hispanic ethnicity were positively related to pre–post RMS change (P = .001). Participants who received SNAP food assistance and made greater pre–post improvement in RMS reported the greatest decrease in running out of food (P = .001).

Conclusions and Implications: Both food assistance and education on nutrition and resource management are needed to reduce food insecurity in SNAP-eligible audiences.