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.