Research & Publications

Focus Areas

Resource Types

Age Groups

Race/Ethnicity

Changes in SNAP Participation and Food Expenditures for Households with Children During the Pandemic

The purposes of this research were to explore the characteristics of households with children that joined SNAP after substantial changes were made to the program in the early stages of the pandemic and to learn how the changes affected food purchases. The research team used household-based scanner data to assess demographic characteristics and food purchase More

Keywords: COVID-19, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Date: June 2025

Resource Type: Research Brief

Focus Areas: Nutrition Policy & Programs

Effects of SNAP Participation on the Healthfulness of Foods Purchased by Households with Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of March 2020, changes were made to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (including emergency allotments, meal replacement benefits during school closures for children, and SNAP operation waivers), which could have had a protective effect on nutritional quality of SNAP households’ food purchases. Specific aims are to (1) More