This paper provides a systematic review of recent U.S. studies on dietary quality, food consumption, and spending among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants as compared to income-eligible and higher-income nonparticipants. Twenty-five studies that were peer reviewed, published between January 2003 and August 2014, and provided data on dietary quality and intake of SNAP participants and nonparticipants were included in the review. Most results suggest no statistically significant difference in caloric intake for SNAP participants compared to income-eligible and higher-income nonparticipants. Differences emerged in dietary quality, with SNAP-participating adults having less nutritious diets that either group of nonparticipants, and SNAP-participating children having less nutritious diets than higher-income children.
Dietary Quality of Americans by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Status: A Systematic Review
Related Research
October 2018
A Qualitative Evaluation of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program
This research describes findings from interviews conducted with grantees of multi-year community-based and large-scale projects funded by the FINI mechanism, as well as with stakeholders who could speak to FINI on a broader level. A total of 22 interviews were conducted with 19 organizations. Key elements addressed in this evaluation … More
May 2018
Accessibility Landscapes of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Authorized Stores
This study aimed to: explore the number and spatial distribution of 9,556 SNAP stores in North Carolina by type and assess how SNAP benefit redemption is linked to store type; compare the demographics of populations living in areas with a high concentration of SNAP participants vs areas with a lower … More
April 2018
Examining the Feasibility of Healthy Minimum Stocking Standards for Small Food Stores
This study builds on the recommendations for healthy minimum stocking developed by an expert panel convened by Healthy Eating Research in 2015. It tests the feasibility of the standards and provides practical insight from retailers about implementation. Researchers collected qualitative and quantitative data from 57 small stores in four states … More