Diet Quality Over the Monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Cycle

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health Policy
• Food Security Research

Background:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits aim to support low-income families' food access.
• A cyclical pattern of decreased food spending and caloric intake is observed among SNAP recipients throughout the month.
• This "SNAP-cycle" has significant implications for household health and food security.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare diet quality between SNAP households and non-SNAP households.
• To investigate the association between the SNAP-cycle and diet quality among SNAP recipients.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multivariate linear regression analysis on data from the USDA's Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey.
• Assessed diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) total and component scores.
• Analyzed data from 2012-2013, with analysis conducted in 2016-2017.

Main Results:

• Overall diet quality was low across the SNAP-cycle (mean HEI-2010 score of 46.14/100).
• SNAP households exhibited significantly lower HEI-2010 scores compared to non-participants.
• Households in the final 10 days of the benefit cycle showed a significant decline in HEI-2010 scores (2.95 points lower).

Conclusions:

• Dietary quality is low throughout the SNAP-cycle, worsening significantly in the final 10 days.
• Reduced purchasing of healthier foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, contributes to this decline.
• Current SNAP benefit levels may be insufficient for recipients to consistently purchase foods aligned with dietary guidelines.