The role of dignity in food assistance: Participant experiences with a free meal kit program

Federal and private food assistance programs play a crucial role in addressing hunger and nutrition insecurity in the United States. However, using food assistance poses inherent challenges to the construction of food dignity given the longstanding neoliberal stigma surrounding the use of charitable food programs. A human rights approach to food shifts the emphasis from receiving enough food to promoting a food system that values and promotes dignity. Drawing on 116 in-depth interviews with 67 participants during and after their use of a free 4-week meal kit program called Pass the Love, this analysis reveals six components of a high-dignity food experience. These include: (1) unconditional access (2) providing a complete meal (3) fresh and healthy food (4) minimizing access and preparation burden (5) conveying care and generating positive emotional experiences, and (6) honoring diverse foodways and practices. This study contributes to a growing literature on food dignity and suggests that food assistance programs can better achieve their goals by fostering food dignity.