Food Resource Management Education With SNAP Participation Improves Food Security

Lucia Kaiser; Virginia Chaidez; Susan Algert; Marcel Horowitz; Anna Martin; Concepcion Mendoza; Marisa Neelon; David C Ginsburg

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2015.01.012

Food Resource Management Education With SNAP Participation Improves Food Security

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015 Jul-Aug;47(4):374-8.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2015.01.012. Epub 2015 Apr 3.

Authors

Lucia Kaiser¹, Virginia Chaidez², Susan Algert³, Marcel Horowitz⁴, Anna Martin⁴, Concepcion Mendoza⁴, Marisa Neelon⁴, David C Ginsburg⁵

Affiliations

¹ Nutrition Department, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA; University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension, University of California, Davis, CA.
² Nutrition and Health Sciences Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE. Electronic address: vchaidez2@unl.edu.
³ Nutrition and Health Sciences Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; University of California CalFresh (SNAP-Ed) Nutrition Education Program, Davis, CA.
⁴ University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension, University of California, Davis, CA; University of California CalFresh (SNAP-Ed) Nutrition Education Program, Davis, CA.
⁵ University of California CalFresh (SNAP-Ed) Nutrition Education Program, Davis, CA.

PMID: 25843204
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2015.01.012

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.

Keywords: SNAP-Ed; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; food insecurity; food resource management; nutrition education.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Food Assistance*
Food Supply*
Health Education / methods*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nutritive Value*
Young Adult