Role of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Improving Diet Quality: Implications for Nurses

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides access to healthy food for low-income individuals and households. Food security, however, does not necessarily achieve higher diet quality for beneficiaries. Diet quality is an important consideration for the development and management of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policy, politics & nursing practice politics & nursing practice, 2020-05, Vol.21 (2), p.62-70
Main Authors: M. Pak, Victoria, Ferranti, Erin, Duva, Ingrid, Owen, Melissa, B. Dunbar, Sandra
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beneficiaries
Chronic illnesses
Diet
Disincentives
Food security
Food stamps
Healthy food
Households
Incentives
Leverage
Low income groups
Nurses
Nursing
Nutrition
Objectives
Politics
Public health
Public health nurses
Quality
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Summary:The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides access to healthy food for low-income individuals and households. Food security, however, does not necessarily achieve higher diet quality for beneficiaries. Diet quality is an important consideration for the development and management of chronic illness, a significant public health concern. In this study, we review incentives and disincentives implemented to improve the diet quality, the evidence on SNAP including benefits, challenges, and the politics of funding. New interventions and policies will be needed in order to improve the overall diet quality of SNAP households. SNAP should align with nutritional science to meet national public health goals. Nurses are trusted advocates for patients and the public and are uniquely positioned to aid in this effort. Informed by evidence, nurses willing to leverage their influence, can lead this needed change.
ISSN:1527-1544
1552-7468
DOI:10.1177/1527154420923759