Food Assistance Programs

We study how food policies affect participants in food assistance programs. This has included examining the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves about 1 in 7 Americans every year. Our work has suggested that SNAP restrictions – policies that would end subsidies for certain foods like candy or sugary drinks – could improve dietary quality among SNAP participants, with larger benefits for certain demographic groups most affected by diet-related chronic diseases. By contrast, we have found that policies targeting corner and convenience stores may have limited potential to improve diet.

In a new line of work, we are studying strategies for encouraging children to participate in school meal programs, which could help improve the healthfulness of their diets and reduce their chances of being food insecure. 

Featured Articles

Barriers and facilitators to achieving food security during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Reimold AE, Grummon AH, Taillie LS, Brewer NT, Rimm EB, Hall MG. Prev Med Rep. 2021 Jul 17;23:101500. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101500. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Nutritional profile of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program household food and beverage purchases.  Grummon AH, Taillie LS. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017 Jun;105(6):1433-1442. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.116.147173. Epub 2017 Apr 19. 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation and racial/ethnic disparities in food and beverage purchases.  Grummon AH, Taillie LS. Public Health Nutr. 2018 Dec;21(18):3377-3385. doi: 10.1017/S1368980018002598. Epub 2018 Oct 11.