Association between participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program and perception of limited availability and choice of healthy foods

Background Nutrition security encompasses stable and equitable access, availability, affordability, and utilization of healthy foods.Aim To evaluate the relationship of two newly created dichotomous measures that represent aspects of nutrition security (i.e., perceived limited availability and healthfulness choice) with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation.Methods Logistic regression models were run for each outcome separately with adjustment for age, income-to-poverty ratio, gender, education, race, and food security.Results Adults using social services (e.g., food pantries) were enrolled (N = 402) in this cross-sectional analysis. SNAP participants (61.7%) were not different from non-SNAP participants in perceiving limited availability (aOR [95% CI]: 1.21 [0.75, 1.95]) or limited ability to choose (aOR [95% CI]: 0.69 [0.43, 1.12]) healthy foods.Conclusions Both SNAP and non-SNAP participants with low socioeconomic status report limited availability of healthy foods in their environment and a limited ability to choose healthy foods.