Nutrition Topics

• Childhood Obesity
• Federal Food and Nutrition Programs
• Assessing Dietary
  Quality
• Sharing Expertise
• Clients

Food Stamp Household Spending Patterns and Diet Quality

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—formerly the Food Stamp Program (FSP)—helps millions of low-income participants put food on the table each year. But how nutritious is the food being purchased? How does SNAP affect the spending patterns of those who participate? Mathematica is seeking to answer these questions by evaluating (1) the relationship between dietary quality and food spending among SNAP participants, and (2) food intake patterns of participants compared to nonparticipants.

We are using three primary data sources, first looking at data from the National Food Stamp Program Survey to develop measures focused on the amount and quality of nutrients in participants’ household food supply. The diary component of the Consumer Expenditure Survey helps examine food expenditures among SNAP participants, income-eligible nonparticipants, and income ineligibles. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-2002 and 2003-2004), in combination with a food price database, is helping us assess the relationship between food expenditures and diet quality for all three groups.

We are using the interview component of the Consumer Expenditure Survey to compare broader spending patterns across SNAP participants, income-eligible nonparticipants, and income ineligibles. Both parts of the study include descriptive and multivariate analyses.

Publications

"Food Expenditures and Diet Quality Among Low-Income Households and Individuals" (July 2010)
"Low-Income Household Spending Patterns and Measures of Poverty" (April 2010)