Impact of Food Stamp and Nutrition Education Programs on Food Group Expenditure And Nutrient Intake of Low Income Households

Abstract

Few researchers have attempted to assess the impact of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) on both food expenditures and nutritional status [1, 3, 6]. Even fewer have evaluated the joint impact of income supplement programs, such as the FSP, and nutrition education programs, such as the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), on the nutritional status of participating households [4, 10]. The purpose of this article is to (1) identify selected food group and corresponding nutrient intake responses associated with participation in the FSP and EFNEP, (2) simulate the nutritional impact of alternative policy mechanisms with joint FSP and EFNEP participation, and (3) explore policy implications for food and nutrition program planning.