SNAP/FAP
- Parents are strongly supportive of nutrition incentive programs, such as Double Up Food Bucks, and would like to see these programs be consistently offered at more retailers across the state.
- Parents want to shop for local products, but food prices are much higher at their small, local grocery stores versus large chain stores further away. When parents receive more SNAP/FAP benefits, they are able to shop locally.
Charitable Food System
- Many parents with family members with food allergies or other medical dietary needs found food pantries and hot food programs to be inaccessible, leading them to have to spend more of their budget on food from grocery stores. Food banks and pantries can place a higher priority on providing foods safe for individuals with allergies, gluten intolerance, diabetes, etc.
- Offering near date, expired, or spoiled food makes many families feel less than and is perceived as a form of discrimination. Education about “best by” dates may help some families feel more comfortable using these foods, but other families will perceive these efforts as pressure to eat food that is not safe and/or has been cast off by others.
WIC
- Parents see WIC as a critical program for providing their families with fresh produce. Overall, they are extremely grateful for the benefits.
- Expanding the food types, brands, and allowable package sizes of WIC-eligible foods would ensure that families could more fully redeem their benefits.
School Food Distribution
- Whenever possible, consider ways to minimize the distribution of highly processed foods and prioritize fresh food, including produce.
- Families with children with specific dietary needs struggle to find safe free or low-cost foods. Food distribution programs should, if possible, provide families access to foods that are safe for children with common food allergies or other medical dietary needs.
P-EBT
- Explore the possibility of connecting Summer EBT with Double Up Food Bucks to further stretch families’ benefits and increase children’s access to local, fresh produce.