Do SNAP and WIC Programs Encourage More Fruit and Vegetable Intake? A Household Survey in the Northern Great Plains

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2015

Abstract

Corn Belt US has constantly showed low fruit and vegetable (F & V) consumption. One of the policy suggestions to increase F & V consumption is to implement government food subsidies for low- and no-income families. In this study, we conducted a household food-choice survey study and the results suggested that both Supplemental Nutrition Assistance and Women, Infant, and Children programs had significant effects on increasing F & V consumption. However, those effects varied by family characteristics, dietary habit, and living environment. Moreover, exercise habits, family support, and the willingness to make healthy choices had more influences on increasing F &V intake than did demographic background, socio-economic variables, and living environment variables. We also found an inconsistent pattern of how nutrition knowledge affects F & V consumption.

Publication Title

Journal of Family and Economic Issues

Volume

36

Issue

4

First Page

477

Last Page

490

DOI of Published Version

10.1007/s10834-014-9412-5

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