moving forward - Policy InitiativesPolicy Initiative No. 6Encourage Recipients ofPublic Benefit Programs toPurchase Healthy FoodsChildrenparticipatingin SNAP hada significantlygreater meanBody MassIndex and weresignificantlymore likely tobe obese.Starting inOctober 2009,WIC will allowparticipants tobuy soy-basedbeverages,tofu, fruits andvegetables,baby foods,whole-wheatbread andother wholegrainoptionsto better meetthe nutritionalneeds of itsparticipants.THE CHALLENGEThe cost of certain foods can put healthier choices out of reach for many.Research has shown that on a per-calorie basis, high-calorie, low-nutrition“junk” foods tend to be less expensive than more nutritious foods such asfruits and vegetables. The cost of “junk” foods also has increased moreslowly over time. Between 1985 and 2000, the real (inflation-adjusted)cost of fresh fruits and vegetables rose nearly 40 percent, while realcost of soft drinks, sweets, fats, and oils decreased in the United States.Particularly for those with limited food budgets, such as SupplementalNutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, economicallysmart food choices and healthy food choices may conflict. Nationally,2.4 million people rely on the SNAP program. In fiscal year 2008,the average number of participants per month in Mississippi’sSNAP program was 447,181.Many of the federal food assistance and nutrition programs distributesurplus foods, which are not necessarily chosen for health benefits. Budgetconstraints can also necessitate the purchase and distribution of cheaperfoods. Additionally, while farmers’ markets and small local businesses areallowed to take SNAP benefits, it is often not economically feasible forthem to purchase and maintain the equipment required to do so.More than 20 percent of U.S. SNAP participants live in ruralcommunities. Making sure that locally grown foods are among thoseavailable through food assistance and nutrition programs would increaseaccess to fresh, healthy foods and help rural communities create marketsto support increased production of local foods.The fact that SNAP benefits can be used to purchase nearly any food item—except alcohol, tobacco, and dietary supplements—including “junk” foodhas led to discussion of stricter regulations on SNAP spending. Furthereducation on proper nutrition and healthy choices could also providerecipients more independence and useful knowledge, should benefits nolonger be available.A policy option to consider is to eliminate “junk food” as an approvedpurchase for SNAP recipients. An alternative policy option is to providediscounts to SNAP partcipants when purchasing healthy foods with publicnutrition assistance benefits, encouraging people to make healthy choices.<strong>MISSISSIPPI</strong>’S SUCCESSOn June 15, 2009, theWashington County, Mississippi,Health Department sponsoredits first of many nutrition andphysical activity classes forparticipants of federal assistanceprograms who were single headsof household and diabetic or atrisk for diabetes. Classes werescheduled three days per weekfor two weeks. Participants whoattended four of the six classesqualified for a free $25 gift cardto use at their local grocery.Topics for classes includeddiabetes and diabetes prevention,meal planning, incorporatingphysical activity into each day,grocery shopping, cooking,and reading food labels.The National Food ServiceManagement Institute andDepartment of Family andConsumer Sciences at theUniversity of Mississippi arecurrently partners in EatingGood… and Moving Like WeShould, a project funded bythe Delta Health Alliance.The program teaches schoolstaff, parents, and caregivershow to provide healthy foods tochildren. It teaches children tomake healthy food choices basedon their individual food andnutrition needs and encouragesthem to engage in a more activelifestyle. Nutrition counseling28
A project funded by the POWER initiativewith individual families is alsoprovided. Topics discussed incounseling sessions includegeneral nutrition principles thatcorrelate directly to decreasingthe risk of developing chronicdiseases associated with obesity.Communication resourcesare provided for school andnutrition directors to presentto teachers, parents, and foodservice staff.At the close of the 2008-2009school year, Eating Good…and Moving Like We Shouldhad served more than 1,200residents in Panola andQuitman counties. Preliminaryresults showed that 58 percentof the 561 children whoparticipated in the programshared with their family whatthey had learned in the program,and 88 percent of the childrensurveyed said they had learnedthings in the program that willinfluence their eating habits asan adult.Because of what they learnedin the program, 53 percent ofparticipants claimed they weredecreasing the amount of foodthey were eating, and 65 percentof respondents reported theyhad increased their intake offruits and vegetables. Seventysevenpercent of the childrenwho participated in thesurvey said they either startedexercising or increasedtheir physical activityafter completingthe curriculum.Achieving remarkableresults in theMississippi Delta,the collaboration ofpartners has been thekey to the program’ssuccess. The resultsare gratifying andconfirm that nutritioneducation is a criticalweapon in the fightagainst obesityand disease.approximately12.1%of total food dollars arespent on fruits and vegetablesby lower income families.For those with income levels of$70,000 and above, thispercentage is only 8.7.29
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