When the government increased SNAP benefits during COVID-19, people bought more fresh fruits and vegetables and felt more secure about feeding their families, according to Gram Research analysis of interviews with 47 SNAP participants in the Northeast. However, when benefits decreased and other costs like rent and gas rose, people returned to buying cheaper shelf-stable foods and reported increased food insecurity, showing that benefit increases alone aren’t enough without also making healthy foods more affordable.
When the government gave people extra food assistance money during COVID-19, they bought more fresh fruits and vegetables and felt less worried about feeding their families. But when that extra money went away, people went back to buying cheaper shelf-stable foods and struggling to afford healthy options. Gram Research analysis of interviews with 47 SNAP participants in the Northeast found that while benefit increases directly improved food choices, other factors like job loss and rising prices also played a huge role in what families could afford to buy. The research suggests that policymakers should consider permanently increasing SNAP benefits and making healthy foods more affordable to help families eat better.
Key Statistics
A 2026 qualitative study of 47 SNAP participants in the Northeast found that increased pandemic benefits directly expanded food choices and improved food security, with participants reporting they could afford fresh produce and felt less worried about feeding their families.
According to interviews with 47 SNAP users conducted between April and December 2024, decreased benefits and rising costs for housing and transportation constrained food choices and returned participants to purchasing cheaper shelf-stable foods despite previous access to fresh options.
Research from 47 SNAP participants in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont revealed that external economic pressures—including job loss, rising rent, and increased utility costs—limited healthy food purchases even when SNAP benefits were temporarily increased.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How did extra government food money during COVID-19 change what people bought at the grocery store, and what happened when that money ran out?
- Who participated: 47 people who use SNAP benefits (food stamps) and regularly shop at supermarkets in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. Researchers interviewed them between April and December 2024.
- Key finding: When SNAP benefits increased during the pandemic, people bought more fresh food and felt more secure about feeding their families. When benefits decreased, people returned to buying cheaper, shelf-stable foods and worried more about affording enough food.
- What it means for you: If you or someone you know uses SNAP benefits, higher benefit amounts could help you buy healthier foods like fresh produce. However, other costs like rent and gas also affect what families can afford, so increasing benefits alone may not be enough without also making healthy foods cheaper.
The Research Details
Researchers talked one-on-one with 47 people who use SNAP benefits and shop regularly at supermarkets in the Northeast. These conversations happened online between April and December 2024. The researchers asked open-ended questions about how the pandemic and changes to their SNAP benefits affected what they bought at the store. All conversations were recorded, written out word-for-word, and then carefully read through to find common themes and patterns in what people said.
This type of research is called qualitative, which means it focuses on understanding people’s experiences and perspectives rather than counting numbers. The researchers used a method called thematic content analysis, which is like sorting through all the interview responses to find the main ideas that kept coming up again and again. This approach is really good for understanding the ‘why’ behind people’s choices, not just the ‘what.’
Understanding how real people experience SNAP benefits and make food choices is important because it shows us the full picture. Numbers alone can’t tell us how a parent feels when they have to choose between buying fresh vegetables or paying for gas to get to work. By listening to people’s actual stories, researchers can give policymakers better information about what changes might actually help families eat healthier.
This study has some strengths: it was published in a respected nutrition journal, the researchers carefully documented and organized all the interviews, and they talked to people from multiple states. However, it’s important to know that this study only included 47 people from the Northeast who shop at one supermarket chain, so the findings may not apply to everyone everywhere. The study also relied on people remembering and describing their experiences, which can sometimes be affected by memory or how people feel at the time of the interview.
What the Results Show
The research revealed six main themes about how SNAP changes affected food shopping. First, when SNAP benefits increased during the pandemic, participants said they could buy more fresh foods like fruits and vegetables, and they felt less worried about running out of food. One person might have said they could finally afford to buy chicken breast instead of just canned beans.
Second, when benefits decreased later, the opposite happened—people went back to buying cheaper foods that last longer on the shelf, like pasta, rice, and canned goods. They also reported feeling more stressed about whether they’d have enough money for food. Third, at the very start of the pandemic, people bought lots of shelf-stable foods because they were worried about shortages, but they bought fewer fresh foods during this time.
Fourth, as people got used to the pandemic and things seemed more normal, they started buying fresh foods again and even eating out occasionally. Fifth, after the pandemic ended, rising prices for everything—rent, utilities, gas—made it harder for people to afford healthy foods again, even if they still had SNAP benefits. Sixth, the research found that personal factors like family size, cooking skills, and food preferences also shaped what people bought, separate from the SNAP benefit changes.
Beyond the main themes, the research showed that SNAP benefits alone weren’t enough to guarantee healthy eating. Even when people had more money from increased benefits, they still had to balance food costs against other expenses. The study also found that people’s shopping habits changed based on what was happening in their lives—job loss, childcare needs, and transportation challenges all affected their ability to buy fresh, healthy foods. Additionally, participants mentioned that the availability and price of healthy foods in their area influenced their choices, suggesting that access to affordable healthy options matters just as much as having enough money.
This research builds on what we already know about SNAP and food security. Previous studies have shown that SNAP helps reduce hunger, but this study adds important detail by showing how temporary increases in benefits affect actual shopping behavior and food choices. The finding that external economic pressures (like rising rent and gas prices) can override the benefits of increased SNAP money is consistent with other research showing that food choices are shaped by many factors beyond just income. This study also confirms what other researchers have found: that people’s food purchasing patterns are flexible and respond to both their resources and their circumstances.
This study has several important limitations to keep in mind. First, it only included 47 people from five Northeastern states who shop at one supermarket chain, so the results may not apply to SNAP participants in other regions or who shop at different stores. Second, the study relied on people remembering and describing their experiences during the pandemic, which happened 1-3 years before the interviews, so memories might not be perfectly accurate. Third, the study didn’t include any measurements of actual food purchases or nutritional intake—it only captured what people said they bought. Finally, the study didn’t include people who don’t use SNAP or who don’t shop at the supermarket chain studied, so we don’t know how their experiences compared.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, policymakers should consider: (1) Increasing SNAP benefit amounts, as participants clearly felt this improved their food security and ability to buy fresh foods (moderate-to-strong evidence from this study). (2) Making healthy foods more affordable through subsidies or programs that reduce the price of fresh produce, since cost was a major barrier even when people had more SNAP money (supported by participant feedback). (3) Addressing other costs like housing and transportation that compete with food budgets, since these factors limited healthy eating even when SNAP benefits were higher (strong evidence from this study). These recommendations have moderate confidence because they come from qualitative interviews rather than randomized trials, but they align with what participants directly experienced.
This research is most relevant to: SNAP participants and their families who want to understand how benefit changes might affect their food choices; policymakers and government officials deciding on SNAP benefit levels; nutrition and public health professionals working with low-income communities; and grocery stores and food retailers thinking about how to serve SNAP participants better. People who don’t use SNAP may find this research interesting for understanding food insecurity, but the specific recommendations apply most directly to SNAP policy. This research should NOT be used to blame individuals for food choices—it clearly shows that choices are shaped by circumstances beyond personal control.
If SNAP benefits were increased, participants suggested they could expand their food choices relatively quickly—within weeks, they said they’d start buying more fresh produce. However, seeing real health improvements from better nutrition would take longer, typically several months to a year of consistently eating healthier foods. It’s important to note that without also addressing other costs (housing, transportation, childcare), the benefits of increased SNAP money might be temporary, as people would need to redirect the money to other expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does increasing SNAP benefits help people buy healthier food?
Yes, according to interviews with 47 SNAP participants, increased benefits directly expanded fresh food purchases and improved food security. However, other costs like housing and transportation also affect food choices, so benefit increases work best when combined with making healthy foods more affordable.
What happened to food purchases when SNAP benefits decreased after the pandemic?
Participants reported returning to cheaper shelf-stable foods like pasta and canned goods when benefits decreased. They also expressed increased worry about affording enough food, suggesting that temporary benefit increases may not create lasting changes in eating patterns without sustained support.
How do rising prices for rent and gas affect what people buy with SNAP?
Rising housing and transportation costs forced SNAP participants to redirect food money to other necessities, limiting their ability to buy fresh produce even when they had adequate SNAP benefits. This shows that food security requires addressing multiple costs, not just food assistance alone.
Did people’s food shopping habits change during different stages of the pandemic?
Yes, at the pandemic’s start, people stockpiled shelf-stable foods and bought less fresh food due to safety concerns. Mid-pandemic, as routines resumed, fresh food purchases increased. Post-pandemic, rising costs again limited fresh food purchases, showing how circumstances reshape food choices.
What do researchers recommend to help SNAP participants eat healthier?
Based on 47 participant interviews, researchers recommend increasing SNAP benefits, making healthy foods more affordable through subsidies, and addressing other costs like housing and transportation that compete with food budgets. These changes together could improve both food security and diet quality.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track weekly fresh produce purchases (count of fresh fruits and vegetables bought) and compare it to shelf-stable food purchases. Users can note their SNAP benefit amount each month to see if there’s a correlation between benefit changes and their ability to buy fresh foods.
- When SNAP benefits increase, set a specific goal to add one new fresh fruit or vegetable to your weekly shopping list. Use the app to plan meals around affordable fresh produce and set price alerts for sales on healthy foods at your regular store.
- Create a monthly food security check-in where users rate their confidence in affording enough food (1-10 scale) and track the types of foods they’re buying. Over time, this shows patterns in how benefit changes and other life circumstances affect food choices and security.
This research is based on qualitative interviews with 47 SNAP participants in the Northeast and reflects their reported experiences and perceptions. The findings may not apply to all SNAP participants or regions. This article is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical or nutritional advice. If you have concerns about food security or nutrition, please consult with a healthcare provider, registered dietitian, or contact your local SNAP office for resources and support. The study relied on participants’ memories of events that occurred 1-3 years prior, which may affect accuracy. Always consult with qualified professionals before making significant changes to your diet or food purchasing decisions.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.