The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has implemented new restrictions limiting what recipients can buy using their Lone Star Card. As part of the new regulations, recipients can no longer buy sugary or sweetened products. On April 1, SNAP cuts were officially implemented.
Last year, Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter requesting a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services to prohibit the purchase of unhealthy food with SNAP benefits. FNS approved the waiver, which led Abbott to sign Senate Bill 379 into law. “Make Texas Healthy Again” is Abbott’s initiative that coincides with the restrictions on sugary products.
“Texas will ensure the health and well-being of Texans by directing taxpayer dollars to food with real nutritional value,” Abbott said. “By restricting unhealthy food purchases using SNAP benefits, we are laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier Texas.”
The new SNAP restrictions limit candy bars, gum, taffy, fruits and nuts that have been crystallized, caramelized or dipped in yogurt. Any beverage that contains five grams or more of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener will also be cut from SNAP.
With these implemented restrictions, attention is turning to how local support systems will react. Operating separately from SNAP, the San Antonio Food Bank distributions are not subject to SNAP restrictions.
San Antonio Food Bank representative Becca Smith discussed the SNAP cuts and possible outcomes. Smith explained that it is important for the food bank to help families out with the new candy restrictions because the SNAP candy cuts target children and families.
“A lot of these items are convenient and easy to grab,” Smith said. “The risk is that the restrictions might feel punitive to families who are already navigating significant food stress.”
Smith detailed how, although the restrictions are now in place, preventing unhealthy behaviors is more challenging.
“Behavior change is complicated, so just by making these kinds of restrictions doesn’t mean that it is going to lead to healthy behavior choices,” Smith stated. “For families to be able to implement healthy behavior choices, they need access to affordable foods, skills to prepare for it and an environment that is going to support those choices.”
Smith is also Director of the Community Health and Nutrition Education, where she oversees the Culinary, Health and Education for Families program. The CHEF program offers a variety of healthy recipes, teaches culinary classes at schools and partners with SAISD by providing a seven-week chef program.
“We have a lot of recipes where we are looking at affordability, accessibility and making it kid friendly,” Smith said.
CHEF aims to bridge the gap between access and education as families adjust to the new restrictions. For recipes or to find more information on culinary classes, visit the San Antonio Food Bank website, chefsa.org/.
