Oral

Over 17 million households in the United States are food insecure and many of these families and individuals depend on food assistance. The five papers presented in this session describe research and interventions related to food/nutrition assistance and emergency food programs. Presenters will discuss research on the nutritional quality of meals offered in emergency food programs, the development of an evidence-based policy paper to educate stakeholders about the role SNAP can play in reducing the burden of obesity, a policy analysis examining the impact of modifying SNAP product-offering requirements to include more healthful options, and the positive results of improving the quality of food offerings through the Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Innovative approaches for improving the nutritional quality of foods offered through nutrition assistance and emergency food programs is important to highlight, as these programs serve as an important resource for those who are food insecure and have the potential to improve families’ and individuals’ nutritional status and chronic disease outcomes.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe the quality of food provided in six soup kitchens in San Francisco; 2. Describe proposed and realized innovations in food/nutrition assistance and emergency food programs; 3. Demonstrate the process of policy change and how policy changes can improve food offerings in food/nutrition assistance and emergency food programs; and 4. Demonstrate the impact of improved food offerings on food recipients’ chronic disease outcomes.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)