SNAP Ed is a free, federally-funded nutrition education program of the USDA and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), helping low-income households to eat healthier and prevent obesity while saving beneficiaries money on their grocery costs.
As a beneficiary of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), low-income households can obtain important information about grocery shopping, planning meals and eating healthy foods on a budget.
As part of SNAP Education, households can also participate in free cooking classes, obtain healthy, affordable recipes for feeding their families, and learn more about eating nutritiously while receiving food stamp payments. Food stamp recipients learn how to stretch their grocery dollars, cut costs, and prepare budget-friendly meals at home. While the SNAP Ed Program helps food stamp beneficiaries throughout the U.S., specific program names and activities may vary by state. To learn more about these programs, review the sections below.
The SNAP Education program is free to all food stamp beneficiaries in the U.S., helping low-income households to make healthier decisions while saving money on grocery bills at the same time. Funded through the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the program helps to educate families about the importance of following a healthy diet and lifestyle, limiting excessive amounts of sugars, fats and sodium, and incorporating healthier foods and beverages into their diets. Additionally, SNAP Education helps to:
While SNAP-Ed Programs are available throughout the U.S., each participating Stacy Agency works with implementing organizations such as universities, food banks, health departments, and other agencies to develop a statewide plan with activities and educational opportunities for food stamp recipients.
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For instance, California’s programs are known as SNAP-Ed Champions for Change and the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program, while New Mexico’s program is known as Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition (ICAN). In Texas, the program is known as Good Food, Good Move, while Florida, Virginia and North Dakota’s programs are known as the Family Nutrition Program. In New York, the program is known as Eat Smart New York (ESNY), while the state of Montana oversees the Buy Eat Live Better Program.
SNAP-Ed programs provide food stamp recipients with the tools and information they need to plan, shop for, and prepare nutritious meals for their households. For instance, these programs teach SNAP beneficiaries how to:
While SNAP Ed programs vary throughout the U.S., food stamp beneficiaries can learn more about the different types of educational activities in their area by visiting the website of their State Agency. Alternately, they may contact the Agency by telephone if they wish to learn more about the program. To find out which State Agencies oversee these programs throughout the U.S., refer to the chart below.
State | State Agency | State | State Agency | State | State Agency |
AL | Department of Human Resources | KY | Cabinet for Health and Family Services | OK | Department of Human Services |
AK | Department of Health and Social Services | LA | Department of Children and Family Services | OR | Department of Human Services |
AZ | Arizona Nutrition Network | MA | Department of Health and Human Services | OH | Department of Job and Family Services |
AR | Department of Human Service | MD | Department of Human Services | PA | Department of Human Services |
CA | Department of Social Services | ME | Department of Transitional Assistance | PR | Department of Family Affairs |
CO | Department of Human Services | MI | Department of Human Services | RI | Department of Human Services |
CT | Department of Social Services | MN | Department of Human Services | SC | Department of Social Services |
DE | Department of Health & Social Services | MS | Department of Human Services | SD | Department of Social Services |
DC | Economic Security Administration | MO | Department of Social Services | TN | Department of Human Services |
FL | Department of Children and Families | MT | Department of Public Health & Human Services | TX | Health and Human Services Commission |
GA | Department of Human Resources | NE | Department of Health and Human Services | UT | Department of Workforce Services |
GU | Department of Public Health and Social Services | NV | Department of Health and Human Services | VT | Department for Children and Families |
HI | Department of Human Services | NH | Department of Health and Human Services | VI | Department of Human Services |
ID | Department of Health and Welfare | NJ | Department of Human Services | VA | Department of Social Services |
IL | Department of Human Services | NM | Human Services Department | WA | Department of Social and Health Services |
IN | Family and Social Services Administration/ Division of Family Resources | NY | Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance | WV | Department of Health and Human Resources |
IA | Department of Human Services | NC | Division of Social Services | WI | Department of Health Services |
KS | Department for Children and Families | ND | Department of Human Services | WY | Department of Family Services |
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