Millions of Americans are expected to see some stark changes to SNAP benefits in the coming weeks. These benefits were under fierce debate by politicians and citizens alike, over who gets to have them, and what specific products are eligible to be bought with them. The answer that many have come down towards, that SNAP benefits should only go towards products that are healthy, is only good at the surface.
The target group SNAP benefits usually go towards, low-income Americans, are notoriously known to have the highest rates in the country. This is largely due to how easily it is to buy cheap processed foods, compared to fresh produce. Many politicians have argued that lower-income citizens would be better off if SNAP benefits went mainly toward fresh products to promote healthier eating.
That said, these newly implemented changes have gotten pushback on the other side of the political aisle. Creating more avenues for low-income people to have access to healthier food options is always a good thing, but for some, completely cutting out sugary foods from SNAP is a step too far.
There is a large assumption from people that SNAP recipients primarily use their benefits to stock up on junk food and that by cutting it out, that would force people to buy healthy. Unfortunately, even with SNAP benefits, healthier food products are still on the pricier side. That is why many people stick to canned and frozen food, due to their having longer shelf lives, but even those come with major caveats on the consumer end.
Simply put, if healthy products were cheaper and more widely available, more people would buy them. Additionally, SNAP benefits aren’t just for grocery shopping; they’re to ease the burden of low-income individuals in their daily lives. Low-income people deserve to be able to treat themselves. SNAP benefits help these people to have the ability to purchase items like cakes, pies, and other treats for special occasions.
