Changes in the local food‐at‐home environment, supplemental nutrition assistance program participation, and dietary quality: Evidence from FoodAPS

Abstract

We study dietary quality via grocery purchases among US households using the USDA's FoodAPS data. Using data from Nielsen IQ TDLinx, we measure changes in the local food‐at‐home environment over an 8‐year span and identify impacts on the healthy eating index. The results indicate the local food environment better explain food choices and dietary quality for rural households, as compared to urban. Many of our significant findings pertain specifically to supplemental nutrition assistance program participants. Decreases in local supermarket availability is often associated with lower adherence to federal dietary recommendations, and the converse is often true for supercenters.