Should SNAP Benefits Limit Junk Food? Local Opinions Split on the Future of Food Assistance

Residents in Hearne, Texas, have mixed feelings about a proposal from the Trump administration to ban junk food from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The proposed change would mean that SNAP benefits could no longer be used to buy sugary drinks, candy, and other unhealthy snacks.

Marilyn Watts, a local resident, expressed her views saying, “It could be good or bad, but people should have a choice about what they buy.” On the other hand, Gage Grissom emphasized that SNAP should only cover essential items like milk and eggs. “Sugary drinks and candy are not necessities,” he said.

This move is part of an effort to promote healthier eating habits, aiming to “Make America Healthy Again.” According to Theresa Mangapora, the Executive Director of the Brazos Valley Food Bank, there is little difference in the amount of junk food purchased by those with SNAP benefits compared to those without. “Research shows that SNAP users buy similar percentages of unhealthy food,” she explained.

Some residents like Sam Blackstock agree that the program should limit what can be bought. “If you’re using government assistance, you should buy what you need,” he stated. Others, like Marilyn Watts and Conettra Kinney, argue that everyone should have the freedom to spend their benefits as they wish. Kinney added, “If they’re giving it to us, why tell us how to spend it?”

Despite the concerns, Mangapora believes that families will find ways to adapt if the changes are implemented. “Parents are resourceful. They will find ways to make sure their kids are fed, regardless of the rules,” she noted.

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