What does the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provide?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) plays a crucial role in helping low-income individuals and families access food. It provides nutrition assistance primarily through benefits that can be used to purchase food items at a variety of retailers. These benefits are designed to alleviate food insecurity and improve the nutritional quality of diets among those who qualify based on income levels and other factors. By offering financial support for purchasing food, SNAP aims to ensure that low-income households can secure sufficient and healthy food options.

In contrast, the other options focus on services that are not directly provided by SNAP. While exercise and cooking classes can be beneficial for promoting health, they are not within SNAP's scope. Similarly, programs that provide nutritious school lunches, while important for student health, are separate initiatives focused specifically on children, often funded through different government programs.