SNAP is a profoundly important program that reaches millions of vulnerable Americans, and plays a
critical role in alleviating food insecurity and improving dietary intake and health in the nation. The
nation has a serious hunger problem, and a serious obesity problem. As outlined in this paper, there
are a number of promising strategies – such as increasing program participation, improving SNAP
benefit levels, and increasing access to healthy, affordable foods – that can strengthen SNAP’s role in
improving health outcomes without creating unnecessary challenges for program beneficiaries. Such
thoughtful, comprehensive strategies need to be the priority in discussions about SNAP’s impacts on
diet, obesity, and health.