For those who may find themselves food insecure, there are options to alleviate this issue. In New Mexico, one of those options includes government aid in the form of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP for short.
SNAP provides financial assistance to eligible New Mexicans who face low income and limited resources to buy food. In order to qualify for SNAP benefits, an individual must first abide by the following criteria [8]:
Be a U.S. citizen or qualified lawful resident
Have proper identification
List who lives and eats within their respective household
Provide information about:
Monthly household income
Household assets
Household expenses
Some other things to keep in mind are:
Some SNAP recipients must be in a work program
The house you live in does not fall under SNAP benefits
There are special rules/regulations to the vehicles which you may own
For an individual to apply for SNAP they must first contact their local or state SNAP office which they can do online, in person, by mail, or by fax. Afterwards they will be prompted to fill out an application, then if successful, be asked for an interview. In the next 30 days they will be notified by letter as to whether or not they are approved for benefits.
Those who receive benefits are given an EBT (Electronic Benefits) card with a monthly allowance for food items. Products that can be bought with an EBT card include [9]:
Fruits and vegetables
Meat, poultry, and fish
Dairy Products
Breads and cereals
Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
Products that CANNOT be bought with SNAP benefits include [9]:
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
Vitamins, medicines, and supplements
Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).
Foods that are hot at the point of sale
Nonfood items such as:
Pet foods
Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.
Hygiene items and cosmetics
For more information on applying for SNAP benefits, click [here.]
Dieting Under Government Assistance
While it may seem to be a daunting task, it is entirely possible to diet with government aid. With access to many household staples such as produce, meat, dairy, and many more, it is not only plausible but realistic.
For a balanced diet, Harvard suggests following the “Healthy Eating Plate” model [11]. This model calls for individual meals to be portioned into certain percentages of different food groups. For each meal it is recommended to portion your plate into:
½ vegetables
¼ whole grains
Whole wheat, barley, wheat berries, quinoa, oats, brown rice, and foods made out of these or similar products.
¼ healthy proteins
This includes items such as fish, poultry, beans, and nuts
It is also recommended to use healthy plant oils such as olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, etc. So long as you avoid partially hydrogenated oils that contain trans fats. Skipping sugary drinks and instead drinking water, tea, or coffee is also strongly advised. And most of all, staying active.
For both vegan and gluten free diets, it is completely possible to swap out some ingredients to accommodate without compromising said diet. Beans, lentils, and tofu can be consumed within the vegan diet in place of animal proteins [12]. Someone who must stick to a gluten free diet can still have some whole grains such as oats, quinoa, brown rice, amaranth, millet, and corn. Each and every one of the products needed for a healthy balanced diet are covered under SNAP Benefits.
Some diets, such as keto and paleo, can also be done on SNAP Benefits, albeit with some alterations to the specific amount of nutrients required.
It is important to keep in mind that dietary needs will vary from person to person and the healthy plate model should serve only as a loose guide. Key point being that keeping a balanced and healthy diet is entirely possible for nearly any individual under government aid.
