Food stamps used to be the term for money that the government provides to pay for food. Today, food stamps are called SNAP benefits. Many people are asking where the term food stamps comes from, so let’s take a closer look.
Food Stamps: A Quick History
The U.S. government kicked off the food stamps program in 1939. The idea behind it was that in some areas of the country, like in rural farm areas, there was tons of extra food laying around. Meanwhile, in other areas, like urban areas where there aren’t a lot of jobs, there was a shortage of food. People were going hungry, and that should never happen in modern-day society.
Over the years, the food stamps program continued to grow, thanks to the Food Stamp Acts of 1964 and 1977, which were some of the many anti-poverty actions taken by the government.
In 2008, the term food stamps was abandoned as a part of the 2008 U.S. Farm Bill. At the time, people started to get offended by the term food stamps, so the government renamed it the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. They also made it so that people could receive their SNAP money on an electronic benefits card (EBT).
Fast Forward to Today
Over 10% of the U.S. population is currently receiving food aid in the form of SNAP benefits. That’s over 30 million people. If you need some extra help buying groceries, don’t delay. You are not alone. Sign up for SNAP assistance today through your local agency. There are certain eligibility requirements. Read about them here.
Remember that in some cases, it can take a few weeks or even a few months for your local agency to process your claim. So if you need food aid, the sooner you start the application process, the better. If you can’t wait for the claim to be processed, visit your local food bank for immediate food assistance today.
Focus on Nutrition
If you want to be happy and healthy, it is important to eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet. If you are a parent, it is very important that your children eat healthy food every day so that their bodies can develop properly. A healthy diet helps children grow into their fullest potential.
This is the primary reason why SNAP exists: to help low and no income people put healthy food on the table. SNAP also helps disabled individuals who are unable to work. If you are thinking about applying for SNAP benefits, and you aren’t sure what to buy, take a look at the SNAP website to learn about what foods you can and can’t buy.
Also, check out the Snap-Ed website, which is an informative resource that provides information about the recommended food groups you should eat each day, what foods you should avoid, and other tips for staying healthy.
