A bill to promote healthy eating among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients made progress through the Health, Human Services, and Housing Committee this week. The “Healthy Eating, Here at Home” program would provide incentives for low-income Minnesotans when they purchase healthy foods at Minnesota-based farmers’ markets. Under the legislation, $1 million in grant funds would be available in each of the next two years for nonprofit organizations to provide vouchers. A proven way to defray costs, the program would create a market incentive for healthy eating, reducing hospital bills and improving the economic security of low-income Minnesotans already on SNAP. The bill was recommended to pass and has been re-referred to the Finance Committee. (S.F. 316)
