Opinion: Expanding SNAP to Restaurants Can Feed New Yorkers & Boost Small Businesses
Briefly

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in New York primarily allows food purchases at supermarkets and some bodegas, excluding restaurants from participating. This limits the program's potential to boost local economies, particularly for small business owners in urban and rural settings, and to provide better meal options for SNAP recipients. By including local restaurants in SNAP, individuals would gain access to freshly prepared meals while supporting small businesses, aligning with changing food consumption habits that prioritize convenience and quality over traditional cooking.
A reimagined SNAP should reflect the realities of modern food consumption and the economic potential of small restaurants.
Expanding SNAP's scope to include local restaurants and small food businesses would create a multiplier effect, benefiting both consumers and communities across New York State.
Allowing SNAP dollars to be spent at restaurants would offer more dignity and choice in food purchasing.
This approach not only supports public health but also fosters economic resilience.
Read at City Limits
[
|
]