How can low-income patients seek nutrition counseling?

An estimated 41 million Americans use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, allowing them access to food each month. ^[]

However, having these benefits doesn't guarantee people will make healthy nutrition choices. For one, many Americans (in general) aren’t well-educated on nutrition. ^[]

More so, many people using the SNAP program exist in food deserts, where accessing affordable and nutritious food can be challenging. ^[][]But the Trump administration wants to ban junk food—like sugary drinks, candy, and more—from the SNAP program. ^[]

Kanwar Kelley, MD, JD, a board-certified otolaryngologist and co-founder and CEO of Side Health in California, says the issue is systemic.

“Food deserts are areas where residents, especially those with low incomes, face limited access to affordable and nutritious food,” Dr. Kelley says. “This lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, or healthy food providers forces them to rely on convenience stores and fast food, which often offer processed, high-calorie, and nutrient-poor options.”

A four-person household can only receive $975 maximum per month, making it hard to spend money on pricier health foods or to invest in nutrition counseling. ^[]

And since the SNAP program doesn’t cover personal nutritional counseling, physicians can play a key role in helping patients make smart nutrition choices in the event that Trump's changes to SNAP become reality.

How can physicians support patients if nutrition counseling isn’t available or affordable?

The SNAP-Ed program offers nutritional information to Americans (like the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, MyPlate, and several other resources). ^[]

But some patients may need more direct support—and it goes a long way, says Manoj Sharma, MBBS, PhD, a professor in the Social and Behavioral Health Department in the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada. 

Dr. Sharma says that physicians themselves have the biggest influence on patients. “Research confirms that messages from healthcare providers are extremely beneficial, as being from an authoritative source,” he says. “Building on the potential of people and encouraging them does wonders. Behavioral confidence or the ability to consume healthy foods—along with underscoring the advantages of such behavior change—is very helpful.”

Dr. Sharma also says physicians can recommend patients check out apps like MyFitnessPal, or seek information from community centers and organizations like the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

He warns against using social media for nutrition literacy, as it can be chock full of misinformation. 

Mir Ali, MD, a board-certified general surgeon, bariatric surgeon, and medical director at MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, says physicians shouldn’t just tell patients to eat better and leave it at that.

“Discussing with the patient the negative effects that poor nutrition can have on the body is a place to start,” Dr. Ali says. “I try to explain that the basis of most effective diets is reducing carbohydrate and sugar intake. It is difficult for anybody to make drastic changes, so it is easier to start with small changes and build from there.”

Dr. Kelley suggests physicians use the “SMART strategy,” which includes setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for their patients.

“It is the role of the physician to educate and be present in supporting change, as opposed to giving non-negotiable edicts,” Dr. Kelley says. “In this way, the patient actively participates in changing their habits and will be more likely to sustain change.”