Making grocery shopping easier for WIC and SNAP families

The challenge

Families using WIC and SNAP have to balance food costs, program rules, and household needs. Unclear labels and unfamiliar foods can make shopping harder, particularly for families new to the United States.

How we approached it

We used store walk-alongs, brief interviews, and workshops to understand the shopping experience. Families helped test shelf tags, grocery flyers, QR-linked guides, and scavenger hunts that children could use while shopping.

Community navigators also helped develop video and visual food guides in Arabic, Somali, English, and Spanish.

What the research informed

The findings guided shopping materials and healthy retail recommendations, with attention to language, familiar foods, and the practical steps involved in using benefits.