Online Grocery Shopping and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer Card (EBT): Perceptions of Head Start Caregivers

Figures & data

Table 1. Caregiver focus group interview questions.

How do you typically shop for food? Has anyone shopped for food online? What was your experience with it? What are your thoughts about shopping for food online? What are the benefits to buying food online? Are there an negatives or disadvantages? What if the online stores accepted EBT cards for food? Would you be willing to buy your food online with your EBT card?

Table 2. Participant characteristics (n = 19).

Demographic		n (%)
Race^a	White	4 (23)
	Black	12 (71)
	Alaska Native/American Indian	1 (6)
Ethnicity^a	Latinx	0 (0)
	Not Latinx	17 (100)
Sex^a	Male	0 (0)
	Female	17 (100)
Age^a	<18	0 (0)
	19–29	6 (35)
	30–39	2 (11)
	40–49	3 (18)
	50–59	3 (18)
	60–69	3 (18)
	>70	0 (0)
Number of Children in the Home^a	1	9 (53)
	2	3 (17)
	3	2 (12)
	4	2 (12)
	5	0 (0)
	6	1 (6)
Married^a	Yes	7 (41)
	No	10 (59)
Income according to Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG)^a,b	<100%	7 (47)
	<130%	3 (20)
	<185%	2 (13)
	>185%	3 (20)
	Preferred not to answer	2 (13)
Demographic		n (%)
Level of Education^a	Did not complete HS	1 (6)
	HS diploma or GED	7 (41)
	Some college/tech school	8 (47)
	College or advanced degree	1 (6)
Student Status^a	Yes	5 (29)
	No	12 (71)
Employment^a	Homemaker	4 (23)
	Not employed	3 (18)
	Employed part time	3 (18)
	Employed full time	6 (35)
	Retired	1 (6)
Grocery Shopping and Food Assistance
Food Sources^c	Grocery store	19 (100)
	Food bank/Food pantry	4 (21)
	A group or community meal site	2 (11)
	From a friend or family member	3 (16)
Food Payment^c	Cash	13 (68)
	EBT card	7 (37)
	Credit/debit card	9 (47)
	WIC vouchers	6 (32)
Participation in WIC^a	Use WIC	8 (47)
	Do not use WIC	9 (53)
Participation in SNAP^a	Receive SNAP	3 (18)
	Do not receive SNAP	14 (82)
Receive Free or Reduced Lunch^a	Receive free/reduced lunch	3 (18)
	Do not receive free/reduced lunch	14 (82)
Demographic		n (%)
Internet Access
Computer with Internet Access in the Home	Yes	16 (84)
	No	3 (16)
Phone or Tablet with Internet Access in the Home	Yes	19 (100)
	No	0 (0)

HS = High School.

GED = Test of General Educational Development.

EBT = Electronic Benefit Transfer.

WIC = Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

^an = 17.

^bAnnual household income data were collected categorically. Response options were: <$25,000; $25,000–44999; $45,000–64,999; $65,000–84,999; >$85,000; prefer not to answer). Participants were then assigned an income-level based on the midpoint of the selected income range. This annual household income level was compared with the 2020 Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) and based on the reported number of individuals living in the household participants were classified into income categories according to the FPG: <100% (0–100) (eligible for Head Start); <130% (101–130) (SNAP-eligible); <185% (131–185) (WIC-eligible); >185% (186 and above) and coded according.

^cParticipants could select more than one option.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, SG, upon reasonable request.