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COVID-19 and related restrictions presented numerous challenges to individuals, communities, and nutrition education programs. To better understand how nutrition education programs, like SNAP-Ed, might target eligible clients during COVID-19 by assessing interest in nutrition education by baseline behaviors. Low-income adults, ages 18+, in Virginia. A cross-sectional online survey using Qualtrics panels was conducted March-April 2020. Survey questions included socio-demographic information, questions about food resource management practices (i.e., menu planning, using grocery shopping list, cooking at home), physical activity levels, and access to nutritious foods within their community, based on current adult SNAP-Ed evaluation instruments used in Virginia. Descriptive statistics were computed for all survey questions. Chi-square statistics (set a priori at α=0.05) were employed to examine associations between interest in programs and current practices. There were a total of 1,408 survey respondents from across Virginia. Results showed that interest in education programs were significantly associated with: SNAP participation within the past 12 months; using a grocery shopping list; cooking the main meal at home; meal planning; and regular physical activity. The findings characterize individuals with interest in potential SNAP-Ed programs and can be used to help inform and tailor program recruitment and marketing. Additional research is warranted to examine modality and dosage of interested individuals, in addition to recruitment and retention rates of individuals referred to existing SNAP-Ed programs from a survey of this nature. USDA Virginia Cooperative Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education, Virginia Department of Social Services-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consuming fresh produce and low-fat food products is desirable to maintain a healthy diet. Restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in disruptions in the food supply and difficulties in access to fresh produce and low-fat products. To assess food access to fresh produce and low-fat products among SNAP-eligible Virginians during COVID-19. An online Qualtrics cross-sectional survey was conducted with SNAP-eligible Virginians aged 18 and older in November-December 2020. Survey questions included socio-demographic information and questions about access to, and quality of, fresh produce and low-fat products within the respondents' neighborhoods. Descriptive statistics were computed in SPSS. Of 973 survey responses, 228 (23.4%) respondents reported difficulties accessing fresh produce; 215 (22.1%) difficulty accessing fresh produce of high quality; and 233 (23.9%) issues with breadth of produce selection. By contrast, 184 (19.0%) respondents reported difficulty accessing low-fat products and 184 respondents (19.0%) reported issues with breadth of low-fat product selection. Severe difficulties in accessing both fresh produce and low-fat products were noted in Southwest and Eastern Virginia. Overall, one-quarter of survey respondents reported challenges with accessing produce. While we did not assess changes because of COVID-19 specifically, efforts to support access to nutritious options is a critical component of promoting food security and community food security. These results can inform and tailor coordinated programs that include nutrition education programs and policy, systems, and environmental change initiatives. Follow-up research is warranted to determine ongoing challenges with food access among adults and households with lower incomes. USDA Virginia Cooperative Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education, Virginia Department of Social Services (SNAP) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]