Aarykah Navarro/ THE RIDER
Mercedes resident Sadie Garza, a stay-at-home mother, said she began relying on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits after her son was born, when rising costs made it difficult for her family to keep up.
As of last Wednesday, Texas restricted SNAP recipients from purchasing certain items such as candy and sugary drinks, according to a March 3 Human and Health Services news release. At the same time, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 expanded federal work requirements, which may affect eligibility for some recipients.
“I didn’t qualify for SNAP until after I had my baby,” she said. “When I was pregnant, they said it didn’t count.”
Garza said she stands in the grocery store aisle thinking about what will last the longest rather than choosing between healthy and unhealthy options. Eggs, bread, potatoes–these foods that can stretch across multiple meals for her and her 3-year-old son.
Rachel Villarreal, chair of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at UTRGV, said while reducing sugar consumption is a valid public health goal, the issue is more complex.
“Sugar-sweetened beverages are not good for us, and we do have a problem with consuming too much as a society,” Villarreal said.
However, she said targeting SNAP recipients alone may not address the broader issue.
“When you restrict a population that is already low income, it can feel stigmatizing, like they’re being punished,” Villarreal said.
She added affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to healthy eating.
“Food prices are high, and not everyone has access to fresh options,” Villarreal said. “If people only have access to convenience stores, they’re not going to find fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Aarykah Navarro/ THE RIDER
In parts of the Valley, including colonias and areas with limited transportation, access to full-service grocery stores can be inconsistent, further complicating food choices, according to Villarreal.
Jake Lin, an assistant professor of political science at UTRGV, said the changes reflect competing goals; however, it is not a major policy change but more of a micro policy one.
“There are sort of two paradoxical goals,” Lin said. “The first one is to show the administration cares about the health and well-being of SNAP recipients … but at the same time, the administration is kind of showing this micromanagement about recipients.”
Garza said she worries the process will only become more difficult for families like hers as grocery shopping is about making careful decisions with limited resources.
“When everything got cut, we couldn’t afford groceries,” she said. “We had to go to the [flea market] to buy food every week.”
She said the recent changes feel discouraging.
“It just makes it harder for people to qualify,” Garza said. “It feels like they want people to give up.”
Garza said many families are already doing what they can to make ends meet.
“Everything is so expensive,” she said. “You see your parents work so hard growing up and, then, they tell you you don’t deserve it.”
Despite the challenges, Garza said she considers herself fortunate to have family support.
“I’m lucky I have somewhere to go,” she said. “Not everyone has that.”
—Mariah Escobar contributed to this story.
