SNAP to be accepted at select restaurants and food trucks this Fall

The Healey-Driscoll administration recently announced plans for a new SNAP Restaurant Meals Program pilot, with an anticipated launch in Fall 2023. 27 restaurants and food trucks will be offering reduced priced meals to be purchased with SNAP benefits across 16 communities in Massachusetts, with an average meal price of $11.

How can you use your SNAP benefits?

• Since SNAP benefits can only be used to buy grocery items, excluding prepared meals, the program’s effectiveness relies solely on a recipient’s capacity to store and prepare ingredients.

• The SNAP Restaurant Meals Program creates new access points for recipients to buy nutritious and culturally relevant meals. Through the Restaurant Meals Program, SNAP recipients can enjoy restaurant-prepared meals they know and love, while supporting their local economy.

• Las Delicias Colombiana, Revere  

• La Parada Dominican Kitchen, Roxbury  

• El Taller, Lawrence 

• Bella Isla Café, Chelsea 

• Vejigantes Restaurant, Boston 

• Merengue Restaurant, Roxbury 

• Café Reyes, MA 

• Thmor Da Restaurant, Revere 

• Cedar's Food Mart, Springfield 

• Fresh Food Generation, Boston 

• Soleil Restaurant, Roxbury 

• Sabrine Bakery and Café, Malden 

• Brother's Deli, Lynn 

• Faneek's Coney Island, Fall River 

• Bridge Pizzeria, Revere 

• Pizza Maria, Brockton 

• Las Palmas Restaurant,  Roslindale 

• New Wine Pizza , Worcester 

• Sazon Peru Restaurant, Lawrence  

• Fritay Restaurant, Mattapan 

• Dona Habana, Roxbury

• Crave, Holyoke 

• Caribbean Classic on Wheels, Mattapan 

• January’s Kitchen, Roxbury

• MexiRico, Springfield 

• Sabrosa Venezuela, Winchendon 

• Cocina Lupita, Greenfield 

• As the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) was scouting businesses to participate in this program, they focused on finding businesses that are diverse and have a strong presence within their community. Of the participating businesses, 77% are women owned, and 90% have owners who identify as Black, Asian, and/or Hispanic/Latinx. 
• The selected restaurants and food trucks have expressed motivations to welcome new faces to their regular crowd with nourishing meals that are familiar to people from around the world.

A “pilot” means this is an experimental trial to see how this program impacts recipients, businesses, and the local economies where the restaurants and food trucks are located.

We at Project Bread are thrilled at the announcement of this program, and urge SNAP recipients to make the most of it during this trial period so that it can be further developed, and become a permanent lasting benefit for SNAP households.