Why the Restaurant Meal Program is so important

You’ve seen the stickers in fast food restaurant windows proclaiming that they are part of the Restaurant Meals Program. Perhaps you’ve even been in line when you see someone whip out their Golden State Advantage EBT card to pay for their meal. Chances are, if you’re like many people, you find yourself wondering why people should be able to use CalFresh/SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, to buy fast food?

Through a USDA program called the Restaurant Meal Program (RMP), eligible CalFresh recipients can use their benefits at participating restaurants. But, did you know that not everyone can use their CalFresh benefits at a restaurant? It’s limited to people with disabilities, the elderly, and homeless. In other words, people who either are physically incapable of cooking, or lack access to a kitchen.

“Okay,” you say, “but why is it only at fast food restaurants? That’s not healthy.”

It’s true that the majority of participating locations are fast food joints, but the program isn’t limited to fast food only. In fact, the USDA and State of California would prefer that the program expand beyond that stereotype. RMP participants can also use their benefits to purchase hot prepared foods at the supermarket, something that non-RMP CalFresh participants cannot do. And the reason why fast food restaurants are so prevalent has to do with the checkout process. All fast food restaurants accept payment before they make your food. There has been reluctance by slow-dining establishments to accept EBT because of its perceived risk of loss since guests pay after they eat.

“This makes sense,” you might be thinking, “but why is it so important?”

The purpose of CalFresh is to supplement low-income households’ food budgets so that they may get enough nutrition. For people who can cook, this usually looks like additional fresh produce and proteins. But, if you cannot cook, what is there left to buy at the grocery store? Boxes of crackers, bags of chips, and shelf-stable processed foods cannot provide the sustenance vulnerable San Diegans need.

This is especially true of elder Americans who, when food insecure, are significantly more likely to be admitted to a hospital with malnutrition. The Restaurant Meal Program ensures that these individuals can make the most of their CalFresh benefits because, at the end of the day, if it’s the difference between eating or not eating, a hamburger and fries are healthier than an empty stomach.

Learn about the Restaurant Meal Program . . .