The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released a report in January about efforts over the past year to ensure families have access to a nutritious diet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Much of the of this access was made possible through nutrition assistance programs and a $12 billion investment from the American Rescue Plan Act, according to a recent USDA press release.

“The pandemic has placed extraordinary stress on American families, and millions have struggled to put enough nutritious food on their tables,” said Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services. “Over the past year, we have taken numerous actions to address this immediate, urgent reality while also working toward the longer-term goal of helping this country's nutrition support system build back better than ever before.”

The FNS statement highlighted several actions taken by the Biden administration to provide America with nutritious meals including strengthening the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, updates to school and childcare meal programs, and expanding food assistance for vulnerable communities, the release stated.

The SNAP program provides healthy food options for low-income families and more than 40 million people participated in the program in 2021, according to the release. The Biden administration temporarily increased SNAP benefits by $3.5 billion.

The administration also increased the maximum SNAP benefit by 21% and expanded SNAP online shopping opportunities, the release stated. The program was also temporarily extended to college students.

The USDA also provided schools and childcare centers across the country with free meals, according to the release. Families affected by school closures were able to access up to $50 a month to provide for lost school meals.