Publisher: Illinois Department of Human Services
Published: October 8, 2026
Source: Read at Illinois Department of Human Services (https://idhs.prezly.com/illinois-expands-restaurant-meals-program-for-eligible-snap-customers-to-50-restaurants)
Category: Food Access
The Illinois Department of Human Services announced that its Restaurant Meals Program has reached 50 participating restaurants in 16 counties and is expanding statewide. Eligible Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program customers can use their Link cards to buy meals at participating restaurants. IDHS said the program provides access to prepared meals for over 400,000 households that may have difficulty purchasing and preparing meals. The program began as a pilot in 2022, and restaurants can apply through an online intake survey after applications opened more broadly in June of 2025.
Why this matters: Independent restaurants and other prepared-meal operators can apply to serve eligible SNAP customers, creating another food access option in communities where participating restaurants are available. Expansion may also create opportunities for operators in counties that do not yet have participating restaurants.
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