In the qualitative phase of this study, our research team interviewed income-eligible food assistance beneficiaries in New York to better understand their lived experiences with food. One of the main findings highlight how participants use a combination of food-related strategies that vary across food work stages (from food planning to eating), which are dynamically influenced by social and material capital, food environments, and life history. Results from this qualitative study offer an additional lens to complement existing and on-going nutrition security research.