Surprising Items You Can Buy with SNAP, EBT, and Food Stamps

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a key federal program that assists low-income individuals and families in obtaining nutritious food. Known initially and still often referred to as the “food stamps” program, SNAP offers financial aid to purchase various food items. While it is commonly understood that SNAP benefits can be used for essentials such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products, many are unaware of the broader range of items that qualify under the program. From birthday cakes to gift baskets, SNAP’s eligibility list includes several unexpected items you can buy with SNAP, including EBT and food stamps, that might surprise many beneficiaries.

This article explores lesser-known products that can be purchased with SNAP benefits, shedding light on the program’s flexibility and breadth in supporting diverse nutritional needs.

What Is SNAP?

For those unfamiliar with SNAP or considering applying, you might be curious about the program.

Many Americans at some point require assistance to buy food. While some have strong support systems to help provide meals, others are not as fortunate. The pandemic has exacerbated these challenges.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, offers crucial support for needy people. This federal initiative, formerly Food Stamps, aims to assist low-income Americans who struggle to afford sufficient food.

A SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card allows recipients to purchase nutritious food at stores that accept EBT. The program is designed to ensure that everyone, from children to seniors, has access to healthy food, supporting their growth and well-being like working adults.

What Do People Typically Purchase With ‘Food Stamps’?

The USDA specifies that SNAP benefits can be used to buy the following types of items:

• Vegetables and Fruits
• Poultry, Fish, and Meat
• Cereals and Breads
• Dairy products
• Snacks
• Plants and Seeds that can produce food for the household

Food stamps cannot be used to purchase beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco. They are also not eligible to buy vitamins, medicines, or supplements, including items with Supplemental Facts labels. Additionally, live animals, hot foods at the point of sale, pet food, cleaning products, and hygiene items are not permissible purchases with SNAP benefits. The program’s goal is to offer food and nutrition assistance, which can take various forms.

17 Surprising Items You Can Buy With SNAP, EBT, and Food Stamps

While your EBT card primarily covers essential grocery items, it also allows purchasing several unexpected products. Here are 17 surprising things you can buy with SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps.

1. Emergency Food Supplies

In preparation for emergencies, disaster experts advise keeping up to a week’s worth of food at home in case you cannot go out. Amazon offers various Augason Farms four-gallon buckets of emergency food supplies that are eligible for purchase with EBT.

2. Energy Drinks

You can buy energy drinks with SNAP funds, but they must conform to USDA standards. Energy drinks with a “nutrition facts” label are eligible, as noted by New York SNAP EBT. However, those with a “supplemental facts” label are classified as supplements and are not allowed. For example, Red Bull, Rockstar, and Starbucks Double Shot are approved, but 5-Hour Energy and Tweaker are not.

3. Cake

You can use food stamps to purchase a birthday cake, provided the cost of the decorations does not exceed 50% of the overall value of the cake. This allows you to celebrate special occasions with a beautifully decorated cake while adhering to SNAP guidelines.

4. Restaurant Meals

Certain states have the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), which permits eligible participants to use their benefits to buy prepared meals at designated restaurants. Eligibility for this program is limited to individuals who are 60 years or older, have a disability, or are experiencing homelessness.

States currently participating in RMP include:

• California
• Arizona
• Maryland
• Illinois
• Rhode Island
• Michigan
• Virginia

5. Plant Seeds/Seedlings

If you enjoy gardening or want to start growing your own food, you can use your SNAP benefits to buy seeds or seedlings. Eligible items include those that produce fruits, herbs, and vegetables.

6. Water and Ice

Your EBT card can be used to purchase bottled water and bags of ice, including crushed and block ice.

7. Coffee Pods and K-Cups

While you can’t buy a hot cup of coffee with EBT, you can stock up on Nespresso Capsules, coffee pods, and K-cups for your home brewing needs.

8. Atkins Bars

Before the Keto diet gained popularity, the Atkins diet was a pioneering low-carb weight loss strategy. Some Atkins “Endulge” and protein meal bars are SNAP eligible, and you can choose from flavors like strawberry cheesecake, nutty fudge brownie, and vanilla pecan crisp. Remember to check eligibility, as not all bars qualify.

9. Gift Baskets

The USDA states that some gift baskets qualify for SNAP purchases, provided at least 50% of the contents are food items. On Amazon, you can find several SNAP-eligible baskets, such as the Broadway Basketeers chocolate gift basket, David’s Cookies brownie and cookie basket, and the California Delicious meat and cheese gift basket.

10. Indoor Planting Kit

SNAP benefits cover seeds or seedlings that produce food, including options like the Back to the Roots indoor cherry tomato garden kit available on Amazon.

11. Protein Shakes

If you’re looking for a nutritious boost, you can use your SNAP benefits to buy protein shakes. These often come in special shakers and are enriched with vitamins and minerals, making them a suitable meal replacement option for various needs, including illness or dieting.

12. Spam

While Spam, the well-known canned meat from the 1950s, might not be to everyone’s taste, it remains popular for crafting diverse dishes. You can purchase Spam in various quantities and flavors with your EBT card from online stores like Amazon.

13. Military Commissary Items

Military commissaries function like grocery stores within U.S. and overseas military installations. Products here are typically offered at reduced prices. However, a 5% military commissary surcharge is usually added to purchases to fund these facilities’ construction, repair, and maintenance.

When using SNAP benefits, this surcharge is waived, and no additional user fees are applied to purchases made with an EBT card.

14. Cold Drinks

While hot beverages like coffee are not eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits, cold drinks such as smoothies, fountain drinks, and iced coffees are allowed if they are intended for home consumption.

15. Hunting and Fishing Gear

In particularly isolated areas of Alaska, where access to retail food outlets is scarce, SNAP recipients can use their benefits to purchase essential hunting and fishing supplies. Eligible items include bows and arrows, fishing rods, harpoons, and knives, enabling residents to procure their food.

16. Baby Formula and Foods

SNAP benefits cover essential infant nutrition, including cereals, formula, baby food, and juices. Additionally, SNAP enrollees may qualify automatically for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which offers further nutritional support and health services.

17. Live Seafood

SNAP benefits allow for the purchase of live seafood, including lobsters, shrimp, clams, and fish that have just been caught. While these items are eligible, their high cost often deters frequent purchases with SNAP benefits, as buying these expensive items can quickly deplete funds meant for other necessities.

What Can’t You Buy With EBT, SNAP, and Food Stamps?

When using EBT, SNAP, or food stamps, certain restrictions exist on what can be purchased. These programs primarily allow purchasing food items for home preparation and consumption. However, they do not allow the purchase of:

• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
• Non-food items include cleaning supplies, paper products, pet foods, and personal hygiene products such as soap and cosmetics.
• Hot foods that are ready to eat at the point of sale, such as rotisserie chicken or hot pizza.
• Vitamins, supplements, and medicines. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is classified as a supplement and is ineligible.

Additionally, while you can buy seeds and plants that produce food, live animals (except for certain shellfish and fish removed from water or animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store) are not eligible for purchase with these benefits.

As mentioned, for specific situations like the Restaurant Meals Program, some states allow elderly, disabled, or homeless individuals to use their benefits to purchase prepared, hot meals at approved restaurants. This program, however, is not available nationwide and is limited to participating states.

These restrictions ensure the benefits are used as intended: to assist with purchasing basic, nutritious foods for home preparation and consumption. For more detailed information, you might want to check official resources like those provided by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) or local SNAP offices.

Conclusion

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) plays a vital role in supporting low-income Americans by providing essential food assistance. From nutritious staples like fruits and vegetables to unexpected items such as energy drinks and gift baskets, SNAP benefits offer flexibility while adhering to clear guidelines. While the program excludes purchases like alcohol, hot foods, and non-food items, it ensures that recipients can access a variety of foods to meet their dietary needs.

Whether through purchasing seeds for gardening or participating in state-specific Restaurant Meals Programs, SNAP empowers individuals to make meaningful food choices. By understanding these guidelines, recipients can maximize the benefits to support their nutritional needs and enhance their overall well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions