SNAP benefits can help you buy groceries, but the rules can be confusing. Some items are allowed nationwide, some are never allowed, and a few special rules depend on where you live.
This guide explains what you can usually buy with SNAP EBT, what you usually cannot buy, and where to check for state-specific changes.
The Basic Rule
In most cases, SNAP benefits can be used to buy food that you will prepare and eat at home.
That includes everyday grocery items like fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, bread, cereal, snack foods, non-alcoholic drinks, and seeds or plants that produce food for your household.
What You Can Usually Buy with SNAP EBT
SNAP benefits can usually be used to buy:
- Fruits and vegetables: Fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or freeze-dried fruits and vegetables.
- Meat, poultry, and fish: Fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or freeze-dried options.
- Dairy products: Milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and other dairy foods.
- Bread, cereal, rice, and pasta: Whole grain or refined grain products, including breads, cereals, tortillas, crackers, rice, pasta, and similar foods.
- Canned and packaged foods: Soups, vegetables, fruits, beans, tuna, meats, sauces, shelf-stable meals, and other grocery items.
- Frozen foods: Frozen fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, meals, pizzas, and other cold convenience foods, as long as they are not hot or ready to eat at the time of purchase.
- Snack foods and desserts: Chips, crackers, cookies, ice cream, candy, cakes, bakery items, and other sweet or salty snacks, unless your state has a special restriction.
- Non-alcoholic drinks: Juice, bottled water, coffee, tea, soda, cold drinks, smoothies, slushies, and other non-alcoholic beverages.
- Cooking ingredients: Cooking oils, flour, sugar, spices, herbs, baking mixes, condiments, and other ingredients used to prepare food.
- Bulk bin foods: Grains, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, candy, trail mix, and other eligible foods sold from bulk bins.
- Baby food and infant formula: Formula, baby cereal, baby food jars, pouches, and other eligible infant foods.
- Clearance or discounted food: Marked-down food, overstock food, and food near its sell-by date, as long as it is still being sold as food.
- Food storage and emergency foods: Shelf-stable foods, long-term food storage items, and emergency food supplies, as long as the items are eligible food.
Surprising Things You Can Buy with SNAP
Some eligible items surprise people. These are usually allowed under standard SNAP rules, but the exact item and store coding can still matter.
- Bakery items: Cookies, cakes, donuts, muffins, and other bakery treats are usually eligible. However, items with a lot of non-food decorations may be more complicated.
- Cold prepared foods: Cold sandwiches, salads, deli trays, and refrigerated meals may be eligible if they are sold cold and are not meant to be eaten hot at the store.
- Cold drinks: Iced coffee, smoothies, slushies, fountain drinks, and other cold non-alcoholic drinks may be eligible when sold by a participating SNAP retailer.
- Energy drinks: You can use your EBT card to buy energy drinks as long as (1) your favorite jolt juice bears a Nutrition Facts label and (2) your state hasn’t specifically banned energy drinks through a SNAP Restriction Waiver.
- Protein powders, bars, and shakes: These may be eligible if they have a Nutrition Facts label. If they have a Supplement Facts label, they are usually not eligible.
- Gift baskets: Gift baskets may be eligible if the value is mostly eligible food. If the basket includes a lot of non-food items, alcohol, or decorative packaging, it may not qualify.
- Live seafood and certain live animals: Some live seafood, such as lobster, clams, oysters, and other shellfish, can be eligible. Other live animals are only eligible in very limited situations, such as when they are slaughtered before the buyer leaves the seller’s premises.
- Seeds and food-producing plants: SNAP can be used to buy seeds, seedlings, and starter plants that produce food for your household. This can include vegetables, fruit plants, edible herbs, and plants grown for edible roots or leaves.
- Water and ice: Bottled water is eligible. Ice is also eligible when it is intended for consumption or for keeping food cold.
A simple way to remember it is this: if it is food for your household to eat later, it is usually allowed.
What You Usually Cannot Buy with SNAP EBT
SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy everything sold at a grocery store.
You usually cannot use SNAP to buy:
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes, tobacco, or vaping products
- Vitamins, medicines, or supplements
- Items with a Supplement Facts label
- Hot food that is hot at the time of sale
- Prepared meals meant to be eaten right away, unless a special program applies
- Pet food
- Cleaning supplies
- Paper products
- Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, or other hygiene items
- Household supplies
- Cosmetics
- Live animals, except for certain limited seafood-related exceptions listed by USDA
If an item has a Nutrition Facts label, it may be SNAP-eligible. If it has a Supplement Facts label, it is generally not SNAP-eligible.
Special State Rules
Most SNAP shopping rules are nationwide, but there are some state-specific programs and exceptions.
Alaska: Alaska has special SNAP rules for some households that rely on subsistence hunting and fishing. The Alaska Department of Health says some households may use SNAP benefits to purchase certain subsistence hunting and fishing equipment if they intend to gather a majority portion of their food that way and do not intend to use the items commercially.
Restaurant Meals Program: Some states allow certain eligible SNAP users to buy prepared meals at approved restaurants through the Restaurant Meals Program. This is usually limited to people who are elderly, disabled, or experiencing homelessness, and only approved restaurants can participate. Get a list of participating states and restaurants here.
SNAP Restriction Waivers: Some states have requested or received permission to restrict certain SNAP purchases, such as soda, candy, or other specific foods. This issue has been changing quickly because some waiver approvals have been challenged, blocked, or handled differently by different states. Because those rules may change, we track them separately here.
Quick EBT Shopping Checklist
Before you get to the register, ask yourself:
- Is this food?
- Is it for my household to eat later?
- Is it cold or shelf-stable (instead of hot and ready to eat)?
- Does it have a Nutrition Facts label instead of a Supplement Facts label?
- Is it being sold by a SNAP-approved store?
- Does my state have any special rules that affect this item?
If the answer is yes, the item may be SNAP-eligible.
If your card declines an item that you believe should be covered, ask the cashier or store manager. Sometimes items are coded incorrectly in the store’s system.
Other Food Programs That Can Help
SNAP is helpful, but it may not cover everything you need. Other food programs may help stretch your grocery budget even further.
- Double Up Food Bucks: Some farmers markets, grocery stores, and community programs offer extra money for fruits and vegetables when you shop with EBT. These programs are often called Double Up Food Bucks, Market Match, Fresh Bucks, or something similar. These programs vary by state and location, so check our Double Up and produce incentive guides for details.
- WIC: WIC helps pregnant people, new parents, babies, and young children get specific healthy foods, formula, nutrition support, and referrals. If you have young children or are pregnant, WIC may help even if you already receive SNAP.
- School Meals and Summer Meal Programs: Children may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. During the summer, some families may also qualify for summer food benefits or free meals through local meal sites.
- Food Banks: Food banks, food pantries, churches, community centers, and local nonprofits may offer free groceries or prepared meals. These programs can be especially helpful near the end of the month when SNAP benefits run low.
- Senior Food Programs: Older adults may qualify for senior food boxes, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, or other nutrition programs in their area.
Relief Recap
SNAP EBT can help you buy groceries for your household, but it does not cover every item sold at the store. The safest rule is to think of EBT as grocery money for food you’ll prepare and eat at home. And don’t forget to check out our list of 3,000+ EBT discounts and our guide to the SNAP Restriction Waivers!
