If you are someone like me who takes a lot of protein, you must wonder, “Can you buy protein powder with food stamps?”. Well, the short answer is Yes. However, the sad thing is, it is not all protein powders you can buy with your EBT card. So before you start to give a shop owner the ‘kill look’ when they reject your food stamps when trying to buy protein powder, find out if you are right or not. But first, what are food stamps or EBT cards?
What are Food Stamps or EBT Cards?
Food Stamps or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Cards are a form of benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). EBT cards are issued to eligible individuals and households who then use them for grocery purchases both in stores and online.
The amazing thing about Food Stamps is that if you or your household is eligible, you will be provided a card that will be loaded with a specific amount every month – subjected to increase or decrease annually. So, when you make purchases like buying protein powders, or other eligible food items, you can use the Food Stamps like a credit card. The store will then charge your purchases to your SNAP EBT account.
What Can I Buy With the Food Stamps?
With the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Food Stamps you can buy only food items under the category of staple foods – foods that make up the bigger portion of a person’s diet and are preferably cooked at home. These include but are not limited to dairy products like protein powder, bread, meat, fish, cereals and grains, poultry products like eggs, fruits and veggies, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, etc.
On the other hand, SNAP puts additional restrictions on these food items as they are grouped into each category. You cannot use the Food Stamps or EBT cards to buy food items like supplemental protein powder, alcoholic drinks and beverages, drugs, supplements, or foods with supplement labels, personal items vitamins, and hot foods.
What are Protein Powders?
Just as it sounds, protein powders are water-soluble forms of protein that contains different types of amino acids the body needs for muscle synthesis and repair. For homemade protein powders, you do not need to add preservatives since you will finish them early. However, manufacturers use preservatives in theirs.
To make protein powders, manufacturers covert proteinous foods like casein, whey, creatine, soy, pea, etc. to a powdery substance of almost texture.
Protein Powders You Can Buy With Food Stamps
So, like I said earlier, you can buy protein powder with food stamps or EBT cards but it has limitations. Generally, there are two types of protein powders in stores and online; supplements and nutritional protein powders.
Sadly, you cannot buy supplemental protein powders with EBT cards because they are not considered food. Also, they are not a replacement for food since they cannot provide nutrients wholefoods will let you enjoy. Most are limited to only a particular nutrient; mostly protein such as in some protein shakes.
On the other hand, nutritional protein powders provide nutritional value which is greater than that of supplements. This can be probably because they offer more nutrients than a typical supplement does. As a result, they are allowed since they are believed to give values close to staple foods in nutrition.
How to know Protein Powder Eligible for SNAP EBT Purchases
So, how do you find EBT eligible protein powders? When you get to a store, pick a bottle of the protein powders you want to buy with your EBT card. Check around the body of the powder’s container or bottle for the “Nutritional Facts” or “Supplemental Facts” label. If you see “Nutritional Facts” on the label, then you are good to know. It is eligible for Food Stamps purchase. Otherwise – if you see “Supplemental Facts” on the label, you cannot buy the protein powder with Food Stamps. You may need to use cash or a credit card to complete your purchase.
Which Protein Powder Can You Buy With Food Stamps
As a general rule, you cannot buy protein powder with Food Stamps or SNAP EBT cards if it is labeled or recognized as “Supplemental Facts” or supplements respectively. This leaves you with the hint that you must look for protein powders with “Nutritional Facts” on the label. Unless you will not use your EBT card for the purchase.
Can You Buy Weight Gainer Protein Powder With Food Stamps?
No, you cannot buy a weight gainer protein powder with food stamps. Wondering why? Well, it is simple, weight gainer protein powders are taken for a reason – to gain weight or muscle mass. This makes them medically modified and directed to specific parts of the body – muscles. In addition, you cannot take them as whole foods. They are to supplement your normal foods when you work out – pre-workout and post-workout foods. As a result, they will mostly have “Supplemental Facts” on their label.
Can You Buy Whey Protein With Food Stamps?
No, you cannot buy whey protein with food stamps. However, there are some exceptions. Whey protein is taken as a supplement for muscle or weight gains by bodybuilders, hence, you cannot purchase it with the SNAP EBT card. To confirm this, check the container the last whey protein you bought came in with for its label.
The exception that changes the direct answer to this is that some manufacturers decide to label their whey proteins as “Nutritional Facts”. This makes it sold as food rather than a mere supplement and therefore may qualify for Food Stamps purchase.
However, the take is, the majority of whey proteins in stores are sold as supplements. Therefore, to get an eligible whey protein may require you to look through a series of stores.
Can You Buy Muscle Milk Protein Powder With Food Stamps?
Yes, you can buy muscle milk protein powder with food stamps, even though muscle milk protein powder is supposed to be considered a supplement since it is for bodybuilders looking to gain some muscle mass or weight; bulking up. This is because the majority of dairy manufacturers have modified and improved their products, and therefore deem them fit as food. As a result, they do not sell them supplements and therefore label them with “Nutritional Facts” to consider them as food items.
That said, you may still encounter some muscle milk protein powders with the “Supplemental Facts” label. When that happens, look for other brands or check a different store.
Can You Buy Protein Shakes Powder With Food Stamps?
That is a NO. You cannot buy protein shakes powder with food stamps or EBT. This is because of the obvious reason – it is a supplement. Supplements generally do not qualify for EBT purchases since the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is all about helping the participants pay for food.
Supplements differ from food in the essence that while food contains varieties of nutrients, like carbs, proteins, and fats, supplements are only focused on a particular nutrient with some enhancements. As a result, supplements are not found to be eligible for the program’s benefits.
Thus, the only way you can buy protein shakes powder with EBT or food stamps is if the manufacturer has decided to sell it as a food instead of a supplement. When this happens, the manufacturer puts the label “Nutritional Facts” on the container; stating the different nutritional benefits. Otherwise, the label will be “Supplemental Facts” – an indication of a supplement.
Can I Buy Orgain Protein Powder With (EBT) Food Stamps?
Yes, you can buy Orgain protein powder with EBT or food stamps in authorized online stores. Orgain markets its protein powders and protein shakes as superfoods and not supplement. In addition, the products are labeled with “Nutritional Facts”, and a quick at the facts shows they have fats and other nutrients. In significant percentage. As a result, they may qualify for EBT purchase if you buy them from a SNAP-authorized store.
There is no indication that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has any relationship or affiliation with Orgain as a company. Thus, no guarantee buying directly from their website will work. So to save time and stress, try an authorized store in your state.
Can You Buy Pre-Workout With EBT?
The answer is yes, you can buy some pre-workouts with EBT, but your card might be rejected while purchasing some. To make sure you are buying the right pre-workout, which in this case means it is eligible for EBT purchases, check the labels. As you may know, pre-workout foods are designed to help you achieve specific results from your exercises. Thus, they may either reduce the effects of some hormones or heighten their sensitivity. Either way, they are typically not food and bodybuilders still need whole foods in their diet for pre-workout food items to work.
As a result, we can deduce that pre-workouts can be anything from whole foods, and protein supplements. If you decide to take a whole meal or staple food as your pre-workout no matter how light it is, then you may qualify for EBT purchases.
However, if you decide to take protein supplements, that makes your eligibility a little tricky. Simple though. What you will have to do is check the label of your pre-workout protein supplement. If the label says “Supplemental Facts”, then you cannot buy that pre-workout with EBT. But, if the label says “Nutritional Facts”, then it is eligible for EBT purchases. It is considered food.
Where Can I Buy Protein Powders With Food Stamps?
You can buy protein powders with food stamps or EBT cards from any grocery store, and supermarket in all of the 50 states of the United States of America, but only EBT eligible protein powders. This is because Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) is a federal program, therefore your EBT card will be able to work from every part of the United States.
However, when it comes to online purchases with your EBT cards, things get tricky. SNAP only allows vetted retailers into the EBT program and therefore limits the number of retailers or online stores you can purchase from.
As a result, your favorite retailer may be unable to accept your EBT card for food purchases, or any order for that matter. Also, when purchasing food items online, note that they will only charge your EBT card for the food. If there are shipping fees or other expenses for that order, you will have to use another form of payment, aka credit card to cover them.
Here is some information about whether you can buy protein powder or shakes with an EBT card or food stamps in some online stores or not:
Can You Buy Protein Shakes Powder With EBT or Food Stamps on Amazon?
Amazon US is one of the pioneer online retailers in the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot Program. So, yes you can buy protein shakes powder with an EBT card or food stamps on Amazon US, from any state in the country. However, Amazon being an authorized store does not mean you can buy any food item there, you still need to make sure it is EBT eligible.
Also, this is only applicable on the Amazon.com website. Amazon.co.uk and other marketplaces are not servicing the United States and are therefore not eligible.
At Walmart
Walmart is also one of the pioneer online retailers in the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot Program. So, yes you can buy protein shakes powder with an EBT card or food stamps on Walmart, from any state in the country. However, Walmart being an authorized store does not mean you can buy any food item there, you still need to make sure it is EBT eligible.
At Costco
Yes, you can buy eligible food items at Costco with your EBT cards or food stamps. However, Costco does not qualify as an online retailer under the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. As a result, you will need to visit any of its close warehouses in your state to use your card.
In Texas
Yes, you can use your food stamps or EBT card to buy protein shakes powder anywhere in Texas. This is provided the store or supermarket abides by the EBT laws on which foods are eligible for purchase.
For online transactions, Texas has 15 online retailers on the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. They are; Albertsons, ALDI, Amazon, Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy, Central Market, FRESH by Brookshire’s, H-E-B, Lewis Food Town, Spring Market, Sprout’s Farmer Market, Joe V’s Smart Shop, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Super 1 Foods Brookshires, Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods.
In Florida
Yes, you can use your food stamps or EBT card to buy protein shakes powder anywhere in Florida. This is provided the store or supermarket abides by the EBT laws on which foods are eligible for purchase.
For online transactions, Florida has 15 online retailers on the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. They are; ALDI, Amazon, Spring Market, Sprout’s Farmer Market, BJs Wholesale Club, Earth Fare, and Freshfields Farm. Also, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Greer’s Cash Saver, Greer’s Cash Saver, Hitchcock’s Markets, JC’s Market and Food Kitchen, Mt. Plymouth Grocery, Publix, Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods.
In Michigan
Yes, you can use your food stamps or EBT card to buy protein shakes powder anywhere in Michigan. This is provided the store or supermarket abides by the EBT laws on which foods are eligible for purchase.
For online transactions, Michigan has 9 online retailers on the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. They are; ALDI, Amazon, Earth Fare, and Freshfields Farm. Also, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, Garden Fresh Market, Meijer, Wesco, Walmart, and Whole Foods.
In California
Yes, you can use your food stamps or EBT card to buy protein shakes powder anywhere in California. This is provided the store or supermarket abides by the EBT laws on which foods are eligible for purchase.
For online transactions, California has 20 online retailers on the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. They are; ALDI, Amazon, Albertsons, Cardenas Markets, ExtraMile by Jacksons, Food 4 Less, FoodMaxx, The Market by Superior, Vons, and Gong’s IGA Market. Also, Jacksons Food Stores, Lucky Supermarkets, Pavilions, Rancho San Miguel Markets, Safeway, Save Mart Supermarkets, Stater Bros., Super King Market, Walmart, and Whole Foods.
In PA (Pennsylvania)
Yes, you can use your food stamps or EBT card to buy protein shakes powder anywhere in Pennsylvania. This is provided the store or supermarket abides by the EBT laws on which foods are eligible for purchase.
For online transactions, PA has 21 online retailers on the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. They are; ALDI, Amazon, BJs Wholesale Club, Cottman Food Market, Dave’s Super Duper, Giant Company, LLC, Giant Eagle, Lake Region IGA, and Martin’s. Also, Mignosi’s Super Foodtown, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Price Rite, Sam’s Club Scan and Go, ShopRite, Sprouts Farmers Market, TheFreshGrocer, Tops Market, Wegmans, Weis Markets, Walmart, and Whole Foods.
Conclusion
Yes, you can buy protein powder with your EBT card or food stamps anywhere in the States, if they are food items and not supplements.
