Yes, you can buy SlimFast with food stamps or EBT cards. You are probably wondering how that is possible, after all, SlimFast is some kind of weight loss snack or nutrient shake or supplement. Well, you are wrong! Because SlimFast is neither sold as a typical shake, nor a supplement. Let’s find out why!
What is SlimFast?
If you are someone looking to lose some pounds or just trying to avoid gaining unnecessary weight without hitting the gym. Your next action or decision might be taking a quick-action product like SlimFast. Did you just ask what that is? If yes, read on.
SlimFast is a weight loss and diet plan. It comprises a series of products like shakes, snacks, and bars taken instead of a meal. As a result, we consider it a meal replacement or replacement food.
The idea behind the diet plan is to enable people to have only a low-calorie diet so they do not have to worry about their weight. When you purchase a SlimFast product, it is not designed to replace all your daily food. So, you should only take it about two times a day, with a relevant or normal meal in between, or at least anytime a day.
In my opinion, taking the low-calorie SlimFast shakes or snacks in the morning and afternoon with a sizable dinner is a great plan. You may, however, refer to the instructions of your nutritionist or the direction of usage for your SlimFast product.
Most people stop taking SlimFast once they have achieved their intended weight-loss goal. However, if you stop the diet plan, then weight gain might occur again if you start to take excess calories from normal meals. And unfortunately, there is no instruction from the company on how to prevent this.
But then, who are you kidding? Hit the gym! I believe that is a better approach.
What are Food Stamps or EBT Cards?
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, also known as food stamps are an initiative by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program is designed to help low-income individuals and households meet their daily nutritional requirements acquired from the intake of staple foods.
As a result, eligible low-income individuals and households are given EBT cards linked to an EBT account. Subsequently, every month, SNAP sends benefits into the account of the EBT card holders for them to spend on food items. The money available on the card is usually a fixed amount, and it works like a prepaid or debit card, rather than a credit card. This means that you cannot spend more than is in your EBT account, and you definitely cannot buy items on credit with your card.
What Can You Buy with Food Stamps or EBT Cards?
Because of the purpose of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as found in the name – “nutrition”, the participants or beneficiaries cannot use the card to buy “just anything”. It has to be EBT purchase eligible. What are food stamps or EBT eligible purchases?
SNAP categorizes food items into two types; staple foods, and non-staple foods. Staple foods are what SNAP considers eligible for EBT purchases. What are Staple Foods?
Staple foods are foods that you can cook at home or offer nutritional benefits that are synonymous with a balanced diet. To know what are staple foods, we consider the calories, and nutrients they provide.
In addition, they can also be chosen based on the intent of the manufacturer or what the company sells the product as. For example, if Company A sells its rice (hypothetically) as a supplement, and Company B its rice as a food, then confusion occurs. A’s rice will have the “Supplement Facts” on its label, while B’s rice will have the “Nutrition Facts”. As a result, Rice A will not be eligible for purchase with the EBT card or food stamps since it is a supplement. On the other hand, Rice B qualifies since the company sells it as food.
Generally, these are the food items you can buy with your food stamps or EBT card:
- Fruits and vegetables;
- Meat, poultry, and fish;
- Dairy products;
- Bread and cereals;
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and
- Seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat.
You cannot buy alcoholic drinks, drugs, vitamins, supplements, pet foods, personal hygiene items, live animals, hot, heated, and cold prepared foods, etc with food stamps or EBT cards.
Can I Buy SlimFast With Food stamps or an EDT card?
Yes, you can buy SlimFast with food stamps or EDT cards. Due to my explanation above, you must be wondering how that is possible. Well, it is possible because SlimFast sells its products as food. Remember it is made from highly proteinous foods or ingredients, but this does not make it a protein supplement. Unlike supplements that can only take in support of food, and are mainly for weight and muscle gains or treatment of nutrient deficiency. SlimFast is highly proteinous and contains balanced and regulated calories to meet your daily needs, thereby fitting the category of food under the SNAP rules.
Additionally, using the label to determine its eligibility, SlimFast still qualifies as a staple food. Recall that, for a food item to qualify as a staple food, it needs to have the correct label. Subsequently, if you check the bottle or container of your SlimFast product, you will discover that it has the “Nutrition Facts” label.
Looking at the “Nutrition Facts” label, you will discover that SlimFast has a lot of ingredients such as sodium, carbs, protein, and fats. And you will agree with me that supplements don’t contain fats at all. Although they are fat-soluble. This makes it a food item under SNAP eligibility; thus, you can buy SlimFast with food stamps or EBT cards.
Can You Buy SlimFast Shakes with Food Stamps or EBT cards?
Yes, you can buy SlimFast shakes with food stamps or EBT cards. This is because SlimFast shakes constitute balanced nutrition. This is pretty obvious since their purpose is to keep you going throughout the day without feeling hungry. For example, a bottle of SlimFast Advanced Nutrition shakes contains:
- Total Fat 9g – 12%
- Cholesterol 15mg – 5%
- Sodium 180mg – 8%
- Total Carbohydrate 7g – 3%
- Dietary Fiber 5g – 18%
- Total Sugars 1g
- Added Sugars 0g – 0%
- Protein 20g – 40%
- Vitamin D 6.7mcg – 35%
- Calcium 440mg – 35%
- Iron 6mg – 35%
- Potassium 770mg – 15%
From this composition, we can conclude that SlimFast shakes are not only highly proteinous, but they also provide all the nutrients found in a balanced diet. Therefore, SlimFast shakes are not a protein shake, but a balanced meal in place of a rather heavy meal.
Can You Buy SlimFast Keto with Food Stamps or EBT cards?
Yes, you can buy SlimFast Keto with your food stamps or EBT cards. Like the shakes, SlimFast Keto Fat Bomb meal bars, snacks, and MCT oil are all great sources of balanced nutrition. Of course, SlimFast ketogenic products are typically very low in carbs; as low as 3%. This is done to fasten the effects of the product in your weight loss journey and diet plan. However, a serving of SlimFast Keto shakes, meal bars or snacks still gives a whopping 90 – 190 calories of balanced nutrition. This is enough to make you skip a heavy meal. Check the nutritional composition of SlimFast Keto Fat Bomb Meal (190 calories) below:
- Total Fat 14g – 18%
- Cholesterol 5mg – 2%
- Sodium 170mg – 7%
- Total Carbohydrate 15g – 5%
- Dietary Fiber 9g – 32%
- Total Sugars 3g
- Added Sugars 3g – 6%
- Protein 7g – 11%
- Vitamin D 5mcg – 25%
- Calcium 64mg – 4%
- Iron 4mg – 20%
- Potassium 82mg – 2%
From the composition, we can see that the SlimFast Keto product qualifies as a staple food as defined by the SNAP eligibility. Thus, the “Nutritional Facts” label that indicates the manufacturer is selling it as food is justified. That said, you can buy SlimFast Keto with your food stamps or EBT cards.
Where to Buy SlimFast With Your Food Stamps or EBT Cards
SNAP is a federal program or initiative; thus, it is available in all 50 states of the United States of America. In addition, you can use your food stamps or EBT card in any state irrespective of the state they were issued.
When it comes to the matter of supermarkets or grocery stores you should use, almost all stores in your state will accept your food stamps or EBT card for physical purchases. However, not all the stores are eligible for online orders since SNAP vets and approves online retailers through the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot first.
Can You Buy SlimFast With Your Food Stamps or EBT Card at Walmart?
Yes, you can buy SlimFast with your food stamps at Walmart. Walmart is one of the 4 to 5 stores that have been approved for EBT purchases in all 50 states in the country. Although, there are more than 50 stores on the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot program. So, feel free to order your SlimFast product with your EBT card at Walmart.
Can You Buy SlimFast With Your Food Stamps in California?
Yes, you can buy SlimFast with your food stamps in California no matter where you are from. The only requirements are that you are an authorized owner of the EBT card or food stamps, and buying from an eligible grocery store or supermarket. If it is an online purchase, the retailer must be on the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot program.
Can You Buy SlimFast With Your Food Stamps in Texas?
Yes, you can buy SlimFast with your food stamps or EBT card anywhere in the State of Texas. However, you must make sure the store you are buying from qualifies and abides by the EBT laws. For California online retailers, they must be on this list.
Can You Buy SlimFast With Your Food Stamps in PA (Pennsylvania)?
Yes, you can also buy SlimFast with your food stamps in PA from anywhere. However, make sure your store is SNAP-approved. Check this list for quick confirmation.