Did you know that most food items you would normally purchase at the grocery store can be bought with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)? Eligible older adults living alone get an average of $188 a month in SNAP benefits, which works out to $2,256 a year.1 If you have low income, SNAP can help you afford the healthy foods you need to age well.

What can you buy with your SNAP benefits?

In addition to foods like fresh produce, meats, dairy items, breads, and cereals, you can also buy items that help you prepare your meals or that are commonly eaten with meals. You cannot buy nonfood items or pet food with you SNAP benefits.

Here is a more detailed list of what you can buy with SNAP ( ✅ ), followed by a list of what you can't buy with SNAP (❌).

Items approved for purchase with SNAP

✅ Staple foods

  • Fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned)
  • Meat, poultry, and fish (fresh, frozen, or canned)
  • Dairy items (fresh or shelf-stable)
  • Bread and cereal

SNAP allows some leeway in these categories. For example, you can buy nut milk, soy milk, or oat milk instead of cow milk. You can buy gluten-free pasta under bread and cereal. You may even buy 100% apple sauce for fruit, eggs under poultry, or canned ravioli with tomato sauce under vegetables.

✅ Accessory foods

  • Spices and seasonings (powdered, dried, or extracted)
  • Honey, maple syrup, cane sugar, and other natural or artificial sweeteners
  • Ketchup, mustard, and other condiments
  • Potato chips, pretzels, popcorn, and other snacks
  • Baked goods
  • Cake and brownie mixes
  • Ice cream
  • Water, soda, lemonade, iced tea, fruit and vegetable juices, and some but not all energy drinks 

✅ Seeds and plants

If you have the time, space, and ability to start a small garden, you may be happy to learn that you can use your SNAP benefits to do it. You can buy seeds and plant starters with SNAP that, over time, may grow enough produce to lower your grocery bill.

Items not approved for purchase with SNAP

❌ Hot food/meals

You can't use your SNAP benefits for food that is hot and ready to eat when you buy it. This includes items like rotisserie chicken, precooked pizza slices, and soup from a supermarket food bar. 

❌ Beer, wine, and liquor

You can't buy alcohol of any kind with SNAP benefits, even if it is sold in a grocery store.

❌ Pet food

Pet food can't be purchased with SNAP benefits. But there is no rule against using SNAP to buy canned or bagged tuna, chicken, or other protein for yourself and sharing it with a pet.

❌ Cigarettes

You can't use SNAP to buy any tobacco products—not cigarettes, cigars, or chewing tobacco. Likewise, you cannot use SNAP for e-cigarettes or their refills either.

❌ Pharmacy items

You can't use SNAP to buy prescription or over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or supplements. Sports and energy drinks that have a Supplement Facts label only can't be purchased with SNAP either. They must have a Nutrition Facts label to be eligible for SNAP.

❌ Personal care items

SNAP only covers food items. So things like soap, toothpaste, household cleaners, diapers, and makeup can't be bought with SNAP.

I am ready. How do I apply for SNAP?

Find out if you might be able to get SNAP benefits and learn how to apply here on BenefitsCheckUp. You can use our secure, confidential online tool to learn more about SNAP, including program requirements and how to apply.

Source

1. USDA. Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2023. April 2025. Found on the internet at https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-FY23-Characteristics-Report.pdf