6 Surprising Items You Can Buy With Food Stamps
If you're using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (aka food stamps), you probably already know you can grab groceries, produce and pantry staples with your EBT card. However, even with the growing list of state-imposed restrictions, there is an interesting list of all the things you are still able to purchase.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the current average monthly SNAP benefit is approximately $204 per person, or just under $7 per person per day. For a household of four people, the average monthly benefit is around $770. Keep in mind, these figures can fluctuate widely based on your household size and location.
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It turns out that you can take some of that money and get more than your standard bag of groceries. Here's a look at some of the more unusual things that your SNAP benefits will cover.
1. Energy Drinks (Some, at Least)
You can use SNAP funds to buy energy drinks in some states, but only if they meet the USDA's strict standards, especially when it comes to how they label their ingredients and nutritional information. In other words, if the energy drink has a "nutritional facts" label, it qualifies. If not, you'll have to pay for your caffeine boost out of pocket.
In 2026, new SNAP restrictions by state have limited the purchasing of sweetened or sugary drinks. So that means if you live in places like Texas, Florida and Louisiana, you may not be able to add energy drinks to your cart. In fact, CNBC reported that as of 2026, 23 states have officially been approved by the USDA to restrict SNAP benefits from being used to purchase sugary drinks and soda, so read those labels carefully.
2. Live Seafood (Yes, Really)
If you ever want to splurge on live lobster or crab, you’re in luck, as live seafood that's intended to be eaten at home is 100% SNAP eligible. So the next time you're at a grocery store with a live tank, your EBT card has you covered.
For example, under some SNAP Purchase Restrictions guidelines, shellfish and fish are exceptions to the live-animal restriction, meaning you can buy items like live oysters, clams, mussels, and more. Fancy dinner, budget-friendly price.
3. Seeds and Plants
The USDA allows SNAP recipients to buy edible plants like basil or food-producing plants like tomato with their EBT cards, as well as seeds for growing their own food. The USDA estimates that you can grow $25 worth of produce for every dollar spent on seeds and fertilizer.
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You can use your EBT card to get seeds and plants at any SNAP-approved retailer, including farmers' markets, and the USDA offers suggestions on how to get started gardening. Not only can you grow your own food as a healthy alternative, but it also saves you money in the long run.
4. Birthday Cakes
No one should go without celebrating their birthday. Thankfully, SNAP benefits cover bakery cakes, including custom-decorated birthday cakes from the grocery store.
The key is that the cake must be a food item, not primarily a decorative one. In other words, SNAP considers birthday cakes eligible for purchase, as long as the non-edible decorations (like plastic toys or cake toppers) do not make up more than 50% of the total cost.
5. Hunting and Fishing Gear (But You Have To Live Way, Way Out There)
For people who live in very rural areas and kill what they eat, you can't just swipe your EBT card to pick up a new fiberglass rod at Bass Pro Shops. However, hunting and fishing gear is SNAP-eligible for a very specific and very tiny population. According to the USDA, some residents in the most remote parts of Alaska rely almost exclusively on hunting and fishing to feed their households because of the extreme difficulty getting to stores where they can purchase food.
Thus, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services gives qualifying households special identification cards. They can't buy guns and ammo, but they can buy gear like nets, rods, harpoons, lines and knives.
6. Gift Baskets -- Depending on What's Inside
The USDA allows you to spend SNAP funds on gift baskets and similar purchases as long as at least half of what's inside is edible. Even if they contain eligible edibles, nonfood items such as toys, stockings and tins don't count if "the value of the non-food part of the item clearly accounts for more than 50% of the purchase price," according to the USDA.
The agency gives the example of a stuffed holiday bear that comes with a small package of chocolate: That won't count. A gift basket containing mostly meat and cheese, however, would be acceptable. Just make sure there's no alcohol or cigarettes inside that basket or you're out of luck.
Andrew Lisa contributed to the reporting for this article.
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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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