Campus Kitchenites interact daily with families and individuals living on tight food budgets, but how many of you have struck up a conversation with them about what kinds of food they are buying on their budget? If you have, you might have gotten responses like “I can’t afford to eat healthy”.

An article recently posted on the blog, Salon.com, begs to differ. The article entitled “Hipsters on Food Stamps” highlights a group of 20 to 30 somethings who are popularizing a ‘new’ way to use food stamps. This group, containing many self-proclaimed ‘foodies’, have broken the long standing stereotypes that food stamps can only be used for government commodities and are instead using them to buy things like organic veggies and fresh baked bread at places like farmers markets and food co-ops.

Despite the fact that probably none of the clients you serve would fall into the ‘hipster’ category, this article brings up a great point for discussion about what you can and cannot buy with food stamps. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service website provides helpful information about the program, including what foods are eligible for purchase with Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards:

Yes! No
  • Breads and cereals
  • Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, tobacco
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Nonfood items like: soap, paper products, household supplies, pet food
  • Meats, fish and poultry
  • Vitamins and medicines
  • Dairy Products
  • Prepared food
  • Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat
  • Hot foods

So the next time you are talking with your clients about food choices and healthful eating, remind them that they are not limited to packaged, processed, and frozen foods. Maybe even point out how they can stretch their food stamp dollars by buying fresh foods and cooking from scratch when they have time (and freezing meals for the week).

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