As she passed the deli, the savory scent of rotisserie chicken wafted toward her. Her youngest, Leo, reached for a golden-brown bird. "Can we get this, Mama?"
Further down, she noticed a sign reminding shoppers that as of early 2026, sugary drinks and candy were also restricted in many states. She passed the soda aisle without a second glance. what can you not buy with ebt
Elena shook her head gently. "Not today, Leo. We can’t use the card for hot, prepared meals ," she explained, though she knew there were new bills being discussed to change that. She steered the cart toward the meat aisle instead, picking up a pack of raw chicken legs she could roast at home. As she passed the deli, the savory scent
In the pharmacy section, she sighed as she looked at the vitamins and a bottle of pain relief. Those, along with medicines , were strictly off-limits. She moved on to the household aisle, past the toilet paper and laundry soap she’d have to pay for with the small amount of cash in her pocket. She passed the soda aisle without a second glance
At the register, Elena felt a surge of relief as the "EBT Food" total on the screen dropped to zero. She had successfully navigated the list of "no-go" items, from alcohol and tobacco to pet food and cleaning supplies. As she loaded the groceries into her car, she felt a small sense of victory. She might not have been able to buy everything, but she had exactly what she needed to feed her family tonight.
This is the story of Elena, who recently started using EBT to help provide for her family.
SNAP Purchase Restrictions - Texas Health and Human Services Tobacco. Alcohol. Non-food items. Vitamins and medicines. Texas Health and Human Services (.gov)