As the holiday season approaches, families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—formerly known as Food Stamps—can stretch their budgets to prepare festive meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas. With a little planning, you can use your SNAP EBT card to purchase many traditional holiday ingredients.
Thanksgiving Favorites: Roast Turkey and Cranberry Sauce
One of the most iconic Thanksgiving dishes is roast turkey with herb butter. Here’s a list of SNAP-eligible ingredients for this recipe:
- Whole turkey
- Unsalted butter
- Fresh herbs (such as sage, thyme, or rosemary)
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Salt and pepper
You can purchase all these items using SNAP benefits, provided your local grocery store has them in stock.
For a classic cranberry sauce with orange cinnamon, you’ll need:
- Fresh cranberries
- Orange juice and zest
- Sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Water
These items are also SNAP-eligible, making it easy to prepare a delicious side dish for your Thanksgiving feast.
Christmas Delights: Prime Rib and Gingerbread Cookies
For Christmas, a popular main course is prime rib with garlic and rosemary. SNAP benefits cover these ingredients:
- Prime rib roast
- Garlic
- Fresh rosemary and thyme
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
If you’re planning to bake gingerbread cookies for dessert, you can also purchase all the necessary ingredients with your SNAP benefits:
- All-purpose flour
- Ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves
- Molasses
- Brown sugar
- Eggs
- Baking soda
- Butter
Even items like molasses, often questioned for eligibility, can be purchased at major retailers like Walmart using SNAP.
What You Can’t Buy with SNAP
While SNAP benefits cover many essential groceries, there are restrictions on non-eligible items:
- Alcoholic beverages (e.g., wine, beer, whiskey)
- Pet food
- Household supplies (e.g., paper products, cleaning items)
- Cosmetics and hygiene products
- Live animals (except for fish or shellfish removed from water)
- Hot meals
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements
Stretch Your Benefits This Holiday Season
With thoughtful planning and an understanding of SNAP eligibility, you can create memorable holiday meals for your family without breaking the bank. Be sure to check your SNAP balance and shop early to avoid holiday shortages, ensuring your Thanksgiving and Christmas tables are filled with delicious, homemade dishes.
