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Understanding SNAP Benefits and How Meal Kits Can Fit In

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, helps millions of Americans purchase food. As of 2024, SNAP serves approximately 42 million people across the United States. The program works by providing monthly benefits loaded onto an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card that works like a debit card at authorized retailers. Many people wonder whether their SNAP benefits can be used for meal kits, since meal kits have become increasingly popular over the past decade.

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Meal kits are subscription services that deliver pre-portioned ingredients and recipes to your home, allowing you to prepare meals yourself. Companies like Home Chef, Factor, and Gobble are among the options available. Understanding what SNAP covers and what it doesn't is the first step in exploring whether meal kits might work with your budget and benefits.

SNAP benefits can only be used to purchase certain types of food. The general rule is that you can buy foods you prepare at home to eat, but you cannot buy hot or prepared foods, vitamins, medicines, or non-food items. This means some meal kits may be covered while others are not, depending on how they're classified and whether they're prepared or require home preparation.

The program has been around since 1964 (originally called food stamps) and has evolved to meet changing shopping patterns. In 2020, the USDA began allowing SNAP benefits to be used for online food purchases at certain retailers, which opened new possibilities for how people access their benefits. This change reflects how the government recognizes that shopping needs have changed.

Takeaway: Before considering any meal kit option, confirm what types of prepared and unprepared foods your SNAP benefits cover in your state, as rules can vary slightly by location.

Types of Meal Kits and Their SNAP Compatibility

Not all meal kits are created equal when it comes to SNAP benefits. There are several different models, and understanding the differences matters for determining whether your benefits can be used.

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The first type is the ingredient-based meal kit. These companies send you raw ingredients separated into portions with a recipe card. You receive items like chicken, vegetables, pasta, and sauce that you must cook yourself. Examples include Blue Apron and EveryPlate. Since you're preparing these meals at home from uncooked ingredients, they're more likely to be SNAP-eligible. The ingredients themselves—meat, produce, grains, dairy—are the kinds of foods SNAP typically covers when purchased separately at a grocery store.

The second type is the prepared meal kit. Services like Factor, Freshly, and Magic Kitchen send fully cooked meals that require only reheating. These meals are considered prepared foods, and SNAP benefits generally cannot be used for hot or prepared foods. Some of these services may work with SNAP in limited ways, but this is less common.

A third option is the partially prepared meal kit, where some ingredients come pre-cooked or pre-cut. The SNAP eligibility of these kits can be unclear because it depends on how much preparation is already done and how the USDA classifies the specific product. Some may qualify, while others won't.

The fourth category includes budget meal kits designed specifically with lower costs in mind. These services often focus on simple recipes and affordability, which can make them more compatible with SNAP budgets. Some focus on serving families or larger households with meal planning that accommodates limited food budgets.

Takeaway: Ingredient-based meal kits that require home cooking are your best option if you want to use SNAP benefits. Call the meal kit company directly and ask if their specific products are SNAP-approved before signing up.

How to Find Meal Kit Services That Accept SNAP Benefits

Finding a meal kit service that accepts SNAP requires some research, since not all companies participate in the program. The landscape is always changing as more retailers recognize the value of serving SNAP customers.

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Start by checking which retailers in your area accept SNAP for online purchases. Amazon Fresh, Walmart, and other major grocers now allow SNAP cardholders to shop online. Some of these retailers may offer their own meal kit options or partner with meal kit companies. Visit the USDA's SNAP retailer locator website to see which stores near you accept SNAP benefits online.

Once you know which retailers participate, check whether they offer meal kits or can deliver ingredients bundled as meal kits. Walmart, for example, offers meal solutions and bulk ingredient options that could work for meal preparation. Amazon Fresh carries various brands and prepared foods, though you'll need to check which specific items are SNAP-eligible.

When you find a potential service, contact them directly with specific questions. Ask whether their current meal kit offerings are SNAP-approved. This matters because a company might sell both SNAP-eligible and non-eligible items, and you need to know which products you can actually purchase with your benefits. Get answers in writing if possible, or take notes with the date and representative's name.

Local food co-ops and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs in some areas may also offer arrangements compatible with SNAP benefits. These often provide boxes of seasonal produce or ingredients that you can use to prepare your own meals.

Takeaway: Don't assume a meal kit company accepts SNAP. Verify directly with the company and the retailer before committing to a subscription.

Comparing Meal Kit Costs Against Your SNAP Budget

Understanding the real cost of meal kits helps you make decisions about whether they fit within your food budget when using SNAP benefits. The average SNAP benefit per person per month is approximately $210, according to 2024 data. This works out to about $7 per person per day for food. For a family of four, the monthly benefit might be around $840.

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Meal kit costs vary widely. Budget-friendly options like EveryPlate average around $5 to $6 per serving, while premium services can cost $10 to $15 per serving or more. A family of four choosing EveryPlate at 6 meals per week might spend about $480 to $550 per month on the meal kit alone. This leaves room in a family's SNAP budget if they're careful with other purchases, but it requires planning.

The cost comparison changes depending on how many meals per week you choose. Most services let you select anywhere from 2 to 6 meals per week. Fewer meals means lower weekly costs but might require you to supplement with other groceries. More meals means higher costs but could eliminate the need to shop for those meals separately.

When calculating whether a meal kit makes sense for your budget, also consider what you currently spend on groceries. If you typically spend $8 to $10 per meal when shopping at conventional grocery stores (accounting for food waste, ingredients you don't use, and impulse purchases), a $5 to $6 meal kit might actually save money. However, if you're an efficient shopper who already plans carefully and minimizes waste, a meal kit might cost more.

Some meal kits offer their first box at a discounted rate—sometimes 50% off—which allows you to try the service before committing to regular pricing. Take advantage of these offers to test whether a service fits your needs and budget before making a longer commitment.

Takeaway: Compare meal kit per-serving costs against what you currently spend per meal, including wasted food. A meal kit might save money, cost the same, or be more expensive depending on your current shopping habits and which service you choose.

Other Food Programs That Complement SNAP Benefits

SNAP benefits are just one tool available to help with food costs. Understanding other programs can help you stretch your resources further and might reduce pressure to purchase expensive meal kits.

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The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides older adults with additional vouchers to buy fresh produce directly from farmers markets. If you're 60 or older, you might receive $30 to $50 in vouchers per month specifically for farmers market purchases. This program exists in all 50 states and can supplement SNAP benefits with fresh, affordable produce.

The WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program serves pregnant women, new mothers, and young children with food packages and nutritional support. WIC benefits are more restrictive than SNAP in terms of what you can buy, but they provide specific foods proven to support