Protein on Foodstamps?

Samrny

I'm trying to find a better or second job so I can get off foodstamps, but in the meantime...

Can you buy protein with FS? I know I can buy bulk unflavored whey and soy protein from Winco's Bulk Bins, is that good enough? Which one is better? Soy is Bob's Redmill brand, the other one is unbranded, if that matters.

But can you buy like tubs of protein at Winco or other grocery stores that take FS? What brands if so would you recommend?

Would it be more economical to try and get my protein from whole food sources? I don't eat much meat...


Please don't bash me for how I'm trying to lose weight on FS, you might make me cry since I'm a sensitive one.

usmcmp

If you aren't vegetarian you could get adequate protein through meat and dairy. Protein supplements are generally unnecessary.

queenliz99

Can you buy whole chickens or chuck roasts?

Samrny

usmcmp wrote: »

If you aren't vegetarian you could get adequate protein through meat and dairy. Protein supplements are generally unnecessary.

I drink milk, eat eggs/eggwhites, and eat greek yogurt...
How much protein should I shoot for if I'm 5foot4 and 167 lbs, work on my feet 4 hours a day/5 days a week, and can't lift right now due to an injury?

amclain93

If you're not a big meat eater, beans are a great alternative, and are super cheap. If you really feel a protein powder in neccessary, maybe put away a buck or two a paycheck until you can afford a good brand. We've done our stint with foodstamps, and i totally understand the struggle. It's hard enough to feed a family on them, let alone feed them a healthy diet!

Samrny

queenliz99 wrote: »

Can you buy whole chickens or chuck roasts?

Thank you for the idea, but again, I don't really eat meat. It's a texture thing I just can't get over no matter how hard I try...

Samrny

amclain93 wrote: »

If you're not a big meat eater, beans are a great alternative, and are super cheap. If you really feel a protein powder in neccessary, maybe put away a buck or two a paycheck until you can afford a good brand. We've done our stint with foodstamps, and i totally understand the struggle. It's hard enough to feed a family on them, let alone feed them a healthy diet!

Thankfully I only have to feed myself, haha. Thank you for your kindness and sincerity. It is much appreciated.

usmcmp

Samrny wrote: »

usmcmp wrote: »

If you aren't vegetarian you could get adequate protein through meat and dairy. Protein supplements are generally unnecessary.

I drink milk, eat eggs/eggwhites, and eat greek yogurt...
How much protein should I shoot for if I'm 5foot4 and 167 lbs, work on my feet 4 hours a day/5 days a week, and can't lift right now due to an injury?

What you have it set to currently is adequate. I would even say as low at 80 would be fine considering your current financial position.

ETA: I see I was looking at today's with exercise included. 80 grams should be fine.

elphie754

Not protein, but just wanted to throw this piece of information out there in case you didn't know. I am not sure where you live, but many states allow food stamps to be used at farmers markets. By me (NY) if you use FS at a farmers market, your "dollars" are worth double, so if you are allowed 10 dollars, you actually have 20 to use at the farmers market. I know it is only certain farmers markets and certain items (usually fresh produce) but it might be something for you to look into.

Samrny

elphie754 wrote: »

Not protein, but just wanted to throw this piece of information out there in case you didn't know. I am not sure where you live, but many states allow food stamps to be used at farmers markets. By me (NY) if you use FS at a farmers market, your "dollars" are worth double, so if you are allowed 10 dollars, you actually have 20 to use at the farmers market. I know it is only certain farmers markets and certain items (usually fresh produce) but it might be something for you to look into.

In Oregon your FS don't double, but we have a similar system here in Oregon.
I get my honey this way!

Yi5hedr3

Stay away from soy! Whey is fine.

lorrpb

I suggest you ask your store about the protein powder if that's what you want. They can prob scan the item & tell you.

hurleycutie142

Hi hun... yes u can buy protein powder on food stamps!
here is how it works...
read the nutritional label...

if the powder states nutritional facts u can...
if it states supplemental facts u cant...

this is where I started my journey I was broke and relied on food stamps for awhile before I got back on my feet...


hope this helps!

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callsitlikeiseeit

eggs, nuts, peanut butter, cottage cheese .... look up foods high in protein. I'm not sure if protein powder would be allowed since it's probably considered a supplement and not food.

CrabNebula

If you have the money, you might want to consider buying an Instant Pot to make yogurt with. It is a bit of an upfront cost, but it has saved me so much money in the time I have had it. You can use cheesecloth or a nut milk bag to strain it. Making yogurt is stupid easy and I get so much good quality protein out of it. I think you can also make it with a crock pot if you have one of those, but I don't have any experience with that. Can probably find vids for it on YT.

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elphie754

shell1005 wrote: »

The rules for what you can buy with food stamps is you can buy anything that is classified as food as long as it is not heated & pre-prepared.

However not all stores accept food stamps. They have to sell milk, bread and eggs or they aren't able to accept SNAP. So if you bought protein powder at the grocery store in their health food sections, you could buy it with food stamps. If you went to GNC, you would not be able to use your food stamps there.

Actually, many places accept ebt cards (food stamps) for pre-prepared food. The 7-11 by me will let you buy pizza and stuff. Many bodegas around here also accept ebt stamps.

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upoffthemat

elphie754 wrote: »

Not protein, but just wanted to throw this piece of information out there in case you didn't know. I am not sure where you live, but many states allow food stamps to be used at farmers markets. By me (NY) if you use FS at a farmers market, your "dollars" are worth double, so if you are allowed 10 dollars, you actually have 20 to use at the farmers market. I know it is only certain farmers markets and certain items (usually fresh produce) but it might be something for you to look into.

Great point, I think they just started that in the Eau Claire WI farmers markets and if I remember right it was triple value. Really a great perk. I love our farmers markets and the ones around here aren't really that expensive.

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elphie754

shell1005 wrote: »

elphie754 wrote: »

shell1005 wrote: »

The rules for what you can buy with food stamps is you can buy anything that is classified as food as long as it is not heated & pre-prepared.

However not all stores accept food stamps. They have to sell milk, bread and eggs or they aren't able to accept SNAP. So if you bought protein powder at the grocery store in their health food sections, you could buy it with food stamps. If you went to GNC, you would not be able to use your food stamps there.

Actually, many places accept ebt cards (food stamps) for pre-prepared food. The 7-11 by me will let you buy pizza and stuff. Many bodegas around here also accept ebt stamps.

Then they are breaking the law. If the food is warm, you cannot use SNAP to buy it. I don't question that it happens. I can tell you a bunch of local places in Boston that sell things that they aren't supposed to using SNAP, but it doesn't make it within the guidelines.

We use the stupid example all the time when talking about how the system is broken and not user friendly. If there is a burrito in the warming case in the front...you cannot use SNAP, if you buy a frozen burrito and then bring it to the 7-11 microwave and zap it, you can.

I never said they weren't breaking the law. Around here there doesn't seem to be a strict control over places that accept them and for what (I have seen people buy beer with them). There are just too many places that accept them and too many people on them.

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krazgrl

elphie754 wrote: »

shell1005 wrote: »

The rules for what you can buy with food stamps is you can buy anything that is classified as food as long as it is not heated & pre-prepared.

However not all stores accept food stamps. They have to sell milk, bread and eggs or they aren't able to accept SNAP. So if you bought protein powder at the grocery store in their health food sections, you could buy it with food stamps. If you went to GNC, you would not be able to use your food stamps there.

Actually, many places accept ebt cards (food stamps) for pre-prepared food. The 7-11 by me will let you buy pizza and stuff. Many bodegas around here also accept ebt stamps.

Hey all. I work for my local government and investigate welfare fraud (Food Stamps and Cash Assistance). Let me help shed some light.

The places that accept EBT for prepared food is allowable for those receiving Cash Assistance (Not Food Stamps). This includes programs like General Relief and here in CA, CalWORKs (a program geared for underincome families with children). With these programs, people can buy toiletries, prepared foods, you name it and it's still loaded on to an EBT card (Electronic Benefits Transfer) like an ATM/Debit card.

Those who have Food Stamps (CalFresh in CA), you cannot purchase prepared foods or go to fast food chains that advertise "EBT Accepted Here". Those are for the Cash Assistance folk. You can buy any and all fresh food and it's accepted at Costco - you just can't buy a prepared rotisserie chicken, but you can buy the raw ones!

NaturalNancy

Dry beans, and tofu. Tofu is usually $1.99 for a 16oz (1lb block)
And eggs.

lithezebra

With Google and a calculator you can figure out what food or protein powder has the lowest cost per gram of protein. I suspect that soy or whey protein powder will be cheapest.

TriShamelessly

Chicken breast at the local grocery stores near me is usually only $1.99 a pound. Plenty of protein and much tastier than the powders.

Edited to add -
Oops, nevermind as I just saw you don't eat much meat. Plenty of other great suggestions on here though and it sounds as if you're getting plenty of protein on current diet (per USMCMP - who knows her stuff!).

kmsoucy457

NaturalNancy wrote: »

Dry beans, and tofu. Tofu is usually $1.99 for a 16oz (1lb block)
And eggs.

Second this. If you're not a meat eater and you're looking to supplement the protein you get from dairy ,these are the way to go.
Bulk whey and soy powders are great, too if you prefer to drink your protein instead of eating it. Best bang for your buck will be in the bulk section, and imo there isn't a whole lot of difference between unflavored protein brands. I love everything Bob's Red mill puts out.

tlskim

Samrny wrote: »

I'm trying to find a better or second job so I can get off foodstamps, but in the meantime...

Can you buy protein with FS? I know I can buy bulk unflavored whey and soy protein from Winco's Bulk Bins, is that good enough? Which one is better? Soy is Bob's Redmill brand, the other one is unbranded, if that matters.

But can you buy like tubs of protein at Winco or other grocery stores that take FS? What brands if so would you recommend?

Would it be more economical to try and get my protein from whole food sources? I don't eat much meat...


Please don't bash me for how I'm trying to lose weight on FS, you might make me cry since I'm a sensitive one.

Have you tried Vegetarian or Vegan sources of Protein?

tlskim

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20718479,00.html

Try looking for Vegan or Vegetarian sources of protein.

stealthq

NaturalNancy wrote: »

Dry beans, and tofu. Tofu is usually $1.99 for a 16oz (1lb block)
And eggs.

Cottage cheese. Nice with fruit or if you can blend it smooth it helps make a nice creamy scrambled egg. You can make cottage cheese pancakes, too, and they are very tasty - similar to a ricotta pancake and not lumpy like you may be thinking.

OP, please don't feel sensitive about accepting help that you need. We all need help sometimes, monetary or no. You need it, you take what's available, and you use it for whatever you need to get back on your feet. That's why it's there.