proein powder on food stamps

I would assume that you can get them since i know you can buy protein bars with food stamps so don't see why you wouldn't be able to buy the powder, especially since its in the same isles usually... I guess every store is different as well. Couldn't hurt to look around on the stores website or some other useful information site about food stamps.

If I had a family to support and was poor enough to be on public assistance, I would not use my food allowance on protein powder for myself at $15 (at least) a tub. Really? $15-$20 could buy 3-4 meals for my family. Sounds pretty selfish to me. I don't care how many feathers get ruffled here. Stuff like this makes me mad! So how many kids does she have? No, nevermind. I don't want to know....anyway, if she really wants to up her protein tell her to buy chicken or ground beef on sale. 4 oz. of chicken or ground beef has just as much protein as 1 scoop of protein shake! At least her kids can eat the food too......and its way cheaper.

Don't know about over there, but here protein powder is a really cheap way to get protein compared to other options, even cheaper the more you buy at once. If I was stone broke I would actually have more money to feed my kids full meals if I relied more heavily on protein powder. Its not like we are talking about trying to buy fat burners on food stamps or something.

As long as it says "Nutritional Facts" on the back and not "Supplement Facts." I know it's been posted on here before...

...Nothing wrong with using EBT for protein or anything else you may need, you just budget for it like anything else. I never understood why people always feel the need to tell others what they can or can't buy with their food stamps.

Agreed. I'd rather she spent it on protein powder than on chips, donuts and fruit punch. But as long as it's within the guidelines of the program, it's none of anyone else's business what she buys...I think most protein powders are labeled as supplements, though. I've never used food stamps, though, so I don't know if there are any versions that are approved for the program...

* For those offended by the idea of using protein powders instead of buying cheap meat, I have a digestive disorder that when it flares up, I have to use protein powder because I can't eat a normal diet. Protein powder is not necessarily just a luxury item that only certain people deserve to use.

If I had a family to support and was poor enough to be on public assistance, I would not use my food allowance on protein powder for myself at $15 (at least) a tub. Really? $15-$20 could buy 3-4 meals for my family. Sounds pretty selfish to me. I don't care how many feathers get ruffled here. Stuff like this makes me mad! So how many kids does she have? No, nevermind. I don't want to know....anyway, if she really wants to up her protein tell her to buy chicken or ground beef on sale. 4 oz. of chicken or ground beef has just as much protein as 1 scoop of protein shake! At least her kids can eat the food too......and its way cheaper.

Don't know about over there, but here protein powder is a really cheap way to get protein compared to other options, even cheaper the more you buy at once. If I was stone broke I would actually have more money to feed my kids full meals if I relied more heavily on protein powder. Its not like we are talking about trying to buy fat burners on food stamps or something.

^^ Beat me to it. If she is single and/or its just for her then protein powder is a great way to get protein for cheap.

I don't actually know the answer to the question.

But if, for some reason, you can't get protein powder with food stamps, you still have a wide variety of foods high in protein available. I prefer to get protein in normal food sources. I've flirted with the idea of getting powder to use sometimes, but I just never have trouble hitting my protein goals. Something to consider.

I full agree that protein powder should not be allowed on food stamps.

Pretty sure this wasn't intended as a debate but rather an honest question to help someone who is trying to help themselves. Having said that, I agree with previous posts that True Protein from Meat etc. is best for the 'family'. On the other hand, that wasn't the question. I know that in some States, only CRAP FOOD is allowed using EBT. For example, if you would like a head of lettuce...OUT OF LUCK, not allowed. BUT if you want some good old fashioned processed cheese, no problem. So, I'm guessing it is all relative. Good luck to your friend, no matter what....I wish him/her the best.

If I had a family to support and was poor enough to be on public assistance, I would not use my food allowance on protein powder for myself at $15 (at least) a tub. Really? $15-$20 could buy 3-4 meals for my family. Sounds pretty selfish to me. I don't care how many feathers get ruffled here. Stuff like this makes me mad! So how many kids does she have? No, nevermind. I don't want to know....anyway, if she really wants to up her protein tell her to buy chicken or ground beef on sale. 4 oz. of chicken or ground beef has just as much protein as 1 scoop of protein shake! At least her kids can eat the food too......and its way cheaper.

Don't know about over there, but here protein powder is a really cheap way to get protein compared to other options, even cheaper the more you buy at once. If I was stone broke I would actually have more money to feed my kids full meals if I relied more heavily on protein powder. Its not like we are talking about trying to buy fat burners on food stamps or something.

I was going to say something like this.... 1 tub of protein powder is usually like 30 or so servings, i.e. 30 meals for an adult. That would actually be a lot more meals than the 3-4 meals for the kids that you'd get from spending the same amount of money on chicken. granted the protein powder isn't for the kids, but if she's saving money on her own meals by having some of them from protein powder, that will equal money saved to be spent on the kids' meals.

I full agree that protein powder should not be allowed on food stamps.

Why not? Aren't poor people allowed to be healthy too? Or is caring about your health and nutrition something reserved only for the wealthy?

1 tub might be expensive but it's actually around 30 meals in the tub, and it works out cheaper than other kinds of protein in the long term. Or is long term budgeting, i.e. buying something in bulk that will last a long time and save money over time a luxury only reserved for the rich?

Protein powder is food. That's all it is. It's not like buying cigarettes with food stamps or something....

Is there any reason that kids may not drink protien powder?? Back in the day when I had foodstamps, I would get protien powder. It was a great way for the kids to have a shake before they ran out the door to school, or a shake they would bring with them. I would toss in some frozen fruit that I got in huge bags which would cut down the cost. You can also make protien bars and peanut butter protien balls that kids can grab and go. The **** they feed the kids in school is horrible.

interesting question... the straight protein powders made into shakes... I think this wouldn't be suitable for kids, especially not as a meal replacement, as it only contains protein with next to no fat or carbs, so it wouldn't sustain a kid through school. However if you added it to stuff as you describe, e.g. frozen fruit smoothies or peanut butter bars then I really can't see any reason why not. Most schools allow packed lunch and I would have thought these would be a good addition to a packed lunch.

you have to be careful though, some protein powders have a lot of added vitamins and some of them are in too high doses for kids to be taking regularly, as some e.g. iron, vitamin A are toxic in excess. Kids should take vitamin etc supplements that are designed for kids their age. But you can get protein powders that don't have all these added vitamins, and those ones don't say "not suitable for children" on them.

I full agree that protein powder should not be allowed on food stamps.

Pretty sure this wasn't intended as a debate but rather an honest question to help someone who is trying to help themselves. Having said that, I agree with previous posts that True Protein from Meat etc. is best for the 'family'. On the other hand, that wasn't the question. I know that in some States, only CRAP FOOD is allowed using EBT. For example, if you would like a head of lettuce...OUT OF LUCK, not allowed. BUT if you want some good old fashioned processed cheese, no problem. So, I'm guessing it is all relative. Good luck to your friend, no matter what....I wish him/her the best.

Wrong. I was on food stamps for about a year while I was unemployed due to being over or under qualified for every d*mn job, and my cart was full of fresh fruits and veggies, and good, healthy food. Not crap.

As for the OP's question, yes, I also bought protein powder with my EBT if I had the money left over, because it was an inexpensive way to get extra protein into my diet.