Can You Buy Pedialyte with Food Stamps
We get the question "Can You Buy Pedialyte with Food Stamps" and here's what you need to know!

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Can You Buy Pedialyte with Food Stamps in 2023?

Yes, you can buy Pedialyte with Food Stamps!

Pedialyte has some nutritional value and contributes towards a well-balanced diet.

Therefore, you can use any available balance on your food stamp EBT card to buy Pedialyte.

It is available in a premixed, ready-to-drink suspension, or powder sachets to mix and drink at home.

Both varieties meet the criteria required for food stamp payment.

pedialyte food stamps

It is sometimes difficult to navigate the things you can and can’t buy with food stamps.

They’re called food stamps; can you only use them to buy food?

Is it possible to buy other things using this financial assistance, and how do you know the difference before arriving at the checkout?

The confusion doesn’t stop there; let’s say you’ve had an upset stomach and need to replace lost fluids.

Most people’s go-to energy drink is Pedialyte, posing another dilemma; is Pedialyte a drink or medication?

Can you buy Pedialyte with food stamps and the easy way to understand is just one of the questions we aim to answer in this article?

Read on to understand more about food stamps and how they work, what Pedialyte is, and where it’s available.

About Food Stamps

A government program was introduced in the 1930s to help poor families access healthy and nutritional food.

The idea was to build up their strength until they could contribute to a productive workforce.

People were issued with pieces of paper called food stamps that they could exchange for food at participating shops.

The initiative remains in force today, providing financial assistance to those with low incomes.

It is only for the purchase of healthy food and drinks.

In 2004 paper stamps were replaced by a magnetically encoded payment card.

The benefit changed names to SNAP – Supplement Nutritional Assistance Program, but is still affectionately known as food stamps.

EBT

People entitled to SNAP have their monies paid into an EBT account – Electronic Benefits Transfer.

The issued EBT card behaves much like a debit card; you can only pay for goods if there is an available balance.

SNAP has no cash value; you cannot withdraw it nor receive cashback from a checkout.

Any remaining balance at the end of each month rolls over onto the next.

About Pedialyte

If you’ve been struck down with a bout of diarrhea or sickness, you should know the importance of replacing the lost fluids.

Failure to do so might result in dehydration leaving you feeling weak, tired, and lightheaded. In extreme cases, you would need hospital treatment.

Pedialyte is an oral suspension that replaces fluid and minerals (including chloride, sodium, and potassium) and restores the balance of electrolytes in the body.

Most of us can’t face eating or drinking after illness, but Pedialyte comes in a variety of flavors to tempt.

Orange, strawberry, blue raspberry, grape, bubblegum, and mixed fruit are just a few.

It is available in ready-mixed or powder sachets to mix with water.

Toddlers, children, and adults all benefit from drinking Pedialyte after illness, although, it is best to check with a doctor for babies and the elderly.

Why You Can Use Food Stamps to Buy Pedialyte

can you buy pedialyte with food stamps

Retailers can only accept food stamps in exchange for nutritional food.

Fruit, vegetables, meat, chicken, and dairy products meet the criteria, but Pedialyte sits in a gray area.

It isn’t food, it isn’t a supplement, it isn’t medicine, so how can we tell?

Easy! Check the product labels for nutritional value.

Nutrition Facts

Products that show RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) information, are nutritious, and therefore, eligible for payment with SNAP benefits.

The label shows the source of the nutrient, something not required for a supplement.

Supplement Facts

Look for the words ‘Natural’ ‘Whole Foods’ and ‘Nature’s Way’ on the label; this is a surefire way to recognize a supplement and not nutritious food.

There won’t be any RDI information, but, there will be an explanation of the plant part from where the supplement was derived.

Supplements do not qualify for SNAP payment.

Where to Buy Pedialyte with Snap Benefits

More than 248,000 retailers across all 50-states are registered with the SNAP program.

Finding your nearest participating store takes moments by using the online SNAP Retailer Locator tool.

Enter your zip code to find local convenience stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies that take food stamps.

Many stores accept EBT payments online, including Amazon Fresh, enabling buyers to have goods delivered to their door.

Just some of the stores that accept food stamps and stock Pedialyte include;

  • Walgreens
  • Walmart
  • CVS
  • Albertson’s
  • Publix
  • Sprouts
  • Whole Foods

Are all Energy Drinks EBT Approved?

We are back in that gray area again! Some energy drinks are classed as supplements, they are high in sugar and caffeine, so have little nutritional value.

Other brands that fall into the Rehydration Drink category (Pedialyte) have a nutritional value, lower sugar, and higher sodium content, and can, therefore, be bought with food stamps.

Always refer to the packaging and keep a lookout for Nutrition Facts, not Supplement Facts.

Conclusion

It is important to replace minerals such as sodium, potassium, and chloride that are lost after diarrhea and vomiting.

Pedialyte is a rehydration sink suitable for adults and children that helps them to feel better quicker.

You can buy Pedialyte with food stamps in-store and online. it is useful to keep some in stock, you never know when the next sickness bug is going to attack!