SNAP benefits don't pay for rotisserie chicken. A bipartisan bill might change that

We could also stop moralizing poverty and just allow people to buy whatever food they want. But this would be a good step forward.

The SNAP program provides a monthly stipend for low-income families to buy groceries, but it doesn't pay for hot prepared foods. The exclusion, which dates back decades, was meant to promote home cooking. But critics say it's outdated and penalizes families that are already struggling to make ends meet, excluding convenient and nutritious options.

SNAP is a major piece of the U.S. social safety net used by nearly 42 million, or about 1 in 8, Americans to help buy groceries. On average, the monthly benefit per household is about $350, and the average benefit per person is about $190.

It's so short-sighted to exclude hot prepared foods from SNAP. So many people don't have time and consistent access to kitchens where they can cook every meal. I hope this passes.

"No loss-leader Costco chicken for you! Full-priced laborious goods only!"

It's not just hot/ prepared foods. Had a relative who worked in a grocery store and there is like a whole list of what you're allowed and not allowed to buy. Maybe people who know more can fill in the details, all I remember is that you had to buy 2% milk or skim; no whole milk for poor kids. ridiculous.

Why not just give them money they can use for drugs instead?

It varies state by state.

Bit of a leap there lol

This, but unironically

That's what Medicaid is for.

Ooh, good idea! Then they could sell the drugs for rotisserie chickens

Here in CA the only restrictions are hot food and alcohol (and hot food is restricted only if you aren’t homeless), but in my birth state my sister had to only buy specific brands of certain allowed foods. It’s nuts.

I buy a Costco chicken then make (healthy) soup with the bones.

The value for price on that thing is incredible.

WIC is specifically for women and children. It is federally funded, but it is administered by the states.

You're thinking of WIC, not SNAP. It's only for pregnant women and kids under a certain age to make sure they have the bare minimum of nutritional needs met. And yeah, it comes with a ton of rules and limits. They've slightly modernized it, but you used to have to use checks that had the items listed and you had to buy it all at once or miss out for the month. There's a booklet that lists the item, with brands and sizes, that can be used. No substitutions or exceptions. And if something is miscoded, oh well.
The items are 2% milk or soy milk, peanut butter, whole wheat bread/tortillas, canned fish, low sugar cereal, fruit juice and like $10 worth of fresh fruits and veggies.
It can be life saving, but I remember the entire program being really demeaning and too difficult to utilize.

Community is so important, thank you for being a good neighbor

This is literally what every prosperous society already does.

Car Centric urban planning is bad because poor people simply do not have a transportation options. The system literally does not work correctly

Chicken, microwave steamable frozen mixed veggies and some starchy thing that can even be left over bread if you don't mind

The mixed peas, carrots, green beans and lima bean one is not perfect but it's cheap and effective

This is going to sound gross, but you can make a gravy out of the liquid at the bottom of the rotisserie chicken bag and a 1/4cuo of flour.

Not as good as the drippings from cooking a raw chicken, which is why I throw it in my soup pot, but still acceptable.

Also Costco sells frozen Demi-baguettes, you can heat them in 8 minutes plus oven preheat time. They taste great. I throw a ramekin with water in the oven with them so they slightly steam and get crunchy crusts.