Starting April 1, Texans using SNAP benefits will face new restrictions, barring purchases of sugary foods and drinks.
WACO, Texas — Starting April 1, Texans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will no longer be able to use those benefits to buy many sugary foods and drinks.
Senate Bill 379, signed into law in June, prohibits the purchase of most candy and sweetened beverages using SNAP benefits. Under the law, foods and drinks purchased with SNAP cannot contain more than 5 grams of added sugar per serving or include artificial sweeteners.
The law affects more than three million Texans who use SNAP benefits each month.
Supporters of the measure say it is aimed at improving health outcomes in a state where obesity rates continue to climb.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least one in four adults in every U.S. state and territory was obese in 2024. In Texas, more than 35% of adults were considered obese.
Waco nutritionist, wellness coach and owner of Freedom Nutrition Waco Caleb Klous said the changes may be difficult at first for families who rely on SNAP benefits, but he believes the long-term benefits could outweigh the inconvenience.
“People do need good nutrition, and a lot of the ways people learn about nutrition are missing,” Klous said. “It’s going to be something difficult for a lot of people to adjust to.”
Klous said he believes the law could encourage people to make healthier choices and ultimately improve their quality of life.
“I think in the long term, being able to guide people’s actions toward healthy options is going to help a lot of those people out,” Klous said. “They’re going to have more energy, they’re going to feel better, they’re going to be healthier and avoid sickness.”
Klous said high sugar intake remains a major issue in the United States and contributes to several chronic health problems.
“It’s greasy foods, it’s sugar, the cardiovascular disease and the high blood pressure problems and the high blood sugar problems,” Klous said. “It’s directly tied to food.”
For people looking for alternatives to candy bars and sodas, Klous recommends options such as fruit, yogurt sweetened with stevia and protein-rich snacks.
“You can sweeten yogurt and add fruit to it and get that dessert-type feel,” Klous said.
Klous said some people may worry healthy foods cost more, but he believes that gap has narrowed.
“Drive-throughs and other places that used to be low in price are now so high,” Klous said. “I think the gap between healthy food and unhealthy food has closed almost all the way.”
Klous said making healthier choices now can have a lasting impact later in life.
“The decisions you make in your 30s and 40s are ultimately the decisions that affect whether you want to play with your grandkids when you’re older or watch them play,” Klous said.
State leaders say the new restrictions are intended to encourage healthier eating habits among SNAP recipients as the law takes effect statewide.