![\"Seniors](\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789376112_813_.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nSince April 20, roughly 3 million Floridians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have faced a new reality at grocery store checkout lines: they can no longer use benefits to purchase certain food items the state deemed unhealthy, including sodas, energy drinks, candy and ultra-processed foods.<\/p>\n
The move is part of a two-year pilot program aimed at encouraging healthier eating. Florida\u2019s Department of Children and Families (DCF) said the goal is to \u201cbetter align SNAP with its intended purpose: providing low-income households access to a more nutritious diet to help alleviate hunger and combat malnutrition.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the decision has sparked concerns among recipients, including parents, health professionals and food banks. Dr. Michelle Kirwan, a pediatrician and former chief medical officer of the Center for Family & Child Enrichment in Miami Gardens, said the policy may fall short without a stronger support system.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the goal is important. Pediatricians agree that sugary drinks are harmful and diet-related disease is a major issue for children,\u201d Kirwan said. \u201cIf you\u2019re not addressing access, affordability and education, restrictions alone are unlikely to significantly improve health outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s on the restricted list?<\/p>\n
The new restrictions target beverages sweetened with added sugars or artificial sweeteners, such as Coca-Cola and energy drinks like Red Bull or AriZona Energy. Candy bars, gummies and shelf-stable prepared desserts, such as Twinkies or Swiss Rolls, are also banned.<\/p>\n
SNAP recipients can still purchase sparkling water, sports drinks like Gatorade, coffee, tea and drinks containing more than 50% juice or less than 5 grams of added sugar per serving. Granola bars, Pop-Tarts and fresh bakery items also remain eligible.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy excluding soda, energy drinks, candy and ultra-processed shelf-stable prepared desserts, the state is taking a proactive step to ensure SNAP benefits are used for more nourishing foods,\u201d the DCF said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Amelia Orjuela Da Silva<\/p>\n
\/<\/p>\n
The Miami Times<\/p>\n
Seniors and mothers picking up fresh produce at the Village (FREE)DGE & Pantry.<\/p>\n
Florida is one of 22 states that requested waivers from the U.S. Department of Agricultureto modify SNAP rules, though its policy is among the nation\u2019s strictest; most states only proposed restrictions on soft drinks and candy.<\/p>\n
The move aligns with the federal \u201cMake America Healthy Again\u201d initiative. The DCF notes that the restrictions will not reduce the amount of benefits recipients receive.<\/p>\n
Parents navigating changes<\/p>\n
For Natasha St. Cyr, a mother raising an autistic son, SNAP benefits are essential while she struggles with unemployment and rising living costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI rely heavily on SNAP for food,\u201d St. Cyr said. \u201cIt\u2019s already hard to manage the amount that we\u2019re given. I have to ration out what I can afford for the entire month.\u201d<\/p>\n
Currently receiving about $500 monthly, she says the budget barely covers basic groceries. St. Cyr said she plans every trip around sales and buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deals \u2014 many of which now feature restricted items.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just recently went to the grocery store, and it gave me anxiety,\u201d she said. \u201cI have to go to the store now without my child to avoid a breakdown tantrum if he wants something that is not on the SNAP-approved benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n
While St. Cyr considers herself health-conscious, she believes families should be able to afford occasional treats.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t drink soda in my house all the time anyway,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it\u2019s like every once in a while, we may have like a Friday pizza night, and he likes to have a Sprite.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Natasha](\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789376112_528_.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Amelia Orjuela Da Silva<\/p>\n
\/<\/p>\n
The Miami Times<\/p>\n
Natasha St. Cyr choosing BOGO produce to save money.<\/p>\n
With summer approaching and school-provided meals ending, St. Cyr worries about the compounding pressure of food insecurity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen school is out, he has breakfast and lunch at school no more,\u201d she said. \u201cSo with the cuts that we received, it\u2019s going to be very strict budgeting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Living near Liberty City, St. Cyr notes that healthier options are limited and often expensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to go to another part of town to get healthier options, and those healthy options are very expensive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She says community organizations have become critical support systems. She credited The Resource Room with helping to stabilize her family during one of the most difficult periods of her life.<\/p>\n
St. Cyr believes the state’s focus is misplaced.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you wanted to make the U.S healthy, how about going to the companies that are making the food?\u201d she asked. \u201cNot only are you taking away things from people, but you\u2019re creating more anxiety. That is not making America healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not every parent opposes the changes.<\/p>\n
Raquel Hall, a mother of four living in Overtown, said the restrictions haven’t significantly impacted her household because her family already follows a mostly plant-based diet. Hall prepares most meals herself and focuses on natural, often organic foods.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything that I give to my kids is natural, sometimes organic, even though it costs a little bit more, but I know that in the long run, it helps them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
While she acknowledges the changes may affect other recipients, Hall encourages them to look for healthier options.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as like a regular parent, it’s 2026, we all have healthier options. So I don’t feel like it should affect them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She suggests that parents join Amber\u2019s Room, an after-school enrichment program in the Villages of Liberty City that provides academic support and wellness programming, noting that 100% of the students receive free lunch.<\/p>\n
Pediatricians\u2019 perspectives<\/p>\n
Kirwan said sugary drinks, candy and ultra-processed foods are linked to health concerns, but said restrictions alone will not solve those issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildhood obesity has definitely increased over time. Type 2 diabetes in children has definitely increased,\u201d she said. \u201cSo decreasing these types of foods is a good goal, but it has to be balanced with support.\u201d<\/p>\n
She warns that removing familiar foods without affordable alternatives creates new stressors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you take away those foods that they\u2019re used to eating, you may get food refusals from children, which can affect growth and nutrition overall,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Convenience also dictates shopping habits for overwhelmed parents working multiple jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cFast food is convenient. Shelf-ready processed food is convenient,\u201d Kirwan said. \u201cWhen you remove that convenience, just having healthier foods is not alone the solution. They have to be able to prepare it. That’s when the education comes in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kirwan also highlighted the reality of food deserts. In neighborhoods where the only accessible options are corner stores or dollar stores, transportation becomes a major barrier to accessing fresh produce.<\/p>\n
She argues for a broader strategy, including expanded summer meal programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we truly want to improve children\u2019s health, we have to make the healthy choice easy and accessible and not just the only allowed choice,\u201d Kirwan said.<\/p>\n
Filling the gap<\/p>\n
SNAP changes could push more families toward food banks as healthier grocery options remain more expensive.<\/p>\n
At the Village (FREE)DGE & Pantry in Liberty City, staff are already seeing the fallout. CEO and founder Sherina Jones reports an increase in visitors searching for restricted and unrestricted items.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re here for things for the children because of the changes in SNAP, to get different things like snacks and stuff for the children,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789376113_874_.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Amelia Orjuela Da Silva<\/p>\n
\/<\/p>\n
The Miami Times<\/p>\n
A Village (FREE)DGE & Pantry volunteer during a major grocery distribution.<\/p>\n
The pantry operates six days a week and serves roughly 150 people daily, a number that climbs to around 250 during major grocery distribution days. The pantry relies heavily on partnerships with food rescue organizations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do have relationships with Cisco, with Food Rescue South Florida, that rescue groceries from grocery stores,\u201d Jones said. \u201cIn those things, there are sweets like cakes and snacks and things that they would like to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, she worries the restrictions could unintentionally push more families deeper into food insecurity.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot knowing what they can and cannot buy with SNAP now, they will come here because there\u2019s no restriction on what they can get,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n
James Mungin II, the pantry\u2019s operations manager, noted that the combination of inflation and benefit restrictions creates a perfect storm for low-income residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cGroceries keep going up and then y\u2019all cut SNAP on top of that,\u201d Mungin said. \u201cSo people are going to start thinking, \u2018Well, they got juice over there at the pantry, they got snacks over there, maybe I can save some money.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Mungin admitted the restrictions in place added pressure on food banks to increase capacity, but insisted they are ready to meet the challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen SNAP got cut last year, we went to two distributions a day,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were able to go to the people who support us already and say, \u2018More people need food. This is what we need,\u2019 and they came through.\u201d<\/p>\n
This story was produced by The Miami Times, one of the oldest lack-owned newspapers in the country, as part of a content sharing partnership with the WLRN newsroom. Read more at miamitimesonline.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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