Florida SNAP now blocks candy, soda. Here are sweet, healthy alternatives

• Florida has started a 2-year pilot program restricting SNAP benefits from being used on candy, soda, energy drinks and prepared desserts.
• The new policy is part of a Make America Healthy Again movement, but it has faced a lawsuit from some recipients.
• SNAP recipients can still purchase sweet items like fruit, yogurt, ice cream, and baking supplies to make their own desserts.

As of April 20, Florida SNAP recipients may no longer use their benefits to buy candy, soda, energy drinks, or prepared desserts. The move is part of a two-year pilot program to encourage healthy eating.

Florida is one of 22 states that requested waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make changes to their food assistance programs, and its new policy is one of the most restrictive in the country. Most of the other states' waivers only ban soft drinks and candy.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins have endorsed the waivers as part of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

Some food stamp recipients in March sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the changes, saying they or family members rely on the restricted foods to manage health conditions such as diabetes and allergies, or to obtain energy boosts needed in their daily lives.

The lawsuit also says the restrictions increase the social stigma for SNAP recipients, cause confusion at checkout counters, and make life more miserable for people who are unable to afford treats without SNAP and have few other options. Critics said the restrictions also affect recipients who do not always have the time to prepare healthier food themselves, or unhoused people without the means to store perishable foods.

Here's what to know, and what you can still buy.

What foods will Florida SNAP no longer cover?

According to Healthy SNAP Florida and the USDA, Florida's SNAP EBT has stopped covering:

• Soda: Any beverage made with carbonated water that is flavored or sweetened with added sugar or artificial sweeteners
• Energy drinks: A beverage containing at least 65 milligrams of caffeine per 9 fluid ounces that is advertised as being energy-boosting
• Candy: Any product that involves the preparation of sugar or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, caramels, gummies, and hard candies or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces
• Ultra-processed prepared desserts: A processed, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, pre-packaged sweet food intended for immediate consumption without any further preparation

Eating more healthy, unprocessed foods is a good idea, and you should avoid anything with added sugar as much as you can. However, that doesn't mean you can't still have sweet treats on a limited budget.

Here are some healthy suggestions to satisfy your sweet tooth that you can still pay for with your EBT card.

Fruits and fruit juices make an excellent sweet snack

Fruit contains sugar, sometimes a lot of it, but it doesn't have the same effect on your body as the added sugars in processed foods, according to Medical News Today. The sugars that naturally occur in fruit are inside fiber cells that the body must first break down, as opposed to the added sugars in processed foods that the body rapidly absorbs.

Fruit also provides additional benefits, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and increased fiber intake.

Oranges, strawberries, mangoes, grapes, dates, cherries, pears, watermelon, bananas, cantaloupe, blueberries, and other seasonal treats can sweeten up your foods as replacement ingredients in recipes, blended in smoothies, or as stand-alone, easy-to-grab snacks. You can slice them up, add seasoning, and bake them for extra crunch.

Frozen grapes or blueberries are a great choice for Florida's sweltering summers, and a sliced apple with cinnamon or peanut butter makes a quick and easy afternoon snack.

You also can buy fruit juices, or fruit jellies and jams.

Yogurt a fast source of sweetness

Yogurt is covered as a dairy item and many of them come with fruit or sweet flavorings.

You can also buy plain Greek yogurt and add your own fruit and granola, or even chocolate or chocolate-alternative carob chips from the baking supplies aisle.

Can I still buy ice cream with EBT in Florida?

Yes. Ice cream and frozen yogurt from the grocery store freezer aisle are classified as dairy products and should still be eligible under SNAP.

You should also be able to buy custard, whipped cream, sherbet, sorbet, gelato, granita, Italian ices, frozen carbonated beverages, snow cones, and ice pops.

You can make your own desserts

Pantry staples are still covered by SNAP, which means that if you have the time and the means (not everyone does), you can make your own snacks and desserts.

Flour, baking soda, sugar, eggs, and other items are included, as are cake mixes, icing, and chocolate or butterscotch chips. Ready-to-bake cookies from the dairy area should also be covered. But don't buy baking chocolate hoping it's a way to get SNAP to pay for a candy bar; many are unsweetened and have a bitter or chalky taste.

For quick treats, you can add honey or cinnamon to sweeten up your snacks.

Treating hypoglycemia under SNAP restrictions

People with diabetes must monitor and maintain their blood sugar levels. One danger is low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, which can cause a variety of symptoms such as blurred vision, cold sweats, confusion, difficulty concentrating, nausea, and anxiety, among others. Untreated hypoglycemia can lead to seizures or unconsciousness and can be life-threatening.

Many people suffering from temporary low blood sugar may regulate themselves with a quick can of cola or a few bites of a candy bar, neither of which is covered by EBT in Florida now.

Instead, you can drink fruit juice or sweet tea, or eat some honey or a few spoonfuls of sugar to get your blood sugar back up to safe levels. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating a healthy snack or meal once you're back in the standard blood sugar range to help prevent another drop.

Check your grocery store for specifics

Note that individual retailers may interpret Florida's new policies differently, and items you can buy with EBT at one place may not be available at others.

C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.