Indiana Launches Smart SNAP to Support Healthier Food Choices

(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana is taking a major step to improve public health by changing what SNAP benefits can buy. Beginning January first, 2026, SNAP recipients in Indiana will no longer be able to use their benefits to purchase sugary drinks or candy. The new policy is part of Governor Mike Braun's Make Indiana Healthy Again initiative and a program called Smart SNAP, launched by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. State leaders say the goal is simple: encourage healthier food choices and tackle rising obesity rates. The numbers are sobering. Nearly two-thirds of adult Hoosiers are overweight or obese, and many don't eat fruits or vegetables daily. Those trends extend to children and teens, prompting the state to act. Governor Braun says this approach targets the root causes of poor health, not a one-size-fits-all solution. Indiana secured a federal waiver from the USDA to make the change--becoming one of the first states to do so. Since then, more than ten others have followed. Under Smart SNAP, sugary soft drinks and candy are restricted, while items like milk and 100-percent fruit juice remain eligible. Retailers statewide are now updating checkout systems, training staff, and preparing for the transition. State officials say Smart SNAP isn't about punishment--it's about prevention, and building a healthier future for Indiana families. You can read more about the Smart SNAP program here.