Can you buy Costco sandwich platters with CalFresh EBT? Hosting family gathering

Instead of the costco platter, get the big bread rolls from the bakery section, some deli meat, cheese, and condiments with your EBT. My sister did this for her kid's graduation party and made a whole sandwich bar. People actually liked it better cause they could make their sandwich how they wanted it! And it's all covered by CalFresh since you're buying ingredients not prepared food.

no ebt is for groceries not prepared foods doesnt matter if its hot or cold

Dang, that's what I was worried about. Thanks for the quick answer though.

To clarify the rules a bit more specifically: CalFresh benefits can only be used for unprepared food items that you cook at home. The sandwich platters at Costco would definitely count as prepared food, even though they're cold. The general rule is that if it's ready-to-eat when you buy it, CalFresh won't cover it.\n\nSome budget-friendly alternatives that WOULD be covered by CalFresh:\n- Buy bread, deli meats, cheese, and condiments separately and make your own sandwiches\n- Get the rotisserie chicken but use it to make homemade chicken salad sandwiches\n- Purchase ingredients for finger foods like veggie platters with dip\n\nHope this helps with your family gathering planning!

Thank you for the detailed explanation and suggestions! I think I'll go with making my own sandwiches. Probably cheaper that way too, even if it's more work.

I tried to use my EBT for one of those sandwich trays last christmas and got rejected, the cashier said anything prepared by the store is a no-go even if its cold

Same thing happened to me but with their pre-made salads. So frustrating when you're trying to feed people on a budget and the rules are so confusing!!

The distinction isn't actually hot vs. cold - it's prepared vs. unprepared. According to USDA regulations that govern CalFresh/SNAP benefits, any food that is \

wait really?? so those pre-cut fruit trays aren't covered? i've been buying those with my ebt for months! maybe it depends on which costco you go to? or did i just get lucky??

It can depend on how the store categorizes and codes the items in their system. Some stores might incorrectly allow certain prepared items, but technically they shouldn't. If the fruit is simply cut but has no other preparation (like added sugar or dressing), some stores might categorize it differently than fully prepared foods. But the official USDA rule is that pre-cut fruit platters should not be EBT eligible.

this is so stupid tho.... like why cant we use our benefits for things that make life a little easier when ur already stressed about feeding ur family? not everyone has time to make everything from scratch when ur working multiple jobs

EXACTLY!!! The whole system is designed to make things harder for poor people 😡

I understand your frustration. The original intent of the program was to provide nutritious food for home preparation, but many have argued the rules need updating to reflect modern life and working families. Some states have pilot programs for hot food purchases in certain circumstances, but California isn't one of them yet. If you want to advocate for change, you can contact your local representatives or join advocacy groups like California Food Policy Advocates.

have u asked if they can maybe do a split payment? like pay for the sandwich platter separate with cash/credit and use ebt for the rest of ur groceries? i do this sometimes when i get stuff that isnt covered

That's a good idea! I could set aside some cash just for the platter and use my benefits for everything else. Thanks for the suggestion!

Instead of the costco platter, get the big bread rolls from the bakery section, some deli meat, cheese, and condiments with your EBT. My sister did this for her kid's graduation party and made a whole sandwich bar. My sister did this for her kid's graduation party and made a whole sandwich bar. People actually liked it better cause they could make their sandwich how they wanted it! And it's all covered by CalFresh since you're buying ingredients not prepared food.

this is actually a great idea! and probably cheaper too. we did something similar for my sons birthday

I love this idea! A sandwich bar would be perfect and probably more fun for everyone. Plus I can get exactly the types of meats and toppings my family likes. Thanks for sharing this suggestion!

Just wanted to add that if you're shopping at Costco specifically, their bakery section has those big sub rolls that are perfect for making your own sandwich platters! I got a pack of 8 large rolls for like $3 with my EBT last month. They also have those huge blocks of cheese and bulk deli meat that work out way cheaper per serving than the pre-made platters. You could probably feed the same number of people for half the cost and still have leftovers!

I've been in the same situation and learned this the hard way! The DIY sandwich bar idea is definitely the way to go. Pro tip: if you have a Sam's Club membership too, they often have better bulk pricing on the sandwich ingredients than Costco. Also, don't forget you can use your EBT for things like potato chips, cookies, and drinks to round out the spread. Makes it feel more like a real party spread without breaking the bank or running into EBT restrictions!

Another money-saving tip for your family gathering - check if your local Costco has a pizza or rotisserie chicken special that day! While you can't use EBT for hot prepared foods, you could grab those with cash and then use your benefits for all the sandwich ingredients everyone's suggesting. That way you have variety without breaking the budget. I did this combo for my daughter's birthday and it worked out great - people loved having options between sandwiches and hot food!

Just to add another perspective - I work at a grocery store and see EBT transactions daily. The prepared food rule is pretty strict across all stores, not just Costco. Even "cold" prepared items like sandwich platters, pre-made salads, or cut fruit with any kind of seasoning/dressing won't go through. But here's a hack I've seen work well: buy all your sandwich ingredients during a big shopping trip, then set up an assembly line at home the night before your gathering. Get family members to help and it becomes part of the fun! Plus you can customize everything and probably save 40-50% compared to buying prepared platters.

Hey everyone! New to this community but dealing with the same CalFresh questions. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - I had no idea about the prepared food restrictions being so strict. I'm in a similar situation planning my mom's 60th birthday party next month and was looking at those Costco platters too. The DIY sandwich bar idea sounds perfect and way more personal anyway. Quick question though - does anyone know if Costco's bakery section breads and rolls are always EBT eligible? I want to make sure before I plan my whole menu around it. Thanks for sharing all this knowledge, it's exactly what I needed to hear!

I've been through this exact same situation! Last year I tried to get a sandwich platter for my family reunion and learned the hard way that EBT won't cover it. But honestly, making your own turned out so much better and cheaper. I went to Costco and got their bulk sandwich rolls (like 12 for $4), a big pack of sliced turkey and ham, cheese slices, and all the fixings. Total cost was maybe $25-30 with EBT and fed 15 people easily, versus the $60+ the platter would have cost. Plus everyone could make their sandwiches exactly how they wanted them. The kids actually had fun helping assemble everything too! Just make sure to grab some paper plates and napkins while you're there - those are EBT eligible too and you'll need them for serving.

I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea the prepared food restrictions were so strict - I definitely would have made the same mistake of trying to buy a ready-made platter. The DIY sandwich bar idea that keeps coming up sounds amazing and so much more budget-friendly. I'm actually getting excited thinking about setting up a whole spread with all the fixings and letting everyone customize their own sandwiches. It sounds like way more food for way less money, plus it'll probably taste fresher too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating all these CalFresh rules that aren't always obvious!

This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm planning my nephew's graduation party and was literally about to make the same mistake with those Costco platters. The DIY sandwich bar idea is genius - not only is it EBT eligible, but it sounds like it'll be way more interactive and fun for the party. I love how everyone can build their own perfect sandwich. Quick question for those who've done this - do you set up all the ingredients buffet-style or do you pre-assemble some sandwiches and let people customize others? Also, does anyone know if those big bags of chips from Costco's snack aisle work well for parties? Trying to plan out my whole shopping list now that I know the rules better. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences!

As someone who's been on CalFresh for a while, I can confirm what others have said about the prepared food restrictions being really strict. I learned this lesson the hard way with a birthday cake from the grocery store bakery - even though it was just cake, it was considered "prepared" so my EBT was declined. The DIY sandwich bar idea that everyone's suggesting is honestly the best approach. I've done this for several family events and it always works out great. Here's what I typically get from Costco with my EBT benefits: - Those big sandwich rolls (usually 8-12 pack for under $5) - Bulk deli meat (turkey, ham, whatever's on sale) - Large blocks of cheese that you can slice yourself - Condiments, lettuce, tomatoes - Big bags of chips and drinks The total usually comes to way less than what a prepared platter would cost, and you get much more food. Plus people actually prefer it because they can make their sandwiches exactly how they like them. My kids always volunteer to help set it up, which makes it feel more like a family activity than just party prep. One tip: if you're worried about the work involved, you can do most of the prep the night before - slice the cheese, wash the veggies, set up the condiments. Then day-of is just putting everything out on the table!