Similar things have been suggested before as a replacement for SNAP but there are so many edge cases where the household receiving the food has some type of dietary restriction that it becomes difficult to administer. It's easier to give people money (in the form of food stamps) and let them decide for themselves what to buy that best fits their dietary needs. Seeing that soft drinks are the number one item purchased with SNAP benefits, we know many miss the mark but it's still a simpler system that allows more money to go to food instead of paper pushing.

you have just witnessed the fed govs priorities. they could have sent literature or items that would inform you and make things easier.