NHS Healthy Start

The NHS Healthy Start scheme helps families on low incomes to buy healthy food and milk.

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or you have children under four and receive certain benefits, you could be eligible for NHS Healthy Start.

Once on the scheme, you’ll receive a prepaid card, which you can use to buy fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk and infant formula.

The card will be topped up with payments every four weeks and you can use it in most places that sell healthy food and accept Mastercard® payments.

You can also get free Healthy Start vitamins.

Non-urgent advice: More information

Find out if you’re eligible for NHS Healthy Start and apply online now at www.healthystart.nhs.uk

NHS Healthy Start
Page last reviewed: 15 September 2026
Page created: 15 September 2026