The scoop
Healthy Start helps families who are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 buy healthy food. Eligible families get a Healthy Start card with money added every 4 weeks, to spend on milk, fruit, vegetables, pulses and infant formula in many UK shops.
The card also lets you collect free Healthy Start vitamins for pregnancy and breastfeeding, and vitamin drops for children from birth to 4. In Scotland, the equivalent scheme is Best Start Foods.
How to claim it
- 1
Check eligibility and apply on the NHS Healthy Start website.
- 2
Once approved, you'll get a Healthy Start card in the post.
- 3
Use it in shops that accept Mastercard to buy eligible food, and to collect free vitamins.
Who qualifies
- More than 10 weeks pregnant or a child under 4
- Usually need to get certain benefits (everyone under 18 and pregnant qualifies)