Tulsa Daily Briefing: SNAP Changes, Youth Cooking Camp, Circus Countdown

SNAP rules tighten as local programs work to keep food affordable

New state restrictions on using SNAP benefits for sugary snacks and sodas are now in effect across Oklahoma, and many Tulsa shoppers are feeling the shift at checkout. The Oklahoma SNAP Healthy Foods Waiver, which began February 15, limits certain sweets and sugary drinks in an effort to encourage healthier choices while still maintaining food access.

In north Tulsa, a new Add Milk program at Oasis Fresh Market is trying to soften the impact for families. The initiative matches every SNAP dollar spent on eligible milk, effectively doubling what shoppers can then use on other qualifying groceries. Store leaders say the goal is to make healthier staples more affordable at a time when budgets are already stretched.

Together, the policy change and the milk-matching program are reshaping how many Tulsa households shop for basics each week.

Student chefs highlight culture and fresh ingredients at local camp

A group of Tulsa students is spending part of their break in a professional kitchen, turning family recipes and garden-grown produce into polished dishes. The Global Gardens cooking camp, held at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, invites young cooks to build menus inspired by their cultures and home gardens.

Guided by chefs and educators, students learn kitchen skills, food safety, and nutrition while reimagining traditional dishes with fresh, locally grown ingredients. Organizers say the camp is about more than recipes; it is a way to connect kids to their heritage, build confidence, and show how healthy meals can start with what they grow themselves.

The meals created in the camp also highlight the Food Bank’s broader push to incorporate more fresh items into community food programs.

Circus season nears at Expo Square

The countdown is on for one of Tulsa’s longest-running family traditions. The Akdar Shrine Circus is set to return to Expo Square later this month, bringing its mix of acrobatics, aerial acts, clowns, and midway-style fun back under the pavilion roof.

Organizers say this year’s circus will again feature multiple days of performances and a range of ticket options, with Shriners selling advance tickets at locations around the metro. The event serves as a major annual fundraiser for local charitable work while drawing families from across Green Country.

With the circus opening just days from now, Expo Square is preparing for an influx of visitors, from lifelong fans to first-time attendees discovering the show.

Sources

https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/oklahoma-restricts-sugary-snacks-and-drinks-from-snap-purchases
https://krmg.com/2026/02/16/new-add-milk-initiative-stretches-snap-dollars-for-families-in-tulsa/
https://www.newson6.com/story/67b1b0c3e4b0a60001b2c9c1/tulsa-students-turn-family-traditions-into-fresh-dishes-at-global-gardens-cooking-camp
https://akdarshrine.org/shrine-circus/