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Washington State WIC Nutrition Program

Washington State WIC Nutrition Program

For persons with disabilities, this document is available on request in other formats.

To submit a request, please call 1-800-841-1410 (TDD/TTY 1-800-833-6388)

Core WIC Training

WIC Foods

and Shopping with WIC Checks

Questions? Contact us:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-800-841-1410 (Ask for the Communications and Training Team)

Visit our website: www.doh.wa.gov/wicstaff

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Washington State WIC Nutrition Program does not discriminate.

For persons with disabilities, this document is available on request in other formats.

To submit a request, please call 1-800-525-0127 (TDD/TTY call 711

DOH 960-328 June 2018

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.doh.wa.gov/wicstaff

WIC Foods

WIC Foods & Shopping with WIC checks

Training Objectives

Discover why WIC provides food to participants

Examine WIC food packages and the nutrients provided

Examine policies and procedures about WIC foods and check education

Explore tools to support participants in getting the right foods in the clinic and at

the store

Build confidence providing WIC foods education

For further reading:

WIC Policy and Procedure Manual, Volume 1, Chapter 23 - WIC Foods

WIC Policy and Procedure Manual, Volume 1, Chapter 22 - WIC Checks

WIC Policy and Procedure Manual, Volume 1, Chapter 13 – Basic Contact

WIC Shopping Guide, Effective October 2017

The 10 Things You’ll Want to Know Before Shopping for WIC Foods

Revised – June 2018

Washington State Core WIC Notebook 1

https://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/Pubs/960-105-Volume1Chapter23.pdf



https://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/Pubs/960-278-ShoppingGuide.pdf

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/961-1100-10ThingsClientPresentation.pdf

WIC Foods

A note from a WIC mom:

In WIC, I learned that 1%, 2% and fat free milk have the same nutrients as whole milk, and less fat.

The cheese, rich in calcium, helped me to prepare delicious quesadillas and pastas for my

daughter. The whole wheat bread and the peanut butter were a good energy source to start my

daughters’ busy day. She was able to eat and enjoy tasty, low sugar cereals any time during the

day. We enjoyed peeling the eggs together for her breakfast, a good protein source. The grains, full

of fiber, were an important nutrition source for her while she was growing so quickly. The checks for

fresh fruits and vegetables helped me buy her favorites. She loved the bananas, oranges, peaches,

zucchinis, tomatoes, and more!

My daughter turned 5 years old in September, so she is no longer eligible to receive WIC help, but

I’m eternally thankful for the help WIC has provided our family. I hope the WIC program continues to

spread happiness to families, especially kids who deserve dignity and a healthy life to develop and

achieve their goals, to be independent citizens and contribute to society.

With WIC support, everything is possible!


WIC Foods

Why does WIC provide food to participants?

During the 1960’s, a group of physicians presented information to the USDA and Department of Health, Education and Welfare. They reported that many young women, often pregnant, came to their offices with ailments caused by a lack of food. These women didn’t need prescriptions for medicine; they needed prescriptions for food.

A National Nutrition Survey in 1967 revealed that many lower income children suffered from anemia and inadequate growth. These conditions can adversely affect brain size and cognitive ability. The study showed that children got off to a poor start both physically and mentally because they didn't have enough to eat or they didn't eat the right foods. Some children also suffered because their mothers didn’t get adequate nutrition during their pregnancies.

In 1972, Congress piloted WIC as a supplemental food program aimed at improving the health of pregnant mothers, infants and children in response to growing concern over malnutrition among many poverty-stricken mothers and young children. By 1975, Congress passed legislation establishing WIC as a permanent program.

Today:

WIC provides a monthly prescription of nutritious foods to supplement the dietary needs of participants.

WIC foods provide good sources of nutrients important for growth and development that are often missing from the diets of women and young children.

What’s so special about the WIC Food Package? The Washington State WIC Nutrition program offers a variety of foods in an effort to meet the individual nutritional needs of participants. All foods selected for the “WIC Approved Food List” meet current federal regulations governing the WIC food packages.

For participants two years of age and older, the approved foods align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and encourage consumption of:

Fruits, vegetables and whole grains

Foods lower in saturated and trans-fats, cholesterol, and total fat content

Foods with no added sugars or limited amount of sugar, like in WIC breakfast cereal

Foods with no added salt or reduced sodium

Foods higher in fiber

WIC offers a wide variety of healthy foods that include foods from each food

group, some options have fewer or reduced calories, and insignificant amounts of

trans fats.


WIC Foods

Basic Contact Requirements – WIC Foods and Checks

Competent Professional Authorities (CPA’s) are required to have a conversation with each client or caregiver about the relationship between the nutrients in WIC foods and a healthy diet. CPA’s must also let the client or caregiver know that WIC foods are for the client, and don’t provide all nutritional needs of the client, since WIC is a supplemental food program. Nutrition information about each WIC food is included in the Appendix.

How WIC foods meet the needs of moms, babies, and children

Using the Shopping Guide and this table to look at each of the foods individually. Note on the table below the details that stand out to you:

Food Things I’d like to share with my participants

Milk/Yogurt/Goat Milk

Whole Grain Choices

Cereal

Beans

Peanut Butter

Eggs

Juice

Cheese

Whole Grains

Canned Fish

Soy Beverage & Tofu

Foods for Babies

Fruits and Vegetables


WIC Foods

Foods in WIC’s Standard Food Packages

Food Packages Available In Each Client Category

Pregnant Child Postpartum Breastfeeding

Pregnant Child 1 year Postpartum Fully BF Pregnant with Multiples Child 2 to 5 years Fully BF Multiples

Pregnant

Fully BF Fully BF 6 to 12 months Pregnant with Multiples Partially BF

Fully BF Bonus* Partially BF 6 to 12 months Partially BF Multiples

Fully BF Multiples Some BF 6 to 12 months

Some BF 1 thru 6 months

Partially BF Formula 6 to 12 months Some BF 7 to 12 months

Partially BF Multiples

Pregnant

Pregnant with Multiples

When do staff issue the BF Bonus? * The Pregnant food package plus the Fully BF Bonus food package equals the Fully BF food

package. PG + BF Bonus = Fully BF. The CPA issues the “Fully BF Bonus” food package to a mom who:

Received a “Pregnant” food package earlier in the month Delivers

Comes back to enroll (EN) her new born fully breastfeeding infant

Substitutions WIC is able to offer a few substitutions to help better meet the needs of our participants, when needed. These include:

Kosher cheese

Soy Beverage

Goat milk

Yogurt

Tofu

Dry milk

Evaporated milk Lactose-Free milk*

*Competent Professional Authorities (CPA’s) must talk about the option of lactose-free milk (when appropriate) as part of the food package and nutrition

assessment conversation. The CPA can issue checks that specify “lactose free milk” to all clients who say they need or want to buy it.


WIC Foods

Infant Food Packages

Fully Breastfed Partially Breastfed Some Breastfed Formula fed

Fully BF 0 thru 5 months Some BF 0 to 1 month** Formula 0 thru 3 months

Partially BF 1 thru 3 months Some BF 1 thru 3 months Partially BF 4 thru 5 months Some BF 4 thru 5 months Formula 4 thru 5 months

Fully BF 6 to 12 months Partially BF 6 to 12 months Some BF 6 to 12 months Formula 6 to 12 months

Child 1 Year

When do staff issue the Some BF 0 to 1 month?

** Staff may issue the “Some BF 0 to 1 month” infant food package only when mom: Received a Fully BF food package

Used some of the checks from a Fully BF food package

Returned to clinic to request formula in the first month

Goes through a breastfeeding review to determine the need for formula

The Some BF 0 to 1 month food package contains one can of powder formula.

The following table shows the standard and maximum number cans for infants receiving

Similac Advance & Gerber Good Start Soy

Age of infant Partially

Breastfed infants

Some

Breastfed infants

Fully

Formula fed infants

0 to 1 month 0 1 9

1 through 3 months 1 - 4 5 - 9 9

4 through 5 months 1 - 5 6 - 10 10

6 to 12 months 1 - 4 5 - 7 7

The number of cans of formula in the standard food packages:

Displays in a bolded format in the above table.

Changes in the month the infant turns 4 months old or 6 months old.

o For example Mom comes in for checks on May 4th. Her baby turns 4 months old on

May 31st. She receives 10 cans of formula.

Breastfeeding provides benefits for the mom and baby. The WIC food package encourages breastfeeding and specifically full breastfeeding. As you’ve discovered the food packages are based on the amount of breastfeeding instead of the amount of formula. The more a mom breastfeeds the more foods she receives.


WIC Foods

Check Education

The policy: Staff must ensure clients, caregivers, and alternates have the information they need to use WIC checks at the grocery store.

Policies require staff to:

Explain how to use WIC checks as part of the client’s initial certification Ask the client or caregiver at the following appointment and recertification

appointment for any questions they have about using WIC checks or about problems experienced at the store, so that staff can answer questions or report complaints

Why is check education important? WIC shoppers and authorized WIC retailers are required to follow many WIC shopping rules.

We want to:

Help WIC participants have successful shopping experiences, feeling confident in knowing how to select WIC approved foods and use WIC checks correctly. Your excellent check education not only helps WIC participants have nutritious foods on their tables and stay on WIC, but also helps WIC shoppers uphold the rules, so they don’t have to repay the program.

Maintain our valuable partnerships with WIC retailers. Because we have authorized WIC retailers, WIC participants have access to the nutritious foods they need to be healthy at critical times in their lives.

o WIC purchases also bring money to communities. o Studies show WIC participants spend an additional $3 to $4 of their own money at

the store for every WIC dollar spent.

Minimize the amount of complaints WIC staff need to address.

Did you know…?

1. WIC retailers are required to have a “minimum inventory level”.

Many people are surprised to learn that WIC retailers don’t have to carry all of the WIC approved foods. View and print a copy of WA WIC’s Minimum Inventory Requirements here.

It’s helpful to share this information with shoppers, and suggest that they speak with the store’s customer service staff to see if the store has the food or is willing to order it for them.

2. Some retailers have chosen to have stricter rules for their staff who handle WIC transactions, than their WIC contract requires. If their checkers make three mistakes, they lose their job.


https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/960-138-MinimumInventoryRequirements.pdf

WIC Foods

How participants can make a complaint: If participants experience a problem at the store or clinic, they can make a complaint. The state WIC office staff use this information to learn about training needs or to follow up on the complaint. Participants can make a complaint by visiting the DOH WIC website www.doh.wa.gov/wic and choose the “Make a complaint” or “Contact us” page. They can email staff about specific complaints or questions, or complete a complaint form.

Parts of the WIC check When you provide check education, you’ll point out and discuss key areas of the WIC check.

Activity: Get to know the areas of a WIC check Find the sample set of WIC checks on the next page. Write the area number on the sample checks. For example: Write “1” near the “First day to use” areas of the checks.

Area # Check area

1 First day to use

2 Last day to use

3 Where the person can shop with the WIC check (“Pay to” area)

4 Foods the shopper can buy with WIC checks

5 Actual Purchase Price

6 Who can shop with the check

7 Where the shopper signs the check at the store

8 Where the person signs the checks when they receive them in the clinic

9 The name of the food package and number of checks

10 Date the checks staff issued the checks


http://www.doh.wa.gov/wic

WIC Foods

Selecting WIC Approved Foods When we provide check education, we don’t need to tell everyone everything about the foods, but we need to share key things to help them select WIC approved foods.

Based on a client survey: “Voice of the Customer survey” we learned:

Most WIC shoppers tend to buy the same foods after the first couple of times that they shop.

WIC shoppers use a combination of their WIC check, the WIC Shopping Guide, and the shelf tags to identify the foods they can buy.

The top 5 most difficult foods to choose correctly.

English-speaking participants Spanish-speaking participants

Whole Grain Choices Breakfast Cereal

Breakfast Cereal Cheese

Juice for Children Whole Grain Choices

Juice for Women Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Juice for Women

Activity: Help reduce confusion Look through the WIC Shopping Guide. Identify any information you think might be helpful to share with participants when offering check education.

Key information may include:

Foods that can be purchased as organic, e.g. dried beans

Foods that are specific to a client category, e.g. frozen vs. bottled juice

Foods specifically for an identified nutrition risk, e.g. iron fortified cereal when low iron has been identified as a risk

Foods that are a good source of whole grains, e.g. approved WIC breakfast cereals

Tips for spending the fruit and vegetable check, e.g. how to spend the entire dollar value

How to use coupons when shopping with WIC checks, e.g. when it’s allowed to use a coupon for getting extra ounces free, Buy-One Get-One free offers, cents off coupons


WIC Foods

The 10 Key Points Method of Check Education Policies allow staff to use the “10 Key Points Method” of check education when time is limited and staff can’t cover the full list of check education topics. The key points are listed in the WIC Shopping Guide under “Using WIC Checks” (page 2) and available inside the WIC ID and Appointment Folder.

Activity: Practice educating about the 10 key points Ask someone in your clinic to be your partner and take turns providing education using the 10 key points. Use tools you think might help support your conversation, like the WIC Shopping Guide and WIC Shopping Lists.

The following rules apply to WIC checks and WIC Fruit and Vegetable checks:

1. Use your checks on or between the first and last day to use.

2. Use a check only if your name is printed below the signature box.

3. Shop only at approved stores. Look for the “WIC Checks Accepted Here” signs.

4. Buy the amounts and types of foods listed on your checks.

5. Separate your WIC foods by check and from other items you are buying.

6. Let the checker know you are using WIC checks before you begin your purchase.

7. Sign the check only after the checker sees your ID and writes in the amount. These additional rules apply only to WIC Fruit and Vegetable checks:

8. Ask the cashier if you can use your WIC Fruit and Vegetable check together if more than one

person in your family gets WIC Fruit and Vegetable checks. Some stores can process checks this

way.

Example: You can combine a $8 WIC Fruit and Vegetable check with a $10 WIC Fruit and Vegetable check to pay for $18 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables.

9. If your purchase costs more than the amount on the WIC Fruit and Vegetable check, you are allowed to pay the extra amount.

Example: If the purchase costs $9, and you are using a $8 WIC Fruit and Vegetable check, you can pay the extra $1 to cover the cost.

10. If your purchase costs less than the amount on the WIC Fruit and Vegetable check, you’re not allowed to receive money back.

Remember… You’re required to make sure participants understand at minimum the 10 key points.


https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/961-1100-10ThingsClientPresentation.pdf

https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/WIC/WICFoods

WIC Foods

Complete Check Education WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Volume 1, Chapter 22 – WIC Checks lists all of the components staff are required to cover as part of check education.

Best practice is to customize check education based on the client’s needs and knowledge.

WICCHECKSAccepted Here

Did you know?...

WIC participants, caregivers, and alternates can use coupons or manufacturer’s specials with WIC checks.

Examples of manufacturer’s specials and coupons are:

“Free additional ounces” - If the food product minus the free ounces meets WIC guidelines, the client can purchase it with WIC checks. Free ounces don’t count toward the amount listed on the check.

“Buy one, get one free” - The free item doesn’t have to be WIC approved. The person can buy the WIC approved milk listed on the check and get another kind of milk of the same or a lesser price for free.

“Cents off” coupons - The checker deducts the “cents off” amount before entering the purchase price on the check. The “cents off” amount saves the WIC program money.

Non-WIC foods offered with the purchase of a WIC food - For example, a store will give the person a coupon for a free turkey when he or she spends a total of $100.00. WIC purchases count toward the $100.00 amount.


WIC Foods


WIC Foods

APPENDIX


WIC Foods

WIC Approved Food Quiz – Place a check mark in the “Yes” column if the item listed in the “Description” column is WIC approved. Use the Shopping Guide to check your answers. See ANSWERS on the next page.

Description Yes Comments Skim Supreme milk

Organic milk

Bran flakes, any brand

Mini Wheats- Little Bites

Organic, dried split peas

Peanut butter with Omega 3 fatty acids added

Brown chicken eggs

Jumbo white chicken eggs

Any brand of juice in any of the following container sizes:

11.5 oz frozen cans

12 oz frozen cans

46 oz cans

46 oz plastic bottles


Campbell’s V8 Hint of Lime

Reduced fat cheese

String cheese

Hard shelled corn tortillas

Oatmeal in cylinders when Whole Grain Choices are written on the check

Combining any brand of 8 oz oatmeal in bulk with a 24 oz loaf of any brand 100% Whole Wheat Bread when the check is printed for 32 oz of Whole Grain Choices

Any brand of soft corn tortillas

Any brand of soft whole wheat tortillas

Any brand of soy beverage

Red or pink salmon

Oil packed tuna

Baby food with added DHA

4 oz plastic containers of baby food

Baby cereal in 8 oz containers

Frozen carrots

Fresh sweet potatoes

Sardines in tomato sauce

Fresh white corn

Fresh kiwi fruit

Greek-style yogurt


WIC Foods

WIC Approved Food Quiz – ANSWERS Place a check mark in the “Yes” column if the item listed in the “Description” column is WIC approved. Note any questions in the “?” column. Use the Shopping Guide to check your answers.

Description Yes Shopping Guide Reference Page Skim Supreme milk Page 22 – Creamy Fat Free or Skim Supreme

Organic milk Page 23 – no organic milk

Bran flakes, any brand Page 8 – all cereals are brand specific

Mini Wheats- Little Bites Page 8

Organic, dried split peas Page 7 – organic or non-organic

Peanut butter with Omega 3 fatty acids added Page 26 – no omega 3

Brown chicken eggs Page 11 – white only

Jumbo white chicken eggs Page 11 – small, medium, large size

Any brand of juice in any of the following container sizes:

11.5 oz frozen cans

12 oz frozen cans

46 oz cans



Page 15 – 21 only brands and types listed

Campbell’s V8 Hint of Lime Page 15

Reduced fat cheese Page 10 – fat-free, low-fat, and reduced fat

String cheese Page 10 – no string cheese

Hard shelled corn tortillas Page 31 – soft tortillas only

Oatmeal in cylinders when Whole Grain Choices are written on the check

Page 30 – cardboard cylinders, bags or boxes

Combining any brand of 8 oz oatmeal in bulk with a 24 oz loaf of any brand 100% Whole Wheat Bread when the check is printed for 32 oz of Whole Grain Choices

Page 30 – can’t buy bulk oatmeal

See Shopping Tip on page 29 for information about combining whole grain choices.

Any brand of soft corn tortillas Page 31 – only listed brands

Any brand of soft whole wheat tortillas Page 31 – only listed brands

Any brand of soy beverage Page 27 – brand and type specific

Red or pink salmon Page 12 – Pink salmon only

Oil packed tuna Page 12 – Tuna packed in water only

Baby food with added DHA Page 4 – No prebiotics, probiotics, or DHA

4 oz plastic containers of baby food Page 4

Baby cereal in 8 oz containers Page 4 – 8 or 16 ounce

Frozen carrots Page 14

Fresh sweet potatoes Page 13

Sardines in tomato sauce Page 12 – Sardines in water

Fresh white corn Page 13

Fresh kiwi fruit Page 13

Greek-style yogurt Page 25 – low-fat or non-fat plain or vanilla


WIC Foods

Some Nutrients in WIC Approved Foods

WIC Food Nutrients *

*This isn’t an all-inclusive list of nutrients provided in WIC foods

Milk,

Yogurt,

Goat Milk

Protein, calcium, Vitamins A & D, folate, and riboflavin

Breakfast

Cereal

Iron and B Vitamins

Dried

Beans, Peas,

Lentils

Protein, folate, and fiber

Peanut

Butter

Protein, folate, and fiber

Eggs Protein and iron

Juice Vitamin C

Cheese Protein, calcium, and riboflavin

Whole

Grain

Choices

Dietary fiber, B vitamins, and iron

Fruits and

Vegetables

Vitamins A, C, E, K and B vitamins, and dietary fiber

Baby Cereal Iron

Baby Food

Fruits and

Vegetables

Vitamins A, C, E, K and B vitamins, and dietary fiber

Baby Food

Meats

Protein, zinc, and iron

Canned Fish Protein, iron, and Omega 3 fatty acids

Tofu Protein, iron, and calcium

Soy

Beverage

Calcium, protein, Vitamins A & D, and B vitamins


WIC Foods

Some information about foods in WIC standard food packages Client Services defaults to a standard food package for each client category. Here is information about the foods in standard food packages:

Milk The daily recommended amount of milk to meet calcium needs is 2 cups for children and 3 cups for women. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that milk intake should not be much higher than 3 cups per day for children once the intake of solids has been well established. Milk is a highly nutritious food, but when fed in excess, it can prevent children from learning to eat a variety of solid foods and may result in an inadequate diet. Milk is a particularly poor source of iron and vitamin C. Excess milk intake, coupled with an inadequate intake of solid foods, may lead to iron-deficiency anemia in young children. The WIC amount of 16 quarts per month for children provides a little more than 2 cups a day; enough to meet nutrient needs without supplying an excess amount which might spoil the appetite for other foods.

Why are lower fat milks not given to children under 2 years of age? Young children are growing rapidly and need the fat from whole milk to provide sufficient calories and essential fatty acids to help with growth and development. Fat is necessary for myelinization (development of the protective sheath) for nerves. If skim or lowfat milk is used during this period when the child is growing rapidly, it may result in a diet that is too low in needed fat. Since the calorie content of lower fat milk is significantly less than that of whole milk it takes more milk to feel full and satisfied. This may reinforce habits of overeating.

Why are only lower fat milks provided for women and children two years and older? By two years of age, a child’s growth has slowed, and the need for fat in the diet decreases. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies should get half of their calories from fat. By two years of age, the diet should be gradually modified until children are getting only about one third of their calories from fat. Lower fat milk contains just as much protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals as whole milk, but has significantly less fat and cholesterol. Lower levels of fat and cholesterol in the diet are associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and obesity. Choosing lower fat milk is a healthy lifelong eating habit that benefits the entire family.

Breakfast Cereal WIC provides breakfast cereals to supply iron and folic acid. In addition, breakfast cereals can be a good source of fiber. Federal regulations require that half of the State’s authorized cereals contain at least 51% whole grains and meet health claim labeling requirements as a “whole grain food with moderate fat content.” Breakfast cereals also provide a low-sugar source of nutrition; all allowed breakfast cereals must have no more than 6 grams of sugar per one ounce serving. WIC Approved breakfast cereals are all low in sugar and high in iron.


WIC Foods

Eggs, Peanut Butter, and Dried Beans, Peas and Lentils The protein provided in these foods is needed for growth and maintenance of body tissues. High quality protein is especially needed during the period of rapid growth in childhood and during pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum.

Juice Juices allowed on the WIC Program must:

Be 100% real (fruit or vegetable) juice.

Supply at least 30 mg vitamin C per 100 ml of juice – which is about 120% of the Daily Value of vitamin C per 8-oz serving.

In 2009, WIC reduced the amount of juice in the food package in order to reinforce another key nutrition message, “drink less juice and sweetened beverages.” Although eating whole fruits and vegetables instead of juice provides more vitamins, minerals and fiber, juice is still provided for women and children in order to supply an easily-consumable source of vitamin C.

Vitamin C helps:

Produce collagen, a connective tissue that gives structure by holding muscles, bones and other tissues together.

Form and repair red blood cells, bones and other tissues.

Keep capillary walls and blood vessels firm, and as such protects from bruising.

The body absorbs iron from plant foods.

Keep gums healthy.

Heal cuts and wounds.

Protect from infection by keeping the immune system healthy.

Cheese One pound of cheese contains about the same amount of calcium as three quarts of milk. Calcium is needed to build strong bones and teeth and to prevent osteoporosis (fragile, brittle bones). Cheese is a well-liked food.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables WIC provides fresh fruits and vegetables to help participants meet one of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, “choose a variety of fruits and vegetables every day.” Fruits and vegetables are low in calories and fat, and high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Different fruits and vegetables are rich in different nutrients, so choosing a variety of colors every day may reduce the risk for chronic illnesses such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or obesity.

Whole Grain Choices Whole grains are provided to supply fiber and B vitamins. Whole Grain Choices include: 100% Whole wheat bread, soft corn tortillas, soft whole wheat tortillas, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, bulgur, and oatmeal.


WIC Foods

Whole grains are complex carbohydrates that contain the entire grain kernel that has fiber and more vitamins and minerals than refined grain foods (such as white bread). Fiber helps maintain a healthy colon, and reduces the risk for a variety of illnesses, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and colorectal cancer. Foods considered good sources of fiber contain 2.5 to 4.9 grams fiber per serving. High fiber foods have 5 or more grams of fiber per serving.

Breastfeeding In order for mother and infant to receive the greatest health benefits from breastfeeding, breastfeeding should be exclusive and continue over time. The WIC program feels so strongly about breastfeeding that promoting and supporting breastfeeding is part of WIC’s Federal Regulations. Breast milk is the best or ideal food for young infants because:

Breast milk is nutritionally superior to any alternative milk supply for the infant. It has just the right amount of protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals. It is a complete food for the first 4-6 months of life and no other liquids or solids are needed. Breast milk is easy for the infant to digest.

Breast milk requires no buying, mixing, or preparation. It is not subject to incorrect mixing. It is clean and not easily contaminated.

Immunizing factors for protection from certain diseases are passed from mother to infant through breast milk.

Breastfeeding encourages close physical contact between mother and infant. It may help in developing an affectionate, trusting relationship between mother and child.

Canned Fish WIC offers canned fish to exclusively breastfeeding women to supplement their diet and as an incentive to continue excusive breastfeeding.

Cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, and tuna are good sources of protein, some vitamins and minerals, and a healthy type of fat called omega-3 fatty acids (ALA, DHA, & EPA). Among the many health benefits of these fats, they’re very beneficial for brain development, and are protective against heart disease.

Infant Foods The foods available for infants support the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on infant feeding and the introduction of solid foods. In particular the infant food packages:

Promote and support breastfeeding

Provide complementary foods at appropriate ages

Include fruits and vegetables and limit juice consumption

Tie formula amounts to feeding practice and age of infant.

At 6 months of age, babies receive infant cereal and baby food fruits and vegetables. Iron-fortified infant cereal is a good first food because it is well accepted, is not likely to cause an allergic reaction, and is a good source of iron.


WIC Foods

As an incentive to breastfeed, exclusively breastfed babies also receive baby food meats and twice as much baby food fruits and vegetables.

Why are complementary foods provided at 6-11 months of age? Around 6 months of age, babies go through developmental changes that prepare them to eat solid foods.

WIC provides baby food fruits and vegetables to ensure that all babies get enough fruits and vegetables. The amount provided for formula-fed infants is about one jar per day. As an incentive to breastfeed, exclusively breastfed infants receive about two jars of baby food fruits and vegetables per day. Offering fruits and vegetables around 6 months of age exposes babies to a variety of foods. These foods are nutrient dense, meaning they are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

WIC provides baby food meats to exclusive breastfeeding infants as an incentive to encourage continued breastfeeding. The meats provide iron and zinc needed by all babies.

Infant Formula WIC recognizes the fact that despite encouragement and support, not all moms choose to breastfeed. Sometimes special circumstances prevail such as illness, medical issues, baby in foster care, etc. that don’t allow for the infant to be breastfed or receive breastmilk. In those situations, WIC provides the best alternative, which is iron-fortified commercial infant formula.

The two main types of commercial infant formula are cow’s milk-based and soy-based.

Cow’s milk formulas are most often given to infants and are considered to be the standard or routine formulas. Cow’s milk is modified to make it easier to digest and nutritionally complete for the infant. Similac Advance is WA WIC’s standard cow’s milk based infant formula.

Soy formulas contain no cow’s milk and use soy beans as the base. Soy formulas may be fed to infants who have or are likely to develop an allergy or intolerance to cow’s milk formula. Less than 2500 infants statewide receive soy formula from WA WIC.

What is a contract formula? Federal regulations require state WIC programs to contract with infant formula companies for cost-saving purposes. WIC receives a cash refund for all the contract formula purchased via WIC checks. This rebate amount, which is used to enroll more children and women on WIC, supports the Washington WIC caseload. Federal regulations require formula-fed infants to use primary contract brand infant formulas except when a specific medical condition requires a different, therapeutic formula provided by WIC.

Visit http://www.doh.wa.gov/wicformula for a complete list of WIC Approved Formulas


http://www.doh.wa.gov/wicformula