WIC will offer more options to address personal and cultural food preferences

A federal program that provides groceries for low-income mothers, babies and young children is being adjusted to put more emphasis on fruits, vegetables, seafood and whole grains.

The Women, Infants and Children program (WIC), a special supplemental nutrition initiative which benefits over 46,000 Utahns, made an update offering more choices to achieve key nutritional needs, while providing more flexibility to address personal and cultural food preferences and other special dietary needs, according to a news release from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

The new package includes $26 per month for fruits and vegetables for kids from 1 to 4 years old, as well as a monthly benefit of $47 for pregnant and postpartum women, and $52 for breastfeeding women.

The makeover also expands access to whole grains, adds seafood options for children, and reduces or removes monthly allowances for juice.

“The changes mean Utah WIC will have more flexibility to make sure food packages meet the needs of personal and cultural food preferences,” Chris Furner, Utah WIC director, said in the release. “These changes give current and future participants the opportunity to eat healthier and make positive, life-long impacts on health and well-being.” 

State agencies have two years to implement the changes. In that timeframe, Furner said, the entities will work with key partners to determine how to best tailor the new food packages.

Currently, the WIC program’s food options includes fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, whole grains, cereal, eggs, legumes, peanut butter, infant foods and infant formula.