wic approved food list

1. Illinois Department of Human Services
Authorized WIC
Food List
Illinois
updated on December 16, 2014
Effective February 1, 2014

2. wic approved food list
Illinois WIC Program Effective February 1, 2014 Page 2
Whole Grains Group includes :
Whole Wheat Bread, Brown Rice, Corn Tortillas
and Oatmeal.
100% Whole Wheat Bread - 16 oz. Loaf
• Store Brand
• No other size or quantity
• Nature’s Own • Wonder • Bimbo
• Butternut • Bunny • Healthy
•Aunt Millie’s • Roman Meal • Sara Lee
•Weight Watchers • Village Hearth • Pepperidge
Farms
Plain Brown Rice - 16 oz.
Oatmeal- 16 oz.
•Old fashioned • Rolled Oats • Quick and Easy
•No flavors
• Bran Flakes • Shredded Wheat • Toasted Oats
•
Plain or Frosted
• Grapenuts • Grapenut Flakes • Kix (Plain or Honey)
• Corn Flakes • Life (Plain )
• Rice Crispies • Malt-O-Meal • Quaker Mini Spooners Oatmeal Squares
• Corn Chex • Rice Chex • Cheerios
(Gluten Free ) (Plain & Multi-Grain )
(Scooby Doo & Alpha-Bits)
• Bran Flakes • Cream of Wheat • Malt-O-Meal(Wheat ) (Whole Grain ) (Original )
(Original or Gluten Free ) (Flavored)
Cereal- Store Brands
Nutrition experts recommend we eat at least three servings of whole-grain foods daily.
Whole Grains are unrefined grains that haven’t had their
bran and germ removed by milling. Whole grains are better sources of fiber and other important nutrients, such as selenium, potassium and magnesium.
Cereal- National Brands
(Brown Sugar or Cinnamon )
WHOLE GRAINS
• Least Expensive Brand • Store Brand
• Traditional
(Dulce de Leche)

3. wic approved food list
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Health Experts advise everyone – men and women, young
and old – that grains are a healthy necessity in every diet,
and that it’s important to eat at least half our grains as
“Whole Grains.”
Soft Corn Tortillas- 16 oz.
• Chi Chi’s • Mission • Azteca
• Don Pancho • Carlita • Sante Fe
• La Burrita • Pepito • Don Marcos
• La Banderita • Guerrero • Store Brand
• Gerber Rice • Gerber Oatmeal • Beech Nut Barley
Infant Cereal
NOT ALLOWED
• Organic • Cereals with added formula, fruit, protein and DHA
Illinois WIC Program Effective February 1, 2014 Page 3
All types of Milk authorized in the WIC Program must
meet the FDA’S standard of identity for milk. It must also be pasteurized and contain 400 IU of vitamin D and 2000 IU of vitamin A per quart of low-fat or fat free milk.
Milk
LEAST EXPENSIVE BRAND of these milk types are allowed • Fat Free/ Skim • Light/ Lowfat/1 % • Silk (original)
• Whole (when listed on the voucher)
NOT ALLOWED
• Organic , flavored or chocolate milk
• Buttermilk or rice milk
• Raw (non-pasteurized) milk
• Goat milk
• Shelf Stable milk
Allowed only if printed on Food Instruments
• Half gallons • Lactose free • Quarts
• 8th Continent • 8th Continent • Instant nonfat Original Soy Vanilla Dry milk
Cheese - LEAST EXPENSIVE BRAND
Allowed (from above types)
• Low Sodium
• Low Fat
• Low Cholestrol
• Mixture of cheeses listed
• Natural Cheddar • Provolone • Colby
• Monterey Jack • Mozzarella • Muenster
• Beech Nut Mixed Grain
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend
introducing cereal and other solid foods until four to six
months of age. Before that age, young infants need only
breastmilk or formula. When you feel your baby is ready and
your pediatrician gives the go ahead, you can then start
feeding the baby cereal, by mixing the cereal flakes with
breastmilk or formula. The familiar taste will help the infant
accept the new food .

NOT ALLOWED
• Cheese food • Cheese spread • Cheese product or imitation • Added flavors or ingredients • Individually wrapped slices • Shredded Cheese
WHOLE GRAINS
MILK
• Swiss

4. wic approved food list
Illinois WIC Program Effective February 1, 2014 Page 4
Meats and Beans Group includes :
Eggs, Canned Fish, Baby Meats
Peanut Butter , Dry Beans, Peas and Lentils
Eggs- 1 Dozen Least Expensive Brand
• Least Expensive Brand • Grade A or AA Large
Dry Beans, Peas and Lentils-16 oz
Meats and Beans Group
Canned Fish-5 oz Least Expensive Brand
Exclusively for Breast Feeding Moms
• Chunk Light Tuna (Water or Oil packed) • Pink Salmon
NOT ALLOWED
• Organic
• Lunch Kit Tuna or Pouches
• No fresh or frozen
Baby Meat - 2.5 oz Plain w/ Broth or Gravy
Exclusively Breast Infants
• Gerber • Beech Nut • Store Brand
NOT ALLOWED • Organic • Meat Sticks
Peanut Butter -18 oz Least Expensive Brand
• Peanut Butter
Allowed •Low Sodium • Plain • Smooth • Creamy • Crunchy or Chunky
NOT ALLOWED
• No other size or quantity • No organic or Reduced Fat • Added Jelly, Honey, Marshmellow or other combinations • No Imitation or Peanut Spread
NOT ALLOWED
• No other size or quantity
• No flavored beans or peas
Canned Mature Beans- 64 oz
NOT ALLOWED
• No added Sugar, Fat, Oil, Seasonings or Meat • No Soups or Baked beans • No immature varieties of legumes such as green beans, wax beans, green peas or snap beans
• Eggs Are Rich in Unique Antioxidants
• Eggs Are Among The Most Nutritious Foods
on The Planet
A large egg contains -Only 77 Calories, with 5 gram
of Fat and 6 grams of Protein with all 9 essential
Amino Acids.
TIP for Canned Beans
When using canned beans, rinse them well to get rid of
any salt that was added during processing.
Examples include,
but are not limited to -
• Black-eyed peas,
• Garbanzo (chickpeas),
Great northern,
• Kidney,
• Black,
• Navy,
• Pinto,
• Refried,
• Red, and
• Lims Beans
FUN FACT
What food is high
in protein, has
virtually no fat and
has more fiber than
most whole grain
foods?
The answer is
BEANS!
For BF MOM’s
For BF Infants
MEATS & BEANS

5. wic approved food list
Healthy Diets rich in Fruits and Vegetables may re-
duce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. An
average adult consuming 2,000 calories daily should
aim for 4.5 cups of
Fruits and Vegetables a day.
Juice - Unsweetened 100% Juice
• Welch’s •Nestle’s Juicy Juice • Dole
(All Flavors) (All Flavors) (All Flavors)
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Vegetables Group
100% 100%
100%
100%
•Apple • Grapefruit • Orange - Grapefruit • Pineapple • Orange • Grape •Tomato •Vegetable(all except Splash & V-Fusion)
• Old Orchard (All Flavors)
NOT ALLOWED
• No added sugars • No French Fries • No Hash Brown • No tater tots • No products with sauce, seasoned, flavored or breaded, mixtures with added pasta, rice or other grains
Single Serving Cans are only allowed if printed on the Food Instrument. 48 oz= One 12oz frozen concentrate
Allowed
Baby Fruits and Vegetables- 4 oz
• Gerber • Beech Nut • Store Brand
4 oz plain fruits, plain vegetables or a combination of 2 or more plain fruits or vegetables
NOT ALLOWED
• Desserts • Mixed Dinners • No Added Starches • No Organic or DHA • No Cereals • No pouches
Illinois WIC Program Effective February 1, 2014 Page 5
TIP for Storing Baby Food
Store individual servings of baby food in clean airtight
containers for 1 day in the fridge or store in the
freezer for up to 1 month. It’s best to defrost baby
food overnight in the fridge.
Any brand/variety of
fruit or vegetable,
including organic,
without added sugars,
fats, and oils.
No white potatoes
See WIC voucher for
dollar amounts
Allowed
Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
Any brand/size/variety
of frozen fruit or
vegetable
without added sugars.
See WIC voucher for
dollar amounts
Canned Fruits and Vegetables
Any brand or variety including
unsweetened applesauce, plain
fruit packed in water or juice,
Regular/ Low sodium,
Tomato products (crushed,
whole, puree sauce)
See WIC voucher for dollar
amounts
NOT ALLOWED
• No variety of canned vegetable or mixture containing potato, fats, oils, meats or artificial sweeteners
• No creamed, sauced, or breaded vegetables
• No sugars added
FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES
• Must have 120% or more daily Vitamin C
Not Allowed
Hi-C drinks, fruit or juice drinks, cocktail
juice boxes or organic

6. wic approved food list
Illinois WIC Program Effective February 1, 2014 Page 6
WIC TIPS
First day to use:
The WIC voucher cannot be used before this date.
Last day to use:
The WIC voucher cannot be used after this date.
Pay exactly:
The cashier writes in the exact
price for the WIC foods, before the
WIC participant signs the voucher.
No exchange of money as long as
foods listed are purchased
Amounts and types of foods to be purchased:
The WIC customer or store employee may not substitute
any other food or formula for the items listed on the front
of the voucher.
Participant / Proxy signature:
Signature must match one of the signa- tures on the front of the WIC ID Card and the voucher must be endorsed in front of
the cashier.
How to use your WIC vouchers
Helpful Tips on how to use your WIC Vouchers
• Treat your WIC coupons like cash- they cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Once used they cannot be reissued.
• WIC customers must separate the foods they are buying with each WIC check from the other foods they are buying.
• Your fruit and vegetable purchase must be less than or equal to the dollar amount listed on your fruit and vegetable check. For example: $8.00, $10.00
• Before the cashier begins to ring up your purchase, tell them that you are using WIC vouchers.
• You can not return any WIC foods for cash, credit, exchange, or for a “rain check.”
• If a grocery store does not have all the foods listed on your voucher, keep your voucher and go to another WIC approved store, or return to the store at a later date.
• If you need assistance, contact the State WIC Office at 217-782-2166 or 1-800-843-6154
"In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis
of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
D.C. 20250-9410 or call [phone] or [phone] ( TTY).
SAMPLE WIC COUPON
1 Gallons 1% or Skim Milk Least Expensive Brand
16 Oz Pkg Cheese Least Expensive Brand
64 Oz Canned Beans or Less