What Does WIC Provide?

The WIC Program strongly encourages and provides support for breastfeeding. For babies who are not fully breastfed, iron-fortified infant formula is available for the first year of life. The state contracts with one formula company to provide formula at a reduced price. At six month, infants may also receive infant cereal and infant fruits and vegetables.  Infants that fully breastfeed, may also receive infant meats.

Infants with specific medical diagnoses may receive a special formula.

Foods for Women and Children

Pregnant and postpartum women and children (under 5 years of age) participating in WIC receive food benefits for milk, cheese, eggs, cereals, peanut butter, dry beans/peas or canned beans/peas, and fruit or vegetable juices, fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain choices to include breads, tortillas, brown rice and oatmeal.  Women who exclusively breastfeed their babies may also receive extra food, including canned tuna fish.

Special formulas or nutritional supplements are also available to participating women and children who have certain medical conditions.

Sample Food Package for a child for one month:

• 3 gallons of milk
• 1 quart of milk
• 1 pound of cheese
• 1 dozen eggs
• 36 ounces of cereal
• 18 ounce jar of peanut butter, 16 ounce dry beans/peas or 4 cans beans/peas
• 2 bottles 64 ounce juice
• 2 pounds whole grains (breads, tortillas, brown rice or oatmeal)
• $6.00 fresh fruits and vegetables

See the WIC Food Lists for details (Revised 3/1/11)

  WIC Food List (English in PDF format) 

  WIC Food List (Spanish in PDF format)

  WIC Food List (Arabic in PDF format)

Nutrition Education

WIC nutrition education assists WIC participants with:

• Infant and toddler feeding
• Breastfeeding
• Prenatal weight gain
• Anemia or iron deficiency
• Child growth and development and other nutrition related health issues.

High Risk Nutrition Counseling

Registered Dietitians at WIC provide individualized high risk nutrition counseling for participants with special medical conditions or nutrition-related health issues.

Health Care Referrals

WIC works closely with the health care community, receiving referrals from private and public health care providers and providing referrals as needed for health and social services.

WIC refers participants for immunizations, substance abuse counseling and treatment, prenatal care, smoking cessation, lead screening, the Healthy Kids/MI Child program, and more.

For more help to quit smoking visit this site.

WIC encourages persons already receiving medical services to remain under their physicians' care. WIC also encourages well-child visits and routine health and dental care.

Breastfeeding Promotion and Support

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first year of life. All WIC agencies have trained personnel ready to assist mothers with the basics of breastfeeding.

Many WIC agencies have breastfeeding peer counselor support programs that provide mother-to-mother counseling. In addition, WIC agencies provide educational resources and breast pumps for returning to work or school.

Project FRESH

The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), also known as Project FRESH, provides eligible WIC participants with coupons to purchase locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets. WIC participants receive these nutrition benefits in addition to their WIC food package and nutrition education.

The Project FRESH program enhances farmers' earnings and supports participation in farmers' markets.

This program partners with the Michigan State University Extension, local farmers and farmer's markets to promote healthy eating and fruit and vegetable consumption.