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Welcome to WIC.
This video will explain "How WIC Works" when shopping with WIC checks.
WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children.
The WIC Foods pamphlet shows the WIC foods that may be purchased with WIC checks.
You will need this pamphlet as the WIC foods are described during this presentation.
If you do not have a copy of the pamphlet, please obtain one from your local WIC office.
It is important that WIC clients take this pamphlet with them to the store every time WIC
checks are being used.
This is what a WIC check looks like.
Most women and children will also be receiving a Fruit and Vegetable Voucher.
The Fruit and Vegetable Voucher will be discussed later in this presentation.
The front of the WIC check shows the type and amount of food that can be purchased
with the WIC check.
Substitutions of any of the food items are not allowed.
Each check is to be used during a one month period of time.
If a WIC check is lost or stolen, it cannot be replaced.
WIC checks should always be kept in a safe place.
The check will tell you the first day the WIC check can be used at the store.
And, the check will tell you the last day the WIC check can be used at the store.
One or more WIC checks can be used at one time and can be used on different days
throughout the month.
The WIC ID card must be shown each time WIC checks are used in the grocery store, as
well as each time WIC checks are picked up at the WIC office.
The ID card has the next WIC appointment listed inside the card.
Now let's review the WIC foods.
Please take out your Florida WIC Foods pamphlet.
Most children and women will receive a whole grain choice.
Look at the section of the pamphlet that lists Whole Grains.
One of three whole grain foods may be selected--either 100% whole wheat bread, brown
rice, or corn tortillas.
If whole wheat bread is selected, one of the brands listed in the WIC Foods pamphlet
must be purchased.
A 16 oz loaf is the only allowed size.
If brown rice is selected, it must be packaged in a 14 to 16 oz bag or box.
It can be either instant, boil-in-bag, or regular brown rice.
Any brand is allowed.
If corn tortillas are selected, it must be a brand listed in the WIC Foods pamphlet
and it must be in a 16 oz size.
Please look at the Milk section of the pamphlet.
This section gives a list of the allowed types and sizes of milk.
The front of the check will tell you the type and amount of milk that can be purchased.
It must be the least expensive available of the type and size of milk selected.
Clients must buy milk in the gallon size.
Half gallon and quart sizes are only allowed when the front of the WIC check lists a half
gallon or quart size.
When one quart of milk is listed on the front of the WIC check, you may buy 1 quart
of refrigerated milk, 1 quart of UHT milk, or 1 can of evaporated milk.
UHT milk is the type of milk you find on the grocery store shelf.
It is usually found in the same section of the store as evaporated milk.
Children ages 1 to under 2 years of age will receive WIC checks for whole milk.
This will be printed on the front of the check.
Women and children 2 years of age and older must choose either 1% lowfat or fat free
milk with their WIC checks.
This will be printed on the front of the check.
1% lowfat milk and fat free milk have the same vitamins, protein, and calcium as whole milk.
The only difference is that the lowfat milk and fat free milk contain less fat.
Lactose free milk may be purchased only if it is printed on the front of the WIC check.
WIC clients who need lactose free milk must ask WIC staff for this type of milk.
The words "Lactose Free" will appear on the front of the check along with the amount of
milk and the fat level allowed.
Soy milk may be purchased only if it is printed on the front of the WIC check.
8th Continent Soymilk Original is the only soy milk allowed to be purchased with WIC checks.
Women can ask the WIC staff for soy milk without written approval from a health care provider.
Children 2 years and older who want soy milk must have a note from the health care provider.
Children one year of age can get soy formula if authorized by their health care provider,
but they cannot get soy milk.
Next, find the Cheese section of the WIC Foods pamphlet.
It can be found below the Milk section.
If cheese is printed on the front of the WIC check, it must be purchased in the 16 oz or
1 pound size of either Mild Cheddar in the block, Part Skim Mozzarella in the block or
round OR Deluxe American slices.
The least expensive available of the selected type must be purchased.
If Deluxe American Slices are selected, care must be taken to get the correct cheese.
"Individually wrapped" slices are not allowed.
Brands that say Cheese Product, Cheese Food, or Cheese Spread are not allowed.
If the front of the package has the word "Singles" it is NOT allowed.
Now please look for the 100% Fruit Juice section of the WIC Foods pamphlet.
It is to the right of the Whole Grains section.
This section shows the types of juices that can be purchased with WIC checks.
Always make sure that 100 percent juice with no added sugar or syrup is selected.
Juice drinks, juice beverages, juice cocktails, "light" juice, and juice blends are not allowed.
Keep in mind that all Apple Juice, Grape Juice, Pineapple Juice and White Grape Juice
that is purchased with WIC checks must contain 120 percent or more vitamin C per 8 oz serving.
The amount of vitamin C in the juice will be listed on the Nutrition Facts section on the
juice label and many times it is also listed on the front of the juice label.
The 100% Fruit Juice section is divided into four groups: the first group is the
plastic bottles or jugs, the second group is the refrigerated plastic jugs or cartons,
the third group is the frozen concentrate, and the last group is the non-frozen concentrate.
If refrigerated plastic jugs or cartons or frozen concentrate juice are selected, it must
be the least expensive available of the size and flavor selected.
Also, Welch's frozen and non-frozen concentrate juice must have the yellow top.
Juice in plastic bottles or plastic jugs may be purchased in the 48 oz size, 64 oz size,
96 oz size, or gallon size.
The front of the WIC check will tell you the sizes that may be purchased with the WIC
check that is being used.
Apple Cider, Natural Apple Juice, Kedem Juice, Welch's 96 oz size, and Welch's with Fiber
or Welch's with Calcium are not allowed.
In addition, Juicy Juice Apple is the only allowed flavor of Juicy Juice.
It is allowed in the 11.5, 48, and 64 oz sizes.
All other flavors of Juicy Juice such as Grape, White Grape, and Orange Tangerine are
juice blends and therefore are not allowed to be purchased with WIC checks.
Also, no 46 oz size Juicy Juice is allowed.
If Beans are listed on the front of the WIC check, either dry or canned beans may be
purchased.
If dry beans are selected, it must be any type or variety of dry beans, peas, or
lentils in the 16 oz size only.
Beans or peas that are not allowed are gourmet beans, or beans with flavoring, seasoning,
or in a soup mix.
If canned beans are selected, any brand of canned beans or peas may be selected.
The can size must be 15 to 16 oz.
Examples of the types of beans and peas allowed are listed in the WIC Foods pamphlet.
Green peas, green beans, wax beans, or snap beans are not allowed.
No chili beans, seasoned beans, refried beans, baked beans or soups are allowed.
Also, no added artificial sweeteners, fat, oil, or meat are allowed.
Check the ingredient list on the label to make sure that none of these ingredients are listed.
Please look at the section with Breakfast Cereals.
This gives a list of the allowed sizes and brands of breakfast cereals.
No other sizes, flavors, or varieties are allowed.
If breakfast cereal is listed on the front of your check, you can choose any
combination of the breakfast cereals shown in the WIC Foods pamphlet.
The box or bag of cereal must be an 11 oz to 36 oz size.
No sizes less than 11 oz are allowed.
A cereal with a star next to it shows that the cereal is high in whole grains.
With WIC checks for children, there is a choice of buying baby cereal instead of breakfast cereal.
The types of baby cereal that can be selected are shown in the Baby Foods section of the
pamphlet.
WIC clients must choose all breakfast cereal or all baby cereal--not a combination of the two.
The allowed amount of breakfast cereal or baby cereal is listed on the front of the WIC check.
If eggs are listed on the WIC check, the least expensive available of large, white
chicken eggs must be purchased.
Now, find the Peanut Butter section of the pamphlet.
Peanut butter may be purchased in a 16 to 18 oz jar only.
The allowed brands and types of peanut butter are listed on the pamphlet.
No spreads, whipped or reduced fat products are allowed.
No added ingredients are allowed such as artificial sweeteners, honey, marshmallow,
chocolate, or jelly.
Fully breastfeeding women and women who are pregnant with more than one baby will
receive extra foods on their WIC checks.
These extra foods include canned fish.
Look for the Canned Fish section.
It is below the peanut butter section.
If the WIC check says canned fish, then light tuna and/or pink salmon in a 5 to 14.75 oz
can may be selected.
The WIC check tells how much canned fish can be purchased.
Any brand packed in water, spring water, or oil may be purchased.
Babies are born to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding is the safest way to feed babies and the easiest way to comfort them.
Breastfeeding women get a lot more food from WIC than women who receive formula from WIC.
Also babies who are fully breastfed also get a lot more baby food when they are 6 months
to 12 months of age.
When babies receive formula from WIC, a different number of cans of formula will be
on the WIC checks each month depending on the age of the baby and how much the baby is
breastfeeding.
WIC may not provide all the formula the baby needs each month.
Additional formula may need to be purchased by WIC clients using their own money.
The type and amount of formula are listed on the front of the check.
No substitutions are allowed.
If the type of formula needs to change, talk to the WIC staff.
It is very, very important that infant formula be mixed according to the label
instructions or health care provider instructions.
Not following the proper instructions for preparing the formula can cause the baby to be
very sick or not grow properly.
When a baby is 6 to 12 months old, the WIC checks will include baby cereal and baby
fruits and vegetables.
Baby cereal may be purchased in an 8 oz or 16 oz size box.
The allowed brands are shown on the WIC Foods pamphlet.
Baby fruits, baby vegetables or baby fruit & vegetable combinations that are packaged in
4 oz jars, 6 oz jars, 7 oz packages, or 8 oz packages are allowed that are labeled as
"Stage 2, 2 1/2 or 3" or "2nd or 3rd Foods." The Gerber 7 oz package must be labeled as
NatureSelect.
Gerber SmartNourish is not allowed.
Also, no baby foods with DHA or other added ingredients.
Breastfed babies who receive no formula from WIC will be able to receive baby meats
on their checks from 6 to 12 months of age.
2.5 oz jars of beef, chicken, ham, or turkey with added broth or gravy are allowed.
Meat sticks are not allowed.
We have just finished looking at the WIC foods.
The next step will be to take your WIC checks to a WIC approved grocery store and select
the foods and amounts listed on the front of your check.
Now that the WIC foods have been selected, let's head to the checkout area of the store.
At the cash register, the WIC customer should separate the WIC foods for each WIC check
from the other foods being purchased.
The WIC customer should tell the cashier that a WIC check is being used, before the
cashier begins to ring up the foods.
The WIC customer should then give the cashier the WIC check and any money-saving
coupons, and show the cashier the WIC ID card.
The cashier must make sure that the customer has selected no more than the amount of food
listed on the front of the check, and make sure that only allowable foods have been selected.
Next, the cashier must ring up each WIC check separately.
The cashier will then enter the total price of each check in the Pay Exactly box.
After the cashier has filled in the Pay Exactly Box, the WIC customer, or authorized
person representing the customer, must sign in the Authorized Signature space on the
front of the check.
This signature means that the person signing agrees that the total dollar amount entered
on the front of the check is correct.
At the same time that you are given your WIC checks, most women and children will
also be given another type of check called a Fruit and Vegetable Voucher.
The Fruit and Vegetable Voucher is printed on the same check stock as the WIC checks.
There is a difference though.
The Fruit and Vegetable Voucher has a dollar amount of fruits and vegetables printed on it --
-- not an amount of food.
Now look at the Fruit and Vegetable Voucher section of the WIC Foods pamphlet.
It has a light purple color.
ORGANIC fruits and vegetables are allowed.
This is the only time an ORGANIC product is allowed with a WIC purchase.
With the voucher, you can buy any brand of fruits and vegetables that are fresh,
frozen, or packed in cans, plastic or glass containers.
Please read the fruit and vegetable section carefully.
It tells what fruits and vegetables are allowed.
Potatoes are not allowed except for sweet potatoes and yams.
Canned or dry beans or peas that are allowed to be purchased with the WIC check for
"Beans" may not be purchased with the Fruit and Vegetable Voucher.
Baby or toddler fruits and vegetables may not be purchased with the Fruit and Vegetable Voucher.
Make sure to check the ingredient list on canned and frozen fruits and vegetables.
Products with added ingredients such as sugar, syrup, fat, oil, meat, pasta, or rice are
not allowed.
Also. dried fruits, dried vegetables, nuts, or coconuts are not allowed.
Using the Fruit and Vegetable voucher is a little different from using the WIC check.
Next, we will go over how to use a Fruit and Vegetable voucher in the store.
When using the fruit and vegetable voucher, the WIC customer must separate the fruits and
vegetables she has selected from the other foods being purchased.
The WIC customer should tell the cashier that a Fruit and Vegetable Voucher is being
used, before the cashier begins to ring up the items.
The WIC customer should then give the cashier the voucher.
Look in the Florida WIC Foods pamphlet to find out more information about what fruits
and vegetables are allowed.
Each voucher has a dollar amount printed on it.
The WIC program will pay for fruits and vegetables up to this amount of money.
If the amount of the fruits and vegetables is more than this dollar amount, the customer
can return some of the fruits and vegetables or pay the difference.
First, the cashier rings up the cost of the fruits and vegetables.
The cashier then fills in the actual dollar amount, which should not exceed the dollar
amount that is printed on the voucher.
The WIC customer verifies that the amount entered by the cashier on the voucher is
correct, and then signs her name on the voucher.
If the cost of the fruits and vegetables is over the dollar amount on the voucher, the
cashier tells the WIC customer the balance.
The WIC customer can pay the balance by using cash or other form of payment the store
will accept.
The written instructions for how to use WIC checks are in the WIC Foods pamphlet.
This explains the different parts of the WIC check and how the WIC checks are to be used.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about How WIC Works.
The WIC Foods pamphlet gives you all the information needed to use WIC checks and
vouchers.
The WIC ID card must be brought to the grocery store when using WIC checks.
Make sure to treat WIC checks and Fruit and Vegetable Vouchers like cash.
Keep them in a safe place at all times.