What can I buy with my MILK benefit?
Children 1-2 years old (12-24 months):
Whole milk is provided for normal growth and healthy brain development while they transition from breast milk or formula to increased table foods and cow’s milk.
Children 2-5 years old:
Skim or 1% milk is provided. At this stage the child has typically transitioned to eating more foods with higher amounts of fat and less liquids. Also, at this stage they need less saturated fats in their diet for healthy weight gain and heart health.
Women:
Skim or 1% is provided. Women no longer need the extra milk fat required in early childhood and low-fat options help reduce saturated fat intake while still providing the full nutritional benefits of milk, such as calcium, protein, and vitamin D.
*Contact your local WIC clinic to discuss alternative milk options available.
Why is MILK good for my family?
- Calcium and vitamin D are important nutrients at any age. Eating or drinking dairy with these nutrients can:
- Improve bone health, especially in children when bone mass is being built.
- Promote bone health and prevent the start of osteoporosis in adults.
Try a new MILK recipe!
There are many great ways to use milk in cooking:
Safety tips for MILK
- Refrigerate milk at 40°F or colder. Bacteria will multiply rapidly if left at room temperature or in the “Danger Zone” (40°F-140°F).
- Never leave milk out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°F, like in a hot car or at a picnic).
Idaho WIC does not provide benefits to purchase raw milk, but it is important to know the facts behind raw milk before buying or consuming.
- Pasteurization is the process of heating milk to a high enough temperature for enough time to kill harmful germs.
- Raw milk has NOT been pasteurized to kill the harmful germs including bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause diseases.
- Even healthy animals may carry germs that can contaminate milk.
- For more information, please visit cdc.gov/rawmilk.