Food Guide

 Before You Shop:

• Review your Family Benefits List, recent receipt, or check My Benefits to check your available balance.
• Know your Fruit & Vegetable cash value benefit amount.
• Check the start and end dates of your benefit period.

While You Shop:

• Look for the Connecticut WIC approved shelf tags to help you identify items.
• Choose only WIC approved items from the Food Guide and make sure you have the correct quantities on your Benefit List or receipt.
• If you think the food should be allowed but it’s not going through, you can use the I Couldn’t Buy This feature on the app to submit the food for review or contact your local WIC clinic.

Checkout:

• Use your store savings card.
• Tell the cashier you have coupons before the transaction.
• Use your WIC benefits before any other form of payment (SNAP, TFA, case, or credit/debit card)
• Request and review the mid transaction receipt before you choose Yes.
• If a food rings up and is not WIC allowed ask to have it voided. If you choose to purchase these foods with another form of payment, WIC cannot reimburse you.

Milk

May Buy:

• Purchase type of milk shown on your WIC Family Benefits List
• Gallon (128 oz.) half gallon (64 oz.) or quart (32 oz.) containers approved for cow’s milk products
• Fluid milk: Skim/Fat Free, 1% Lowfat, 2% Reduced Fat, Whole Milk (For children 12-23 months old)

Do Not Buy:

Buttermilk, organic, flavored or raw milk

 

Soy Milk

May Buy:

• 64 oz/Half gallon, refrigerated
• 8th Continent Original
• Silk Original
• Pacific Ultra Soy Original Non-Dairy Beverage (shelf stable) 32 oz

 

Evaporated Milk

12 oz can – Fat Free, 2% or Whole milk (Vitamin D added)

Goat’s Milk

Meyenberg (Canned-liquid or powdered)

Whole milk only available for 12-23 months old

Additional Milk Choices

• Lactose Reduced/Lactose free milk:96 oz, 96 oz, 64 oz and 32 oz containers: Skim, 1%, 2%, Whole
• Kosher Milk: Skim, 2%, Whole
• Nonfat Dry milk

UHT Milk

Shelf Stable, Unflavored
Regular or Lactose Free
Skim, 1%, 2%, Whole
See your Nutritionist for issuance

Cheese

Buy:

• 8 or 16 ounce package
• Any brand: American, Colby/Colby Jack, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Muenster, Provolone, Swiss
• Galbani: Lactose free mozzarella
• Calabro, Polly-O: Fat Free Mozzarella, prepackaged
• Shredded, cheese sticks, blocks, sliced.

Do Not Buy:

Deli, individually wrapped slices, cheese food, cheese product or spreads, cream cheese or cottage cheese, imported, flavored, organic cheese

 

Eggs

May Buy:

• Medium, Large, Extra Large and Jumbo – 1 dozen, carton
• White or brown

Do Not Buy:

Organic eggs

 

Tofu

May Buy:

• 8-16 ounce package, Plain 
• Nasoya: Cubed, Super Firm, Firm, Lite Firm, Silken, Super Firm Cubed
• Azumaya: Firm, Extra Firm
• Nature’s Promise: Firm, Extra Firm
• O Organics: Extra Firm, Firm, Silken, Sprouted, Super Firm
• Nature’s Soy: Firm, Soft
• Franklin Farms: Extra Firm, Firm, Medium Firm, Soft

In order to receive the full benefit of tofu purchase 8 or 16 oz packages.

Yogurt

May Buy:

• Non-fat or Low-fat
• 1 quart/32 ounce tubs, 4-packs or 8 packs of 4 ounces containers allowed
• All flavors allowed
• Organic and Greek allowed
• *Whole Milk Yogurt (For Children 12-23 months old)

Greek Yogurt

Best Yet
Bowl & Basket*
Cabot*
Chobani*
Fage*
Food Club*
Good & Gather*
Great Value*
Hood*
Lucerne Dairy Farms*
O’ Organics
Open Nature*
PICS/Price Chopper
Stonyfield Organic*
Upstate Farms

*Also available in whole milk yogurt

Low-Fat/Non-Fat Yogurt

Activia
Axelrod*
Best Yet
Big Y
Brown Cow*
Butterworks Farm*
Cabot
Coburn Farms
Cream O Land
Crowley Dannon*
Dannon All Natural*
Dannon Danimals
Desi Natural Dahi*
Food Club
Friendly Farms
Friendship
Great Value
Green Mountain Creamery*
Good & Gather
J & J Kosher
Lala
La Yogurt
La Yogurt Probiotic*
Lucerne Dairy Farms
Maple Hill*
Mountain High*
My Essentials
Nature’s Promise*
Noosa*
Oomda*
PICS/Price Chopper
Price Rite Bowl and Basket
Romis*
Seven Stars Farm*
ShopRite Bowl and Basket*
Stop & Shop
Stonyfield*
Super A
Urban Meadow
Yoplait
Yoplait Grande

*Also available in whole milk yogurt

Whole Milk Yogurt

(for children 12-23 months old)

Do Not Buy:

Non-calorie sweeteners, drinkable yogurts, or products with mix-in ingredients (granola, candy pieces, honey, nuts, etc.)

Juice balances of 47.9 oz or less cannot be redeemed. Remember a 12 oz can of concentrate equals 48 oz of juice.

Ways to purchase your full amount:

• If you have a total of 96 oz of juice to get the full amount purchase 2 cans of 12 oz concentrate
• If you have a total of 128 oz of juice to get the fully amount purchase either 2 64 oz bottles or 1 128 oz bottle
• If you have a total of 240 oz of juice purchase:
  • 2 cans of 12 oz concentrate and 2 64 oz bottles of juice or
  • 3 64 oz bottles and 1 can of 12 oz concentrate or
  • 1 12 oz concentrate, 1 64 oz bottle and 1 128 oz bottle.to reach your full benefit.

Fluid Juice

Buy Only:

• 100% juice only
• 64 or 128 oz bottle
• 120% Vitamin C or 72 milligrams per 8 fl oz.

Apple

• Apple & Eve
• Juicy Juice
• Mott’s
• Ocean Spray
• Old Orchard
• Welch’s

Cherry

• Juicy Juice
• Ocean Spray
• Welch’s

Juice Mixtures

• Apple & Eve
• Juicy Juice
• Langers
• Ocean Spray
• Old Orchard
• Welch’s

Mango

• Juicy Juice
• Welch’s

Orange

• All Brands

Pineapple

• Langers
• Libby’s
• Welch’s

Purple Grape

• Juicy Juice
• Ocean Spray
• Old Orchard
• Welch’s

White Grape

• Juicy Juice
• Old Orchard
• Welch’s

Tomato Juice

• Campbell’s

Cranberry Juice

• Ocean Spray

Vegetable Juice

• V8 (Original and Spicy Hot)

128 oz

Juicy Juice

• 100% Apple
• Fruit Punch
• Kiwi Strawberry

Store Brands

• Apple
• White Grape
• Purple Grape
• Grapefruit Juice/Blends
• Pineapple

• Apple
• White Grape
• Purple Grape
• Juice A Lot
• All 100% juice mixtures

• Apple

 

• Apple
• White Grape
• Grape
• Purple Grape
• Grapefruite Juice/Blends
• Tomato
• Vegetable

• Apple
• White Grape
• Grapefruit Juice/Blends
• Pineapple
• Purple Grape

• Apple
• Orange

• Apple
• Juice Mixtures
• Purple Grape
• White Grape

• Apple
• White Grape
• Purple Grape
• Cranberry
• Pineapple
• Tomato
• Vegetable
• All 100% Juice Mixtures

• Apple

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

May Buy:

• Any variety
• Whole, precut, shredded or packaged – sold by bags, boxes, piece, pound or package
• Salad and/or mixed greens in a bag

Do Not Buy:

Items from the salad bar, party trays, dried fruit, fruit snacks, fruit rollups, herbs, spices, olives, fruit baskets, packaged salads/kits with added dressings, meats, nuts, croutons, cheese, etc.

Frozen Fruits 

May Buy:

• Any brand/variety and size
• Any plain fruit, plain fruit mixtures

Frozen Vegetables

May Buy:

• Any brand/variety and size
• Any plain vegetable, plain vegetable mixtures

Do Not Buy:

Added sweeteners, sugar, syrup, fats, oils, french fries, hash browns, tater tots or other shaped potatoes.

Must not be packed with sauce, pasta or rice

Canned Fruits

May Buy:

• Canned or Plastic containers allowed
• Individual servings or Jarred containers, any size
• Choose any brand
• Choose single ingredients or combinations of fruits
• Must be unsweetened and packed in juice or water

Do Not Buy:

Products with colorant or non-caloric sweeteners such as Fruit Cocktail

Canned Tomato Sauce

May Buy:

• Plain canned tomato sauce/plain spaghetti sauce

Do Not Buy:

Added sweeteners, sugars, syrup, added fats, oils

Canned Vegetables

May Buy:

• Any brand and size
• May be regular or lower in sodium

Do Not Buy:

Added sweeteners, sugars, syrup, added fats, oils, pickled (vegetables), creamed or sauced vegetables, baked beans, pork & beans, soups, ketchup, relishes, olives

How to Use Your Fruit and Vegetable Benefit

• Know your benefit balance before you shop.
• If your fruit and vegetable purchase costs more than the maximum dollar amount, you have the option to pay the difference with cash, EBT, SNAP, or another form of payment accepted by the store.
• If your fruit and vegetable costs less than the maximum dollar amount, your balance will remain on your WIC card. Please be sure to check your store receipt for the expiration date for your benefits.

Infant Cereal (Dry)

May Buy:

• 8 or 16 oz container size only
• Choose any brand

Do Not Buy:

Varieties that include DHA, fruit, formula and/or yogurt.

Infant Fruits and Vegetables

• 4 or 8 ounce container, sampler or variety packs
• Choose single ingredients or combinations of fruits and vegetables (i.e. apple-banana, apple-sweet potato, etc.)
• Choose any brand

Do Not Buy:

Added sugar or pouches

Infant Food –  Meats

May Buy:

• Individual containers, sampler or variety packs
• Choose any brand
• Choose from the following varieties:
  • Beef & Beef Broth/Gravy
  • Chicken & Chicken Broth/Gravy
  • Ham & Ham Broth/Gravy
  • Turkey & Turkey Broth/Gravy

 Do Not Buy:

Pouches, desserts, dinners, casseroles, mixtures with added DHA/ARA, salt, sugar, cheese, cereal or pasta

Cold Cereal

12 oz boxes or larger. No single serving packets.

Cereal balances of 11.9 oz or less cannot be redeemed.

All cereal listed in purple are whole grain

National Brands

 

 

•  Cheerios
  • Original
  • MultiGrain
  • Vanilla Spice
  • Oat Crunch Berry
    
• Kix
  • Honey Kix
  • Original
  • Berry Berry Kix
• Chex
  • Cinnamon Chex
  • Corn Chex
  • Rice Chex
  • Wheat Chex
  • Blueberry Chex
• Total
• Wheaties

 

 

• Hearts Honey Toasted 
• Hearts Warm Cinnamon

 

 

• Complete Bran
• Corn Flakes
• Crispix
• Rice Krispies
• Frosted Mini Wheats
  • Original
  • Cinnamon Roll
  • Filled Mixed Berry
  • Pumpkin Spice
• Special K

 

 

• Crispy Rice
• Frosted Mini Spooners

 

 

• Grape Nuts
  • Original Grape Nuts
  • Grape-Nuts Flakes
• Great Grains Crunchy Pecans
• Great Grains Banana Nut Crunch
• Honey Bunches of Oats
  • Vanilla Bunches
  • Honey Roasted
  • Pecan and Maple Brown Sugar
  • Almonds
  • Cinnamon Bunches

 

 

 

• Oatmeal Squares and Brown Sugar

 

Store Brands

100% Whole Wheat Bread/Whole Grain Bread

May Buy:

• 1 pound (1lb) or 16 oz loaf

National Brands

Alvarado Street Bakery Whole Wheat
Arnold Stoneground Whole Wheat
Bimbo Whole Wheat
Country Kitchen Whole Wheat
Geissler’s Whole Wheat Bread
Gold Medal Bakery Whole Wheat
Gold Medal Bakery Wheat with Flaxseed
Holsum Whole Wheat
Krasdale 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Pas Yisroel Whole Wheat
Penn Street Whole Wheat
Pepperidge Farm Very Thin 100% Whole Wheat
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Seeded Jewish Rye
Sara Lee 100% Whole Wheat
Stern’s Whole Wheat
Sunbeam Whole Wheat
Windmill Farms Stone Ground-Menzanos
Windmill Farms Stone Ground-Hamotze
Wonder Whole Wheat

Store Brands

Best Yet Whole Wheat
Big Y Whole Wheat
Great Value 100% Whole Wheat
Key Foods Whole Wheat
Pics/Price Chopper Whole Wheat
Simply Balanced Whole Wheat
ShopRite Bowl & Basket Whole Wheat
Stop & Shop Whole Wheat
Stop & Shop No-Salt Added Whole Wheat
The Bakery 100% Whole Wheat
Urban Meadow Whole Wheat

Do Not Buy:

Bagels, deli bread, white bread, store bakery bread

Tortillas

May Buy:

• 1 pound (lb) or 16 oz bag
• Soft Corn or Whole Wheat Tortillas

National Brands

Chi-Chi’s Whole Wheat
Chi-Chi’s White Corn
Don Pancho Whole Wheat
Don Pancho White Corn
Lafe Corn
La Banderita Corn
La Banderita Whole Wheat
La Poblanita Corn
Mayan Farms Whole Wheat
Mission Corn
Mission Whole Wheat
Ortega Whole Wheat
Pepito Corn
Pepito Whole Wheat
Quesos La Ricura White Corn
Tropical Whole Wheat

Store Brands

Big Y Whole Wheat
Food Club White Corn
Food Club Whole Wheat
IGA Whole Wheat
Natures’ Promise Whole Grain
Key Foods Whole Wheat
My Essentials Whole Wheat
Nature’s Promise Whole Grain Corn
Nature’s Promise Whole Wheat
Pics/Price Chopper Corn Tacos Tortillas
ShopRite Whole Wheat
Signature Select Whole Wheat
Stop & Shop White Corn
Stop & Shop Whole Wheat
Stop & Shop Yellow Corn

Brown Rice

Buy:

• 1 pound (lb) or 14 – 16 oz bag/box
• Plain brown rice

National Brands

Carolina
Goya
Minute
Mahatma
Success
C & F Boil-in-Bag
C & F Instant
C & F Long/short grain
Riceland Natural
Uncle Ben’s Fast & Natural Whole Grain Instant
Uncle Ben’s Natural Whole Grain
Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain Boil-in-Bag

Store Brands

Best Yet Instant
Best Yet Long Grain
Big Y Instant
Food Club Instant
Good & Gather
Great Value
IGA Instant Long Grain
My Essentials
Parade
PICS/Price Chopper Instant
Shurfine
Signature Select
Stop & Shop Boil-in-Bag
Stop & Shop Instant
White Rose

100% Whole Wheat /Whole Grain Pasta

Buy:

• 1 pound or 16 oz package
• 100% Whole Wheat/Whole Grain Pasta
• Various shapes allowed

Brands Allowed

Barilla Whole Wheat/Whole Grain
Delallo Organic Whole Wheat
Full Circle Organic Whole Wheat
Gia Russa Whole Wheat
Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat
Luigi Vitelli Organic Whole Wheat
Nature’s Promise Organic Whole Wheat
O Organics Whole Wheat
Racconto Whole Wheat
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat
ShopRite Bowl and Basket 100% Whole Wheat
Signature Select Whole Wheat
Simply Balanced Organic Whole Wheat
Urban Meadow Whole Wheat

Peanut Butter

May Buy:

• 16-18 oz jars
• Unflavored smooth, creamy or chunky
• Natural allowed

Do Not Buy:

Flavored 

Beans, Peas and Lentils

Dried

May Buy:

• 1 pound (16 ounce) bag
• Any single variety of dried peas, beans, or lentils

Canned

Buy:

• 15 – 16 oz can
• Plain or vegetarian

Do Not Buy:

Added sugars, fats, oil, vegetables, fruits or meats, baked beans

 

For Certain Categories of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women:

Canned Fish

May Buy:

• Packed in water or oil added sauces or flavorings are allowed

Tuna

• 5 oz can
• Chunk Light only

Pink Salmon

• 5 -15 oz cans

Sardines

• 3.75 oz can

Breast Milk is Environmentally Friendly

Breast Milk is packaged and stored by mother with little or no waste!

1. Your eWIC card is only accepted at Connecticut authorized vendors and cannot be used in any other state. For an updated list of WIC authorized vendors ask your local agency staff, visit ct.gov/dph/wic under the Retailers tab or go to the WICShopper app and click on WIC vendors.
2. This Food Guide contains a list of WIC approved items. Benefits are specific to the participant need. Therefore, not every product listed in the Food Guide is eligible for your purchase.

For example: Although the food guide has whole milk as a WIC approved item, if you have a child two years or older you will only be able to purchase 1% or skim/fat-free milk for that child.

3. Not all WIC approved foods may appear in this booklet. To ensure an item is WIC approved use the Scan Barcode option in the WICShopper app. To identify WIC approved foods in the store, look for the Connecticut WIC approved shelf tag. Stores cannot limit your choices of WIC approved brands.

4. The cashier should scan all your selected items. Stores cannot limit your choices of WIC approved brands.
5. Remember to use your WIC benefits before any other form of payment (SNAP, TFA, cash, credit/debit card.)
6. When available, review the mid transaction receipt before you confirm yes. This is to ensure all WIC approved foods come off your WIC balance. If you have paid for an item that should have come off the eWIC card, go to customer service for assistance.
7. In order to better serve you if you have a problem purchasing or buying an item, ask for a store manager. If you need additional assistance, call the State WIC office at 1-800-741-2142 while you are at the store.  If after business hours, email the State WIC office at [email protected]. Please provide as many details as possible including date, time, store name, details on items you were trying to purchase and when possible, include an image of the product and UPC.

Questions

Can I change the foods listed on my family benefit list?

ONLY your local WIC office can change your food package. If you have concerns or special needs, be sure to talk to your WIC Nutritionist before your benefits are issued. They may be able to adjust your food package.

Do I need to purchase everything listed on my family benefit list?

Your nutritionist can tailor your family benefits list to issue only the food you will buy and use. No, you are not required to pick up everything on your Family Benefit List. We encourage you to shop responsibly and only purchase the foods that you know you will use.

What if I run out of food and I’ve used all of my WIC benefits?

The WIC program is only meant to “supplement” your diet. The foods you receive at WIC are not intended to meet all of your nutritional needs. You will need to purchase additional foods on your own. Your local office can help you find additional food assistance programs if needed.

Can I save benefits for next month that I didn’t use?

No. Benefits expire at midnight on the expiration date found on each receipt.

Can I participate in more than one WIC Program at the same time?

No.

What happens if I move?

Try to contact your local WIC office before you move. They can give you transfer information to take to the WIC office in your new area.

WIC Nutrition Program

CT Department of Public Health

www.ct.gov/dph/wic

1-800-741-2142

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/civil-rights/usda-nondiscrimination-statement-other-fns-programs