Overview 

Healthy foods 

Healthy messages 

Healthy families 

WIC is preparing for the biggest transformation the program has seen in over 30 years! 

Beginning in August 2009, we will make unprecedented changes to the WIC food package to encourage our clients to:

• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Increase whole grain and fiber consumption.
• Lower saturated fat in the diet.
• Drink fewer sweetened beverages, including juice.
• Exclusively breastfeed their babies.

In Oregon, we are calling this project Fresh Choices. These changes will make the foods we offer consistent with current Dietary Guidelines, and will further solidify WIC’s role as the premier public health nutrition program. 

New foods

• Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables - Participants will receive a voucher valued between $6 and $10 per month to use towards fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables.
• Whole grain options including 100% whole wheat bread, soft corn tortillas and brown rice.
• Soy beverage as an alternative to milk.
• Canned salmon as an alternative to tuna.
• Baby food fruits and vegetables for all babies, baby food meat for infants who are exclusively breastfed.

Changes to existing foods

• No juice for infants.
• For infants receiving supplemental formulas, amount issued will vary depending on age of infant and amount of breastfeeding.
• Reduced amounts of milk, eggs and juice for children and women.
• Children 2-5 years old and women will receive only reduced-fat milks (fat free, 1% or 2%). 

We will help clients connect Fresh Choices to our Key Nutrition Messages, which include:

• Make half your grains whole.
• Vary your veggies.
• Focus on fruit.
• Babies were born to be breastfed.
• When your baby is ready for solid food, introduce one new food at a time with a spoon.

Together with community partners and medical providers, we can bring consistent health messages to our shared families and reinforce seamless nutrition education.

Fresh Choices focuses on healthy foods and healthy messages as the foundation of healthy families. These new food choices, together with consistent nutrition messaging, will allow WIC to support the foundations of health and nutrition for our 110,000 clients across Oregon. We are excited about the opportunities these changes will bring to our WIC families!