Participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program will receive vouchers — for the first time — for the purchase of fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables beginning Oct. 1.
Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) offers new educational materials online to assist health professionals and retailers in helping WIC participants use their new fruit and vegetable vouchers. These materials include a seasonal reference listing the most common, most economical and most easy-to-prepare fruits and vegetables, an important nutrition tip sheet about fruits and vegetables, and a sheet with tips for the safe handling of raw fruits and vegetables. Check out the new WIC toolkit materials in the health professionals’ area of www.pbhfoundation.org.
Besides the addition of fruits and vegetables, WIC families can now also add whole grains, whole breads and tortillas, and canned beans. In the past, the WIC program was limited to milk, cheese, eggs, juice, cereals and dried beans or peanut butter. WIC is a federal program for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or recently pregnant, as well as infants and children up to age five.