Your WIC Foods

WIC-approved foods provides the nutrients to support maternal health and child development. Food packages vary to ensure each family member’s nutrition requirements are met as their needs change.

How WIC Food Packages Work

The value of each WIC food package depends on your (or your child’s) preferences, medical needs, and where you shop. A monthly dollar amount for fruits and vegetables is added to your WIC card, while all other foods are added as a credit amount to your card, no matter the price.

If you or your child has food allergies or intolerances, talk to your WIC counselor during your appointment or text 91997 to update your food package.

Benefits for every family member enrolled in WIC will be added to your WIC card. Check your WIC Food Balance every month. Remember to shop for all of your foods before your benefit end date!

California WIC Authorized Food List

Find a WIC-Authorized Grocer

Update the CA WIC App to see the new WIC food changes

The CA WIC app will need to be updated in order to see the new WIC food changes.

Check your WIC app to see when you can start shopping for your new foods. Use the food scanner to find WIC-approved items.

WIC Food Packages by Category

During Pregnancy

$51 for fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables
16 ounces of cheese or 32 ounces of tofu
1 dozen eggs
36 ounces of breakfast cereal
1 container of peanut butter or dry beans or canned beans (4 cans)
1 container of dry beans
10 ounces of canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines)
48 ounces of whole grains
32 ounces of low-fat or nonfat yogurt
4.5 gallons of milk (1% low-fat or nonfat, 1% lactose-free, and plant-based options are available)

Children Ages 1-4

$29 for fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables
16 ounces cheese or 32 ounces of tofu
1 dozen eggs
36 ounces of breakfast cereal
1 container of peanut butter or dry beans or canned beans (4 cans)
6 ounces of canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines)
24 ounces of whole grains
32 ounces of yogurt
- Whole or low-fat options between ages 1-2
- 1% lowfat or non-fat options between ages 2-4
3 gallons of milk (lactose-free and plant-based options are available)
- Whole milk between ages 1-2
- 1% low-fat or nonfat milk for ages 2-4

The more you breastfeed, the more food you receive from WIC.

Making healthy human milk burns a lot of calories! Eating well gives you the energy and nutrients you need to care for and feed your baby. The amount of WIC foods a breastfeeding parent receives varies based on how much they are breastfeeding. The more you breastfeed, the longer you may be eligible for WIC.

Need help breastfeeding? WIC counselors, peer counselors, and lactation consultants can help! Call our Infant Feeding Helpline (888) 278-6455, Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

Fully Breastfeeding

Moms may receive food, breastfeeding support, and nutrition education for up to 1 year.

$55 for fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables
32 ounces of cheese or 64 ounces of tofu
2 dozen eggs
36 ounces of breakfast cereal
1 container of peanut butter or dry beans or canned beans (4 cans)
1 package of dry beans
20 ounces of canned fish
48 ounces of whole grains
64 ounces of low-fat or nonfat yogurt
4 gallons of milk (1% low-fat or nonfat, 1% lactose-free, and plant-based options are available)

Infants

Birth through 11 months: Mom’s healthy breastmilk

At 6 months:

16 ounces of infant cereal
32 containers of infant fruits and vegetable purees
16 containers of infant meat

16 ounces of infant cereal
16 containers of infant fruits and vegetable purees
$11 for fruits and vegetables
16 containers of infant meat

16 ounces of infant cereal
$22 for fruits and vegetables
16 containers of infant meat

Mostly Breastfeeding

Moms may receive food, breastfeeding support, and nutrition education for up to 1 year.

$55 for fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables
16 ounces of cheese or 32 ounces of tofu
1 dozen eggs
36 ounces of breakfast cereal
1 container of peanut butter or dry beans or canned beans (4 cans)
1 package of dry beans
15 ounces of canned fish
48 ounces of whole grains
32 ounces of low-fat or nonfat yogurt
4.5 gallons 1% low-fat or nonfat milk (lactose-free and plant-based options are available)

Infants

Birth through 11 months:

Mom’s healthy breastmilk + some formula (amount varies)
- Birth to 3 months: 1-4 cans of powder formula
- 4 to 5 months: 1-5 cans of powder formula
- 6 to 11 months 1-4 cans powder formula

At 6 months:

8 ounces of infant cereal
32 containers of infant fruits and vegetable purees

8 ounces of infant cereal
16 containers of infant fruits and vegetable purees
$11 for fruits and vegetables

8 ounces of infant cereal
$22 for fruits and vegetables

Some / No Breastfeeding

Moms may receive food for 6 months, with breastfeeding support and nutrition education for up to 1 year.

$51 for fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables
16 ounces of cheese or 32 ounces of tofu
1 dozen eggs
36 ounces of breakfast cereal
1 container of peanut butter or dry beans or canned beans (4 cans)
10 ounces of canned fish
48 ounces of whole grains
32 ounces of low-fat or nonfat yogurt
3 gallons 1% low-fat or nonfat milk (lactose-free and plant-based options are available)

Infants

Birth through 11 months (some breastfeeding):

Mom’s healthy breastmilk + some formula (amount varies)
- Birth to 3 months: 5-9 cans of powder formula
- 4 to 5 months: 6-10 cans of powder formula
- 6 to 11 months: 5-7 cans powder formula

Formula only:

Birth to 3 months: 9 cans of powder formula
4 to 5 months: 10 cans of powder formula
6 to 11 months: 7 cans powder formula

At 6 months:

8 ounces of infant cereal
32 containers of infant fruits and vegetable purees

8 ounces of infant cereal
16 containers of infant fruits and vegetable purees
$11 for fruits and vegetables

8 ounces of infant cereal
$22 for fruits and vegetables

Shopping for Your WIC Foods

Get Your WIC Card

You will receive your WIC card by mail or at a WIC office. If you sign up by phone or video, your card will be mailed to you. If you enroll at a WIC office, you will get your card the same day. The WIC program provides monthly benefits to purchase healthy foods at most grocery stores. Not everything at the grocery store is eligible for purchase with your WIC Card. If your WIC card is lost or damaged, contact us for a replacement.

Request a Replacement CA WIC Card

Find a WIC-Authorized Grocery Store or WIC-Approved Farmers’ Market

Stores that accept the WIC card have a WIC logo on the front window. To find WIC-authorized grocery stores near you in California, visit myfamily.wic.ca.gov or search your zip code in the WIC Grocers section of the California WIC App.

Find Stores that Accept WIC

A new California WIC card with a quick-response (QR) code allows families to use their cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets year-round.

Find WIC-Approved Farmers’ Markets

Foods You Can Buy

The WIC food list includes vegetables and fruits, milk, eggs, beans, peanut butter, cheese, yogurt, canned fish, baby food, infant WIC-approved cereal, WIC baby formula, and whole-grain foods such as rice, bread, cereal, tortillas, and pasta.

Your WIC-eligible foods will vary based on your child’s age, medical needs, and your preferences. Soy milk, lactose-free milk, and other options are also available for your WIC items.

Find WIC-Approved Foods

Understand Your WIC Foods in Ounces

Whole grains, cheese, yogurt, cereal, tofu, and juice benefits appear on your WIC Food Benefits list in ounces. Use this guide to help you purchase the right amount of food issued in ounces to get the most from your benefits.

Shopping Tips

Check your WIC Food Balance Before You Shop

Your WIC Food Balance shows the foods and the amounts available to your family between specific dates. As you shop and use your WIC foods, your Food Balance will change. Be sure to shop for all of the foods in your WIC Food Balance within the allowed dates.

There are many ways to find your WIC Food Balance

Use the free California WIC app on your smartphone.
Look at your store receipt from your last shopping trip.
Ask a cashier or customer service person at the grocery store to print your WIC Food Balance.
Call the number on the back of your WIC Card: (844) 4MY-FAMILY or (844) 469-3264.

Take your WIC card to the grocery store

You will need your physical WIC card at every transaction. The CA WIC app is a helpful tool for tracking your benefit balance and verifying WIC-eligible foods, but it does not currently support mobile payments or online shopping.

Look for the WIC logo

Look for the WIC logo on the front window of grocery stores to know where to shop. Most stores will also have the WIC logo on store shelves to help you easily find WIC foods or use the food scan feature in the CA WIC App.

Select Your WIC Foods At the Store

Find a grocery store that accepts WIC near you. The California WIC card cannot be used for online grocery orders at this time.
Get just the WIC foods you need at each shopping trip.
Use your WIC Authorized Food List Shopping Guide, the free California WIC app, and your WIC Food Balance to help you choose the right foods.
Separate your WIC foods from your non-WIC items as you shop to make checkout easier.

Pay with your WIC card before using CalFresh

Many families who qualify for WIC also qualify for CalFresh (also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP). Get the most out of both programs by paying with your WIC card first at the grocery store. Then, pay for the rest of your groceries using your CalFresh card. Using your cards in this order will make sure you do not use your CalFresh benefits to buy WIC foods.

Use Your WIC Card At Grocery Store Checkout

Start your checkout

The magnetic stripe on the back is only for grocery store transactions.
Separate your WIC foods from your non-WIC items.
Some stores may need to scan your WIC items first.
Tell the cashier you are using your WIC Card.
Ask the cashier when to swipe your WIC Card and enter your PIN.
Always swipe your WIC Card first before using other forms of payment, such as CalFresh, debit card, or cash.
Pay close attention as the cashier scans each WIC item.

After the cashier scans all your items

Look over your WIC purchases and make sure all items are correct before your sale is totaled. The cashier may give you a receipt or show you a screen to review.
Confirm all your purchases are correct using the card machine. Any foods not available in your WIC Food Balance can be put back or bought using another form of payment.
Tell the cashier if you want to put something back before the cashier gives you the final receipt.
Give the cashier your store loyalty card and any coupons you have.
Pay for any non-WIC items using another form of payment.
Wait for the cashier to complete the sale and give you a final receipt. Save your receipt in a safe place, such as your wallet.

Reading Your Receipt

Your receipt lists the items you just bought.
Your receipt shows what you have left in your WIC Food Balance. All family benefits are combined.
The receipt shows the last day you can buy the rest of your WIC foods. Your WIC Food Balance will expire at midnight on that day.

When You Have Questions About WIC Authorized Foods or Your WIC Card

Use the free WIC phone app.
Call 1-844-4MY-FAMILY or 1-844-469-3264
Contact PHFE WIC at 1-888-942-2229
Text your questions to 91997

Using Your WIC Card at WIC-Approved Farmers’ Markets

A new California WIC card with a quick-response (QR) code allows families to use their cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets year-round.

Find WIC-approved farmers’ markets at myfamily.wic.ca.gov
Give your WIC card to the farmer to scan your QR code
Confirm your purchase by entering your personal identification number (PIN)