New WIC rules to expand food options for lower income families

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - New changes to a supplemental nutrition program are expected to expand access to healthy food choices for families.

The director of communication at WIC shared how this will help low-income mothers feed their children. WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for Women Infants and Children. It helps families get groceries and offers services to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children until they are five years old.

“WIC is there as a resource to help those low-income families be able to access those nutritious foods,” Director of South Plains Community Action Association said.

Becoming a new parent can be scary and budgeting for a new baby can get tough, with groceries quickly eating up a monthly budget.

“Fruits and vegetables, meat, good quality things like dairy, eggs - all of those things are increasing,” Mendoza said. “Food prices are constantly increasing; we’ve seen all across the country.”

Mendoza said, just because these families are low income doesn’t mean the children shouldn’t have a shot at good development and a nutritious meal.

That’s what WIC is for.

“A lot of our WIC clients say that the main reason that they’re a part of WIC is because of access to things like fresh fruits and fresh vegetables.”

And that selection is about to get bigger, as food and nutrition rules first enacted during COVID will now become permanent. These rules increase the monthly cash amount given to participants to purchase fruits and vegetables. WIC has expanded these vouchers to cover culturally appropriate foods as well.

When the new rules take effect, fruit and vegetable vouchers in 2024 will provide $26 for kids ages one to four, $47 for pregnant and postpartum women, and $52 for breastfeeding women every month.

The vouchers have also been expanded to include whole grains like quinoa, rice, canned fish, and lactose-free milk.

“It’s been over a decade since the last update, so we’re very much looking forward to seeing how this will benefit the rest of our clients, especially those that have been with us for a few years,” Mendoza said.

Food plans in the program are based on recommendations in part from the Federal 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It hasn’t yet been announced when these new rules will go into effect, but it’s expected within the next two years.

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