Why WIC Matters

As a pediatrician and public health advocate, I can say with certainty that the WIC program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) is one of the most impactful public health programs in the United States. Each month this program reaches 6.7 million pregnant and postpartum women and their young children, providing access to healthy, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, infant formula, and nutrition counseling for lower income families. For pediatricians, knowing families have access to WIC gives us the peace of mind that there is a strong safety net where nutrition and support is offered to our most vulnerable patients.

Modernizing WIC

The WIC program has recently been undergoing modernizations to improve access. During the pandemic legislation was passed, making it easier for women to enroll and stay connected with online appointments and programming. This meant women in communities where transportation was a barrier could also access these vital benefits and services. A few months ago, I was recently invited to sit in on a congressional briefing by the Alliance to End Hunger where I met a mom who shared how impactful these updates are and how necessary it is to continue these adaptations so that women and children in underserved areas could remain enrolled. A beneficiary of the WIC program, this inspiring mother now serves as a peer counselor who supports other women to choose to breastfeed.

Another update to the WIC program came in 2024 when the list of foods covered by the program was expanded to increase access to fruits and vegetables, expand whole grain options (including culturally relevant grains), give more flexibility for plant-based milks and yogurts, and allow for more inclusion of cultural food preferences.

Updating WIC Recipes on doctoryum.org

Our dietitian Dianna Thomas just updated Dr. Yum's WIC Food Package recipes to match these changes. For these recipes, 75% of the ingredients are on the WIC food package, and with the expansion of the list of WIC foods, even more Dr. Yum recipes are on this list! Many of these recipes are also “Baby Food Option” recipes, meaning that not only can adults enjoy them but a simple adaptation can make them safe and easy for infants and toddlers to enjoy. Click both tags to filter and find recipes that are WIC and baby friendly. Our hope is that families can turn foods received from the WIC program into diverse and delicious meals that can be enjoyed by all.

How the Dr. Yum Project Complements the WIC Program

Last month I had the privilege of speaking at the National WIC association's annual virtual meeting about how we can update our teaching of infant feeding to include more focus on feeding development, culturally diverse foods, and evidence-based introduction to high allergen foods. I was able to walk through the “Raising Adventurous Eaters” series of feeding guides developed in collaboration with Partnership for a Healthier America. This series brought together a multidisciplinary team of child experts to help bridge the gap in understanding of infant feeding practices in a way that is accessible to all. As the WIC program makes good nutrition accessible, we are doing our part to make sure nutrition education and evidence-based guidance on how we feed infants and toddlers is also free and available to all and can be translated into nourishing meals that build a foundation of good health.

To find out more about the WIC program, or to check eligibility, visit the USDA’s website,