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The WIC Program is a supplemental food and nutrition education program that serves pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum women, infants, and children up to the age of five. To be eligible, the applicant must be a resident of New York State and be income eligible. Our staff consists of dedicated nutritionists, clerks, and breastfeeding support counselors who are here to help assist you.
If you are interested in applying for WIC services or want to know if you are eligible, you can give us a call at (585)753-4942 or fill out the application form below. A member of our staff will reach out to you promptly.
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WIC Approved Foods:
WIC provides a variety of nutritious foods that are important for everyday nutrition, especially for mothers and children. WIC food packages can be adjusted to fit within you and your child’s needs. Click on the link below to see foods included within the WIC program!
https://www.wicstrong.com/shopping/approved-foods/
What is wichealth:
https://www.wichealth.org/Member/Resource?id=7545&languageId=1
How to create a wichealth account:
https://www.wichealth.org/Member/Resource?id=7522&languageId=1
How to complete an Online Nutrition Education lesson:
https://www.wichealth.org/Member/Resource?id=10326&languageId=1
What do I bring to my WIC appointment?
Click the link below for more information on what to bring to your WIC appointment!
What to Bring to Your WIC Appointment
Please call our offices at (585)753-4942 with any questions on what is needed to complete your WIC appointment.
Certification Appointments:
What is a Certification Appointment?
There are two types of Certification Appointments:
-
Initial Certification Appointment
- This is the first appointment you have once enrolling into the WIC program.
- At this appointment, our staff will assess eligibility and review any information you may need.
- A nutritionist will then complete a nutrition and health assessment and review your benefit package!
-
Recertification Appointment
- Recertification appointments are scheduled for those who are already part of the WIC program but are due to have eligibility assessed again.
- Our staff will assess eligibility and review any information you may need.
- A nutritionist will then complete a nutrition and health assessment and review your benefit package!
These appointments can be completed…
- In person at your WIC site
- Over the phone
Nutrition Education Appointments
What are Nutrition Education Appointments?
- These appointments will happen at least once every three months during a certification period.
- At this appointment, our staff will check in with you and your family.
- Nutritionist will review your food package and your WIC files. Here they will reissue your benefits, answer any questions and concerns, as well as schedule your next appointment.
Healthy Nutrition Update:
This is a type of nutrition education appointment.
- This appointment occurs halfway through your certification period
- Our staff will follow up with health and nutrition information
- Measurements are requested (height, weight, iron, hgb/ hct).
- If appointment is in person we can get these measurements, then
- If the appointment is remote, we ask to have measurements sent from the healthcare provider. These can be faxed over or emailed to [email protected]
These appointments can be completed…
- In person at your WIC site
- Over the phone
- Online nutrition education can be completed at wichealth.org. If you have any questions about this, please contact your WIC site office!
Why are Vegetables Important for my Child’s diet?
Vegetables are important for children because they contain many essential nutrients that help with growth and development and can help protect children from chronic diseases later in life. Vegetables also contain vital nutrients that everyone needs to keep the body healthy, this helps your child grow and develop.
How to increase vegetable consumption:
- Eat Vegetables with your Child
- Your child will learn about food choice from you. If you eat vegetables with them, it will encourage them to eat them as well!
- Keep Offering Vegetables
- It is normal for your child to not like vegetables the first time they try them. It is important to keep offering and encouraging them at each meal. It can take 15 to 20 exposures for a child to accept a new food and even more before they begin to actually enjoy it.
- Try adding vegetables alongside other dishes your child enjoys or offering them as a snack.
- Get your Child Involved
- Try letting your child pick out a new vegetable to try with their WIC benefits.
- The Farmers Market is a great way to get your child involved. The Farmers Market has a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that are often less expensive and locally grown!
- If you get your child involved in planning and cooking with vegetables, they will be more likely to want to eat the vegetables they’ve helped to prepare.
- Add Vegetables to Baked Goods
- Adding vegetables like carrots, beets, zucchini and pumpkin to baked goods can improve texture and moisture while adding fiber and nutrients.
For vegetable recipes click the link below!
https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-kitchen/recipes?f[0]=food_groups%3A91
Please click links below for the locations of markets
Locations of Farmers Markets
Foodlink Curbside Market Locations
Smart Snacking Tips for Kids
Snacks can play an important role in meeting kids’ nutrient needs. Choosing a variety of foods from all of the food groups will give them the energy they need between meals.
It helps to plan and portion out snacks in advance. Kids will usually only need 2 or 3 snacks daily, and these should be provided at least one to two hours before meals.
It is recommended that snacks (and meals) be eaten in an area without distractions. So avoid snacking while watching TV or when using other electronic devices.
Better yet, let the kids help prepare the healthy snacks.
Here are a few easy, tasty (and healthy) snacks to help you get started.
Adults may need to help with some of these.
- Parfait: Layer vanilla or plain low-fat yogurt with fruit and dried cereal.
- Toast a whole grain waffle and top with low-fat yogurt and sliced fruit or smooth nut butter.
- Blend low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana for thirty seconds for a delicious smoothie.
- Sandwich cut-outs: Make a sandwich on whole grain bread. Cut out your favorite shape using a big cookie cutter. Eat the fun shape and the edges, too!
- Mini-pizza: Toast a whole wheat English muffin, drizzle with pizza sauce and sprinkle with low-fat mozzarella cheese.
- Frozen treats: Mix equal amounts of fat-free plain or favored yogurt with 100% fruit juice, then pour into paper cups and freeze for a tasty treat.
- Quesadilla: Sprinkle shredded cheese over acorn or whole wheat tortilla; fold in half and microwave for twenty seconds. Top with salsa.
- Spread hummus on a tortilla. Top with a slice of turkey or ham, low-fat cheese and lettuce. Then roll it up.
- Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
- Microwave a cup of tomato or vegetable soup and enjoy with whole grain crackers.
- Make a mini-sandwich with tuna or egg salad on a dinner roll.
- Microwave a small baked potato. Top with reduced-fat cheddar cheese and salsa.
- Spread celery sticks with smooth nut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins. Enjoy your “ants on a log.”
- Dip slices of fruit or whole-grain graham crackers into low-fat vanilla pudding or yogurt.
- Inside-out sandwich: Spread mustard on a slice of deli turkey. Wrap around a sesame breadstick.
- Rocky road: Smear low-fat chocolate pudding on a whole grain graham cracker, then top with a marshmallow.
- Sprinkle cinnamon on unsweetened applesauce and enjoy with a whole grain graham cracker for a taste similar to apple pie.
- Make your own fruit roll-up by pureeing fruit and either baking it in the oven or by using a dehydrator.
- Bake homemade chewy granola bars using whole-grain oats and dried fruit.
- Whip up mini-muffins using healthy ingredients, like whole grain fours and pureed fruit.
Portion sizes for kids are smaller than adults. However, certain foods due to their size pose a choking risk, especially for young children.
See below for a list of foods that may cause choking:
- Hot dogs and sausage links
- Meat chunks, unless finely chopped and combined
- Nuts, seeds and peanut butter
- Raw apple and pear slices
- Whole grapes
- Dried fruit
- Raw vegetables
- Whole kernels of corn
- Popcorn and chips
- Small candies and chewing gum
Kid Friendly Recipes:
WIC Works has lots of healthy and kid friendly meal and snack options. Click the link below for inspiration. You can make your own cookbook with all your and your family’s favorites!
https://theicn.org/cnrb/recipes-cacfp-homes/
More Recipe Resources:
https://wicmomstrong.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/wic-cookbook.pdf
Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the Month at 10 AM or 2 PM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81146159671?pwd=eFZvTTdnMWJVaXJlUTlXaG9uaXhMUT09
Meeting ID: 811 4615 9671
Passcode: 432436
Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 10 AM or 2 PM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81146159671?pwd=eFZvTTdnMWJVaXJlUTlXaG9uaXhMUT09
Meeting ID: 811 4615 9671
Passcode: 432436
(585) 753-5640
Breastfeeding Help Line
(585) 753-5640
Email us at: [email protected]
Build a Healthy Eating Routine for Your Baby
Additional Resources
Ready Set Baby – Prenatal Breastfeeding Information
WIC Breastfeeding Website –Searchable Topics
Office Of Women’s Health – Breastfeeding Information By Topics
Resources in Spanish – Recursos en Español
Updated Food Package!
WIC works to keep our WIC families healthy with equitable access to healthy and nutritious foods. We do this by supporting our families with nutrition that is up to date to help support healthy eating and bright futures.
Our updated food plan will…
- Help support fruit and vegetable consumption by increasing amount and variety.
- Expand whole grain options to include foods like quinoa, blue cornmeal, and teff to reflect dietary guidance and accommodate individual or cultural preferences.
- Provide more convenience and options within the dairy category, including flexibility on package sizes and non-dairy substitution options such as plant-based yogurts and cheeses and requiring lactose-free milk to be available.
- Include canned fish in more food packages, creating more equitable access to this under-consumed food.
- Add more flexibility in the amount of infant formula provided to partially breastfed infants to support moms’ individual breastfeeding goals.
Forms:
- WIC Medical Documentation
https://www.health.ny.gov/forms/doh-4456.pdf
- NYS WIC Approved Formulas
https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/approved_formulas.htm
- WIC Medical Referral Form
https://www.health.ny.gov/forms/doh-799.pdf
Office Locations
270 Elmridge Center Drive
Rochester, NY 14626
ph: (585) 753-4942
Two Thursdays a Month : 7:30am - 4:30pm
Two Thursdays a Month: 7:30am - 7:00pm
One Saturday a Month: 8:00am – 4:30pm
89 Genesee Street #1
Rochester, NY 14611
ph: (585) 753-4942
Two Tuesdays a Month: 7:30am – 7:00pm
250 Waring Rd
Rochester, NY 14609
ph: (585) 753-4942
Two Thursdays a Month: 7:30am – 7:00pm
One Saturday a Month: 8:00am – 4:30pm