Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children and is also called the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program. WIC is a federal program designed to provide additional food to low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children until the age of 5. The program provides a combination of nutrition education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals for healthcare. WIC has proved to be effective in preventing and improving nutrition-related health problems.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds the WIC Program. The Tennessee Department of Health provides the services in about 140 county health department locations and hospital sites throughout the state. Participants must be residents of Tennessee, meet the income guidelines, and be determined to be at nutritional or medical risk.

Supplemental food vouchers and cash value vouchers are issued to participants and can be used to purchase approved food items at any of the 900+ participating WIC-authorized grocery stores and pharmacies.

For more information, call your local health department or call 800-DIAL-WIC (800-342-5942).

Food Package 
WIC foods provide nutrients essential for growth and development. These nutrients come in fruits and vegetables, whole-grain foods, low-fat milk, cheese, eggs, peanut butter and dry beans, and special foods such as soy beverages and tofu.

The WIC supplemental foods that are offered are in keeping with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ infant feeding guidance.

WIC Food Lists 2016-2018 
Tennessee WIC Approved Foods for Infants- English

Tennessee WIC Approved Foods for Infants- Español

Tennessee WIC Approved Foods for Women and Children- English

Tennessee WIC Approved Foods for Women and Children- Español

Click here for more WIC information and links about:

• Healthcare Providers
• Food Package Nutrition
• Information About Different Foods and Food Groups
• Suitable Foods for Pregnant Moms, Mothers and Children
• Healthy Recipes

WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines 2012–2013

Income eligibility is the same across the state and is determined at the local level by the Public Health Office Assistant (PHOA) in the health department.* The participant’s household gross income must be equal to or less than these WIC income guidelines (185% of federal poverty).

Income Eligibility Guidelines: July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018

*PHOA: Do not allow hardship deductions from the above income poverty guidelines. A standard deduction has been included in all of the above income levels.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, WIC is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.