WIC expands food options for families
•March 11, 2026•
by Angela Hogan
Administrator of the MCHD
When a family walks into the grocery store with WIC benefits, every choice matters. The foods they bring home shape the mealtime experiences that help children grow. That’s why the recent updates to the WIC program are such welcome news for families across Illinois. These changes give parents more flexibility, more culturally familiar options, and more ways to support healthy eating at home.
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced these updates on February 25th, expanding the variety of nutritious foods available through WIC. For families in Moultrie County, the changes mean easier shopping, more choices that fit their preferences, and stronger nutritional support during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood.
What ss WIC? WIC is a federal nutrition program that supports the health of pregnant women, postpartum and breastfeeding mothers, and infants and children under age five. The program provides monthly benefits for nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care and community services. More than 175,000 Illinois residents rely on WIC each month, making it one of the most impactful public health programs in the state.