WIC Shopping Guide
Shopping for WIC Foods
Before you head to the grocery store with your WIC Card, learn about where to shop and what you can buy with this WIC shopping guide.
Update the CA WIC App to see the new WIC food changes.
The CA WIC app will need to be updated in order to see the new WIC food changes.
Check your WIC app to see when you can start shopping for your new foods. Use the food scanner to find WIC-approved items.
Get Your WIC Card
You will receive your WIC card by mail or at a WIC office. If you sign up by phone or video, your card will be mailed to you. If you enroll at a WIC office, you will get your card the same day. The WIC program provides monthly benefits to purchase healthy foods at most grocery stores. Not everything at the grocery store is eligible for purchase with your WIC Card. If your WIC card is lost or damaged, contact us for a replacement.
Find a WIC-Authorized Grocery Store or WIC-Approved Farmers’ Market
Stores that accept the WIC card have a WIC logo on the front window. To find WIC-authorized grocery stores near you in California, visit myfamily.wic.ca.gov or search your zip code in the WIC Grocers section of the California WIC App.
A new California WIC card with a quick-response (QR) code allows families to use their cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets year-round.
Foods You Can Buy
The WIC food list includes vegetables and fruits, milk, eggs, beans, peanut butter, cheese, yogurt, canned fish, baby food, infant WIC-approved cereal, WIC baby formula, and whole-grain foods such as rice, bread, cereal, tortillas, and pasta.
Your WIC-eligible foods will vary based on your child’s age, medical needs, and your preferences. Soy milk, lactose-free milk, and other options are also available for your WIC items.
Understand Your WIC Foods in Ounces
Whole grains, cheese, yogurt, cereal, tofu, and juice benefits appear on your WIC Food Benefits list in ounces. Use this guide to help you purchase the right amount of food issued in ounces to get the most from your benefits.
Shopping Tips
Your WIC Food Balance shows the foods and the amounts available to your family between specific dates. As you shop and use your WIC foods, your Food Balance will change. Be sure to shop for all of the foods in your WIC Food Balance within the allowed dates.
There are many ways to find your WIC Food Balance
- Use the free California WIC app on your smartphone.
- Look at your store receipt from your last shopping trip.
- Ask a cashier or customer service person at the grocery store to print your WIC Food Balance.
- Call the number on the back of your WIC Card: (844) 4MY-FAMILY or (844) 469-3264.
You will need your physical WIC card at every transaction. The CA WIC app is a helpful tool for tracking your benefit balance and verifying WIC-eligible foods, but it does not currently support mobile payments or online shopping.
Look for the WIC logo on the front window of grocery stores to know where to shop. Most stores will also have the WIC logo on store shelves to help you easily find WIC foods or use the food scan feature in the CA WIC App.
- Find a grocery store that accepts WIC near you. The California WIC card cannot be used for online grocery orders at this time.
- Get just the WIC foods you need at each shopping trip.
- Use your WIC Authorized Food List Shopping Guide, the free California WIC app, and your WIC Food Balance to help you choose the right foods.
- Separate your WIC foods from your non-WIC items as you shop to make checkout easier.
Many families who qualify for WIC also qualify for CalFresh (also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP). Get the most out of both programs by paying with your WIC card first at the grocery store. Then, pay for the rest of your groceries using your CalFresh card. Using your cards in this order will make sure you do not use your CalFresh benefits to buy WIC foods.
Start your checkout
- The magnetic stripe on the back is only for grocery store transactions.
- Separate your WIC foods from your non-WIC items.
Some stores may need to scan your WIC items first. - Tell the cashier you are using your WIC Card.
- Ask the cashier when to swipe your WIC Card and enter your PIN.
- Always swipe your WIC Card first before using other forms of payment, such as CalFresh, debit card, or cash.
- Pay close attention as the cashier scans each WIC item.
After the cashier scans all your items
- Look over your WIC purchases and make sure all items are correct before your sale is totaled. The cashier may give you a receipt or show you a screen to review.
- Confirm all your purchases are correct using the card machine. Any foods not available in your WIC Food Balance can be put back or bought using another form of payment.
- Tell the cashier if you want to put something back before the cashier gives you the final receipt.
- Give the cashier your store loyalty card and any coupons you have.
- Pay for any non-WIC items using another form of payment.
- Wait for the cashier to complete the sale and give you a final receipt. Save your receipt in a safe place, such as your wallet.
- Your receipt lists the items you just bought.
- Your receipt shows what you have left in your WIC Food Balance. All family benefits are combined.
- The receipt shows the last day you can buy the rest of your WIC foods. Your WIC Food Balance will expire at midnight on that day.
When You Have Questions About WIC Authorized Foods or Your WIC Card
- Use the free WIC phone app.
- Call 1-844-4MY-FAMILY or 1-844-469-3264
- Contact PHFE WIC at 1-888-942-2229
- Text your questions to 91997
A new California WIC card with a quick-response (QR) code allows families to use their cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets year-round.
- Find WIC-approved farmers’ markets at myfamily.wic.ca.gov
- Give your WIC card to the farmer to scan your QR code
- Confirm your purchase by entering your personal identification number (PIN)
