Colorado WIC Program Policies and Procedures Section 2: Nutrition Services Revised: 03/01/2026

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Food Packages - Children

Policy: WIC staff shall select children’s food packages according to the participant’s age and nutritional needs.

Regulation: 7 CFR 246.10

Procedure/Additional Guidance: ● When an infant reaches one year of age, assign and issue a Toddler food package (containing whole milk). ● When a child’s age is between 12 through 23 months, assign and issue a Toddler food package (containing whole milk.) ● When a child’s age is between 24 through 59 months, assign and issue a Child food package (containing low-fat (1%) or fat free milk).

Child Food Package Food Toddler (12-23 months)

Child (24-59 months) Milk (gallons) 2 gal + 1 qt 3 gal + 1 qt Cheese (pounds)a 1 1 Eggs (dozen) 1 1 Juice (ounces) 64 64 Breakfast cereal (ounces) 36 36 Whole grains (pounds) 1.5 1.5 Dry beans and/or peanut butter 1 lb or 18 oz 1 lb or 18 oz Cash Value Benefit (CVB) $26 $26 a Staff must ensure clients are aware they may opt for either a cheese model food package OR a standard milk model food package including three additional quarts of milk. The model food package including cheese can only be assigned after nutrition assessment is completed and the client has expressly chosen a cheese model food package.

Food Package Allowances/Substitutions WIC staff may prescribe allowable alternatives and tailor the package according to additional participant needs and preferences. All substitutions are considered for client preference unless stated otherwise. If the reason for substitution was not simply client preference, the reason why a substitution was issued must be expressly documented. WIC staff may determine the issuance of the following foods: ● Alternate nut/seed butters. ✔ Following a nutrition assessment, alternative nut and seed butters may be substituted for peanut butter at a rate of 1:1 in situations that include, but are not limited to, allergy, religious or cultural reasons, or participant preference. Alternative nut/seed butters may also be substituted for peanut butter when peanut butter is substituted for eggs. ● Plant-based milk alternative or tofu as a substitution for milk. ✔ Following a nutrition assessment, plant-based milk alternatives may be substituted for milk in situations that include, but are not limited to, milk allergy, lactose intolerance, vegan diet, religious preference (i.e., kosher), or participant preference. The rate of exchange is 1 quart of plant-based alternative milk per 1 quart of fluid dairy milk. ✔ Following a nutrition assessment, tofu may be substituted for milk in situations that include, but are not limited to, milk allergy, lactose intolerance, vegan diet, religious preference (i.e., kosher), or participant preference. The rate of exchange is 1 lb of tofu per 1 quart of fluid dairy milk. ● Beans/Peanut butter as a substitution for eggs. ✔ Per participant preference, staff may substitute dry legumes (1 pound), canned legumes (64 ounces), and peanut butter (18 ounces) for each 1 dozen eggs when individually tailoring food packages. ● $3 CVB substitution for juice. ✔ Per participant preference, staff may substitute a $3CVB can be provided in place of 64 oz. of juice when individually tailoring food packages.

Colorado WIC Program Policies and Procedures Section 2: Nutrition Services Revised: 03/01/2026

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● Reduced fat milks (2% 1% or fat free) for 1 year children for whom overweight or obesity is a concern. ✔ The WIC staff may issue reduced fat milks (2%, 1% or fat free) to one-year-old children (12-23 months) meeting these criteria: ▪ Overweight: Child’s weight for length is at or above the 98th percentile. ▪ Rapid weight gain: A child whose weight for length, initially at or above the 50th percentile crossed two percentile curves. For example, a child going from the 50th to the 90th percentile, or going from the 75th to the 95th percentile. ✔ Food packages containing reduced fat milk (2%, 1% or fat free) are accessed by selecting “Special Diet” from the Food Package screen in Compass. WIC staff must complete the Documentation box, noting “concern of overweight/obesity” as the medical diagnosis reason. The authorization period (“Rx Expiration Date”) may be up to the date in which the child turns two years old. Staff should add their name as both “Approved by” and “Authority.” A Physician Authorization form is not required.

When substantiated with proper and complete medical documentation and approval from the WIC High Risk Counselor, the following formulas can be issued to children: ✔ Primary contract brand infant formula. ✔ Exempt infant formula. ✔ WIC eligible nutritional. ✔ Infant cereals as a substitute for breakfast cereal. ✔ Infant fruits and vegetables as a substitute for the CVB. ● The WIC High Risk Counselor may approve issuance of the following foods: ✔ Supplemental foods for children receiving “special formulas.” ✔ Whole or 2% milk for >2-year-old underweight children receiving “special formula.”

Standard Issuance of yogurt. ● Whole or low-fat yogurt is the standard issuance for toddlers ages 12-23 months. Participants must be offered the choice of either whole or low-fat yogurt for 12-23 month old children at the time of issuance. ● Low-fat or nonfat yogurt is the standard issuance for children ages 24-59 months.