How to Get Special Food Substitution WIC Vouchers for Those With Special Dietary Needs - How-To Shop For WIC Video

In order to help qualifying women and children meet their daily nutritional needs, the WIC program provides food subsidiary assistance by way of monthly vouchers.

These vouchers allow the participates to receive a limited amount of fresh fruit or veggies, eggs, milk, cheese, whole grain products such as cereals and breads, as well as beans or peanut butter free of charge.

While the list of items encourages healthy eating, what happens when qualifying participants possess special dietary needs or restrictions that may not allow the consuming of certain food products?

Since the participates are only allowed to purchase food items listed on the voucher (and that are WIC approved), what does one do when the items listed are not conducive to their diet or their child's diet?

* Special Food Substitution WIC Vouchers.

In the event qualifying WIC participants have special dietary needs or restricitons, a provision known as the special food substitution program steps in. Essentially, this allows the participants to receive vouchers that either increase a certain food item, or replaces it with other qualifying food items instead.

For instance, foods such as eggs and milk have been found to trigger the eczema flareups in my two year old.

Since she receives only one voucher for a dozen of eggs each month, the eggs are eaten by other members in our household other than herself. However, since she receives at least four vouchers worth of milk, it became necessary to have these replaced so that she could receive the calcium she needs to develop strong bones.

Fortunately, due to the special provisions provided by the WIC program, by way of special food substitution WIC vouchers, my toddler was able to receive vouchers (also called checks) that replaced regular milk with Soy-milk.

* How to Get Special Food Substitution WIC Vouchers for Those With Special Dietary Needs - The Four Steps you Need to Know.

1. Get Your Physician on Board and Get Tested - the first step involves discussing your dietary allergies, food restrictions, and other dietary needs with your physician or your child's pediatrician. A series of test will determine whether a food allergy is the culprit, or whether or not a nutritional need or food restriction requires a special diet.
2. Consult Your WIC Certified Nutritionist - Once a diagnosis has been made, talk with a WIC certified nutritionist about your special dietary needs. The nutritionist will provide you with a WIC Program Referral and Medical Documentation for Special Food Substitutions form, in addition to instructions on how to complete it to give to your physician or your child's pediatrician.
3. Present the Required Documents to Your Physician or Your Child's Pediatrician- With documents in hand, be sure to give them to your physician or your child's pediatrician. Do not give them to the physician's assistant to be filled out. It is imperative that the form is filled out by the physician and signed by his or her hands. Once the form is completed, keep them in a safe place until you next scheduled WIC appointment.
4. Give the Documents to a WIC Certified Nutritionist - At your next scheduled WIC appointment, give the completed and signed documents to the WIC certified nutritionist. This information will then been entered into their system, and you will begin to immediately receive special food substitution WIC vouchers.

It's as simple as that .... these four steps will ensure that WIC participants will continue to get their dietary needs met regardless of their particular dietary restrictions.

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