Tennessee WIC Approved Foods
Updated September 2026
Once you're approved for Tennessee WIC, your benefits are loaded monthly onto a WIC card that works like a debit card at authorized stores. Here's what's covered, how to check whether a specific brand or item is approved, and how the cash-value benefit for fruits and vegetables works.
Quick Answer
Tennessee WIC covers the same national food categories as every state — milk, eggs, cereal, whole grains, fruits and vegetables (via a cash-value benefit), juice, beans, and infant formula — but the specific approved brands, sizes, and quantities are set by the Tennessee Department of Health. See the full Tennessee list below.
Approved WIC Foods in Tennessee
Tennessee WIC benefits are loaded onto the TNWIC card and accepted at authorized grocery stores and supermarkets across all 14 Tennessee WIC regions. The specific foods and quantities you receive depend on your participant category — pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum, infant, or child — and are determined at your certification appointment. WIC-authorized pharmacies in Tennessee only accept the TNWIC card for specialized infant formulas and nutritionals, not for regular food items, so a grocery store is where you'll do your standard monthly shopping.
Food Categories
- Dairy: Milk, cheese, yogurt, and lactose-free options. Soy beverages are permitted as a milk substitute for participants with dairy restrictions.
- Eggs: Any color from domestic hens, including whole, liquid pasteurized, and dried egg mixes.
- Whole grains: Iron-fortified adult cereal, 100% whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole wheat tortillas, and other whole grain options.
- Legumes: Dried or canned beans and peas — only mature varieties qualify; immature legumes like green beans are not eligible.
- Peanut butter: Creamy or chunky, any brand, regular or reduced fat.
- Tofu: Calcium-set tofu is available as a protein alternative for eligible participants.
- Canned fish: Included in breastfeeding women's food packages to support nutritional needs while nursing.
- Juice: 100% fruit or vegetable juice, vitamin C-enriched, unsweetened only.
- Infant foods: Iron-fortified infant cereal, jarred baby food, and WIC-approved infant formula. Special medical formulas require a physician's referral submitted to your WIC clinic.
The Cash Value Benefit for Fruits and Vegetables
Every participant receives a monthly Cash Value Benefit (CVB) loaded onto the TNWIC card for fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables without added sugar, salt, or sauces. The current monthly CVB is $26 for children, $48 for pregnant or postpartum participants, and $52 for breastfeeding participants. Benefits do not roll over month to month, so use them before the end of each monthly period.
Tennessee-Grown Farmers' Market Checks
Each summer, eligible WIC participants in select Tennessee counties receive $30 in Farmers' Market Nutrition Program checks (six $5 checks) to spend on fresh produce. A requirement distinctive to Tennessee's program: every item purchased with these checks must be grown in Tennessee, and participating farmers must have personally grown the majority of what they're selling. Ask your local WIC clinic whether the program is available in your area.
Shopping Tips
Download the free WICShopper app to scan product barcodes in the aisle and instantly confirm whether an item is approved, check your TNWIC balance by food category, find nearby authorized stores, and browse recipes. If an item won't scan as approved at checkout, check your shopping list from your clinic or ask staff for the current approved product list.
Tennessee WIC Approved Food Questions
How much is the Tennessee WIC Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables each month?
The monthly Cash Value Benefit is $26 for children, $48 for pregnant or postpartum participants, and $52 for breastfeeding participants. Benefits do not roll over from month to month, so use them before the end of each benefit period.
Can I use my Tennessee WIC card to buy milk and eggs at a pharmacy?
No. Tennessee pharmacies that are WIC-authorized only accept the TNWIC card for specialized infant formulas and WIC-eligible nutritional products. They are not authorized for standard food items like milk, eggs, or produce — you need a WIC-authorized grocery store for your regular food package.
Does Tennessee WIC offer a farmers' market benefit?
Yes. Tennessee's Farmers' Market Nutrition Program provides $30 in checks (six $5 checks) each summer to eligible participants in select counties, redeemable only for Tennessee-grown produce. Ask your local WIC clinic about availability in your area.
Compare Other States
Approved foods, brands, and package sizes are set state by state. These share Tennessee's census region — useful if you're moving, or comparing how another state runs the same program.
Helpful Guides
What Is WIC?
An overview of the WIC program, who administers it, and how it works.
Learn more →WIC Eligibility
The four requirements to qualify for WIC — categorical status, income, nutritional risk, and residency.
Learn more →WIC vs SNAP
Compare who qualifies, what benefits are provided, and whether you can receive both programs.
Learn more →WIC Income Limits
See the current household income limits to qualify for WIC, and what counts as income.
Learn more →WIC Benefit Amounts
The exact dollar and quantity breakdown of the monthly WIC food package by participant category.
Learn more →WIC EBT Card
How to use your WIC EBT card at the store, check your balance, and what to do if it's declined.
Learn more →WIC Approved Foods
Browse WIC-covered foods by category, from milk and eggs to fruits, vegetables, and formula.
Learn more →Find a WIC Clinic
Search WIC clinic locations by state and city, with addresses and phone numbers.
Learn more →WIC Recertification
When your WIC certification expires, what to bring to your renewal appointment, and how to avoid a gap in benefits.
Learn more →