Shopping Without a Full Kitchen

If you don't have a refrigerator, stove, or access to safe water, storing and preparing food can be difficult. Talk to WIC staff about adjusting your food benefits to fit your situation.

Here's how to make the most of your WIC benefits when your kitchen access is limited.

General Tips

Your WIC benefits last all month. Shop as often as you need to buy only what you can store at a time.

When it comes to storing food:

• Keep food in airtight containers or bags to stay fresh longer.
• Store produce and other foods out of direct sunlight.
• Check expiration dates on canned foods before eating.

Best WIC-Approved Food for Limited Storage

Fruits and vegetables

You can buy fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables with your Cash Value Benefits (CVB).

• There is a handful of fresh produce that doesn't need refrigeration, including apples, oranges, bananas, potatoes, and onions.
• When buying canned vegetables, look for “low-sodium” or “no salt added” versions.
• Look for canned fruit in its own juices. Heavy or light syrup adds extra sugar.

Juice

• Buy 100% fruit juice with no sugar added.
• WIC offers small juice packs. Ask your WIC clinic to tailor your juice benefit.

Beans

You can get both canned and dried beans with WIC. Canned beans don't need to be cooked, which makes them easier to enjoy without a stove.

Canned beans:

• Don't need cooking
• Drain and rinse with water before eating to reduce salt

Dried beans:

• Need water and heat to cook
• Not a good option without a stove