Until this summer, pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers couldn't use certain government funds to buy vegetables, fruits or whole grain breads. But they were able to stock up on cheese and infant formula, even as they were advised to cut back on fats and to nurse.

Starting July 1, the types of food women can buy for themselves and their children through the federal Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program will be healthier. And the foods will more closely match the nutritional advice they're given.

The federally mandated update is the first major nutrition overhaul since the program was created in 1974.

The changes, which will take three months to phase in, include:

» No juice for infants.

» Providing $6 a month for children, and between $8 and $10 a month for mothers, to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, including organic produce. Today, the only vegetable allowed -- and only for breast-feeding mothers -- is the carrot.

» Adding whole-wheat bread or other whole grains, such as brown rice and corn tortillas.

» Reductions in the amount of cheese, eggs and juice.

» New breast-feeding incentives, including an end to routinely issuing infant formula in the baby's first month. Mothers who exclusively breast feed will receive more produce, milk and eggs, plus the opportunity to buy salmon or tuna and cheese. Exclusively breast-fed infants will get vouchers for more jars of baby fruits, veggies and meats at 6 months old than formula-fed infants.

"People see us as a formula program," said Iliana MacDonald, in charge of WIC for the Salt Lake Valley Health Department. But "our Number One priority is to have mothers breast feed," she said.

The vouchers, used by 72,000 Utahns making less than $39,000 a year for a family of four, can also continue to be used to buy beans, peanut butter, cereal and juice. The program is for children under age 5 and pregnant and breast-feeding mothers.

Proponents hope the changes will help create healthy eating habits and reduce obesity rates. According to the Utah Department of Health, 22 percent of children ages 2 to 5 on WIC were overweight or obese in 2005.

"We are very excited about the health and the nutrition it will bring to these families with humble means," said Chris Furner, in charge of WIC for the state.

There are still restrictions on the types of food that can be bought: No brown eggs, no reduced-fat peanut butter, and no canned green beans, herbs or potatoes except sweet potatoes, for example.

Salt Lake City mother Hannah Young uses WIC for herself and her three children, ranging in age from 2 years to 1 month. She said she'll welcome vouchers for produce, because she often runs out of money by the end of the month to buy fruits and veggies on her own. "We just go without," she said.

hmay@sltrib.com