Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC, has just expanded its food choices -- and for the first time in 34 years, fresh, frozen and canned vegetable has been added, as well as yogurt and tofu.

Nine million individuals across the nation, particularly Latinos -- who represent 41 percent of WIC participants -- will benefit from the added list of foods to the WIC program, functions under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP).

Low-income pregnant, breastfeeding; and postpartum women; infants; and children up to age five are provided nutritious, supplemental foods, education and social services. WIC serves 53 percent of infants, who are born in the U.S., and a growing number of Latino families. The change to the menu occurred on the 40th anniversary of the food assistance program's launch, and this hails as the first comprehensive revision since 1980. WIC now allows yogurt and tofu to be substituted for products in place of monthly milk allowances. Also, there will be a 30 percent increase on the dollar amount for children's vegetables and fruits, and mother will benefit from flexibility from the WIC program at the local level.

"The updates to the WIC food package make pivotal improvements to the program and better meet the diverse nutritional needs of mothers and their young children," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted in a statement.

WIC restrictions continue to require that participants use vouchers to acquire only healthy food; evident by the fact that only whole-grain flour breads are allowed, but white potato products and byproducts aren't.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that such WIC regulations have led to the decline in obesity rates among low-income preschoolers, which has reportedly dropped 47 percent over the last decade among children two and five years old. This, instinctively, will lead to these children keeping healthier eating habits throughout life, as obesity normally begins at an early age.

WIC, with its efforts, has proven to aid in keeping low-income people out of poverty. Though, the recent shutdown challenged that, and funding for the program was suspended; and in many states, the agency was forced to stop offering benefits to mothers. Over the last few years, WIC has made an effort to cut federal spending due to budget debates on Capitol Hill.

1,800 local agencies and 9,000 clinics administer services for the $7 billion program, which provided food assistance to about 2 million adult women and roughly 7 million children in 2011. Though, shortened hours and staff layoffs make it difficult for women to sign up for federally-funded benefits.