DURHAM -- Apples, strawberries and cantaloupes took center stage on Monday at Lincoln Community Health Center as officials announced a new emphasis on healthier food for those who participate in a program that supplements food needs for women and children.

The WIC program, a federal food assistance program, is shifting its emphasis to fruits, vegetables and whole grains -- foods that are healthy but often too costly for those on low incomes.

In Durham, the program serves more than 8,100 people, and many of them were eating brightly colored samplings at Monday's event.

Anissa Jennings of Durham, a mother of three young boys, was enjoying a plate of cantaloupe and brown rice as she discussed the inclusion of healthier foods in the program.

"I think it's awesome, because [fruits and vegetables] tend to be expensive,' she said. "So I think it's a blessing that they're adding that in.'

Jennings' children -- Josiah, who turns 2 on Thursday; Jeremiah, 3; and Joshua, 5 -- will now have apples, bananas and broccoli to eat, which are the new foods she plans to buy on her grocery trips to Food Lion.

Chef Bobby Wade was a popular draw at Monday's event as he whipped up banana and strawberry smoothies and stir-fried tofu.

"They seem to be enjoying the fruit smoothies and watching me make the tofu,' he said. "I think they are enjoying the look of it more than anything.'

"I think the fruits and vegetables being added to the program will help people get back to what the nutritional values should really be.'

Sheila White, the food program's director at Lincoln, said the change begins Oct. 1. She said it's the first major change since the program began in 1974.

Under the new plan, children will get an extra $6 voucher a month for fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. Prenatal women get a $8 monthly voucher, and mothers who breast feed exclusively get a $10 voucher.

"The food supplemental package is intended to increase the Vitamin A and C nutrients, calcium, iron and protein in the diets,' she said.

Also added to the food plan will be tofu, whole-grain breads, cereals and tortillas, and salmon.

Juices will be eliminated, but baby foods, including fruits and vegetables in jars, will be added.

The voucher specifies what food can be bought. So, if the voucher is for fruits and vegetables, that's all it can be used for. They can be redeemed at any of 53 participating Durham stores.

Evelyn Schmidt, director of the Lincoln center, said the shift to healthy foods is a positive step.

"We're delighted the staff has done some very creative activities to help our patients become more informed about not only the proper foods to eat, but also preparation of foods,' she said. "In these hard times, how to prepare it economically is very important. As you're trying to deal with low incomes, food, clothing and shelter are as important as medicine.'