New WIC Food Package
October 1, 2009 the WIC Program underwent a very
exciting change in their food package for the first time in 30 years!
WIC is The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children. It is a federally funded nutrition program that provides
healthy food, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support
and referrals for health care at no cost to the participants. To be
eligible for the Florida WIC Program, you must be a pregnant or
breastfeeding women, a woman who has recently been pregnant, an infant,
or a child under the age of 5. WIC serves low or modest income clients
who have an identified nutrition risk.
The new WIC food package aligns with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for
Americans and the infant feeding practice guidelines of the American
Academy of Pediatrics. The key nutrition messages include the following:
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Decrease saturated fat and cholesterol intake
- Increase whole grains and fiber
- Drink less sweetened beverages and juice
- Babies are meant to be breastfed?
So what are the new WIC foods?
The new WIC food package includes fruits and vegetables that may be
fresh, frozen or canned. Baby foods, such as baby fruits and
vegetable, for infants ages 6 to 12 months are also available. Whole
grain foods such as 100 % whole wheat bread, brown rice, soft corn
tortillas and an increased variety of whole grain cereals are also
part of the new WIC food package. 100% juice is still a WIC food,
but not for infants. There is also a reduced quantity of juice for
women and children. WIC is promoting eating the fruits and
vegetables rather than the drinking your fruits and veggies.
Milk is an excellent source of calcium and protein for women
and children. In line with health recommendations to decrease
saturated fat, women and children 2 years of age and older will now
receive 1% lowfat or fat-free milk. There are also reduced
quantities of milk, cheese and eggs for most women and children. Soy
milk will also be available for women and children over 2 years.
The new WIC food package also strengthens WIC’s breastfeeding
promotion and support messages by providing strong incentives for
continued breastfeeding, including additional quantities and types
of food for breastfeeding mothers and their breastfed infants.
In Palm Beach County, there are over 29,000 women, infants
and children who participate in the WIC Program. WIC participants
are from culturally and ethnically diverse populations; the new WIC
food package takes into consideration cultural food habits.
Additionally, there are 134 WIC authorized grocery stores that
participate in the WIC program, generating over $22 million for the
local economy.
Florida WIC is administered through the Florida Department of
Health and services are provided by Registered and Licensed
Nutritionists, Nutrition Educators, Breastfeeding Peer Counselors
and International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. To learn
more about the Florida WIC program or about the new WIC food package
visit our website at
www.pbchd.com or the state website
at
www.FloridaWIC.org. WIC is an equal
opportunity provider.
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