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opinion editorialsThis editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
New WIC Guidelines Are a Healthy Choice
Eat your fiber, fruits and veggies!
Now, participants in the Women, Infants and Children program can do more of just that. The 35-year-old program is changing with the times and putting new emphasis on health, nutrition and breastfeeding. The guidelines, which are now in effect, will align WIC with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the current infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The goal is a more balanced diet and healthy lifestyles during pregnancy and early childhood for low-income women and their children.
So, what's going into the grocery basket?
â– More fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products.
â– Fewer juices, eggs, cheese and infant formula.
â– WIC benefits to buy foods like beans, lentils, milk, infant cereal, tuna and carrots.
â– An expanded food package allowing purchase of tofu, soy milk, baby food and whole-grain products.
â– More flexibility to accommodate cultural preferences and help for medically fragile participants.
In addition to providing a more balanced diet and healthier children, it is hoped that healthy eating habits learned at an early age will become lifetime habits. These changes should benefit the 67,000 mothers and children in New Mexico's WIC program.
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