Nutrition program adds food choices for mothers, children

Vancouver, WA—Starting October 1, about 10,500 people will have access to healthy new food choices under the special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children. These include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, brown rice, tofu and soy beverages and baby foods in jars. WIC will continue to provide low fat milk, cheese, eggs, peanut butter, legumes, breakfast cereals and infant formula.

"This is great news for our clients," said Tricia Mortell, WIC Program Manager. "More fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and studies show that people who eat whole grains reduce their risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, digestive cancers and stroke.”

As part of this effort to promote optimum nutrition, WIC will continue to promote breastfeeding. Over the past 5 years WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors have helped about 3000 mothers.

WIC is the nutrition program for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, and children up to age five living below 185 percent of the poverty level, which is about $40,800 for a family of four. This prevention program is designed to improve lifetime nutrition and health behaviors by helping young families and their children get a good start on healthy eating. For more information, see http://www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/wic/index.html.