|
|
WIC dietary changes to contribute to
healthier lifestyles
By
Katie
Pratt
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 9, 2008) – When changes to the Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children
(WIC) are implemented in Kentucky, those who closely work with
the program at the state level and the University of Kentucky
College of Agriculture say they will be beneficial for the
program’s participants.
The changes, which revise the food list to add more whole
grains, fruits and vegetables and reduce dairy and egg products,
are the first major changes to the WIC program since 1978. They
are based on a report by the Institute of Medicine that focused
on the nutritional needs of WIC participants. About 135,000
Kentuckians participate in the WIC program.
Even though the changes were announced in December, states have
the option of choosing when to implement the new regulations
into their programs as long as the changes are implemented by
Oct. 1, 2009, said Emma Walters, dietitian consultant for the
Kentucky Department of Public Health. She said no date has been
set for the state to implement the changes to its program, but
Kentuckians participating in WIC will not likely see changes
until after Sept. 30 when the current food list expires.
Jackie Walters, UK nutrition education program specialist and
registered dietitian, said when the changes first take effect,
it may be difficult to get some participants to buy into the
program, because there have not been significant changes to the
program in three decades. But the changes will provide a
healthier food package.
“It should have been done sooner,” she said. “I think the
childhood obesity epidemic was a major factor in the decision
making process. It’s beginning to be scary. Studies have shown
children living in poverty have higher obesity rates than those
from more affluent families. We were letting the kids down, and
it was time to look at it again.”
Emma Walters said many of the participants she’s talked to are
optimistic about the changes.
“Our clients are interested in getting the new foods, but this
is a huge change,” she said. “We are trying to make sure it is
implemented correctly.”
Jackie Walters said while the changes are beneficial,
participants that live in areas that receive a constant supply
of fresh fruits and vegetables will benefit more from the
changes than some Kentucky participants who live in the more
rural areas of the state where fresh fruits and vegetables are
not readily available year round. These participants may have a
harder time adjusting to the changes because of availability and
price, she said. In some instances, the fruits and vegetables
that are available can be expensive when compared to unhealthier
choices.
“It’s hard for some families to make this stuff work,” she said.
“I had one woman tell me that she knows apples are healthier for
her children, but a bag of apples will only last a couple of
days at her house. For the same price, she can buy several boxes
of (snack cakes) and feed her kids for a week.”
While fresh fruits and vegetables may be a hard find for some,
under federal regulations WIC participants will have the option
to purchase canned and frozen vegetables, Emma Walters said. She
said participants will benefit from the added nutrition and
variety available from all forms of fruits and vegetables.
|
|
Contact: Jackie Walters, 859-257-2948 ext. 80320
|
|
The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
Questions/Comments,
e-mail the
webmaster
Copyright © 2001-2006 University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture,
Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
News Home
Other Headlines This Week
More
News
Atom (RSS)
for those
using news aggregation programs
College News
|
