San Diego, October 5, 2009 - This month, the American Red Cross Women, Infants & Children (ARC WIC) program was part of a historic change to provide healthier foods to over 110,000 people in San Diego County. As of October 1, WIC families can now purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat and non-fat milk, and soy products with their WIC checks.
These changes, established by the United States Department of Agriculture, reflect the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which are in place to help combat obesity and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
“The changes to the WIC food package not only positively impact WIC families, but they also bring healthier foods into grocery stores and communities who have never had access to fruits and vegetables and whole grains. We are so excited that these new WIC foods truly have the potential to reshape our community” says Ann Leisenring, Director of ARC WIC.
The WIC food packages were first designed in 1974 to address the nutritional needs of that time – hunger and anemia. These foods were rich in nutrients (calcium, Vitamins A and C, and protein) known to be lacking in the diets of low-income pregnant mothers, infants and children. Today’s nutritional needs are vastly different. This is the first time significant changes have been made to the WIC food packages in WIC’s thirty-five year history.
“Because WIC administrators and local providers have planned carefully and leveraged these historic changes with strategic partnerships, we believe that the implementation of the new WIC food changes will result in dramatic health improvements in communities most impacted by the obesity epidemic,” says Laurie True, executive director for the California WIC Association.
For more information, please visit:
WIC Division, California Department of Public Health
www.wicworks.ca.gov
California WIC Association
www.calwic.org
USDA Food and Nutrition Services
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
The American Red Cross WIC Program helps pregnant women and children - up to age five - eat well, stay healthy and be active. WIC is a federally funded program and is administered by the California Department of Public Health. WIC provides nutrition classes and counseling; breastfeeding support; referrals to community services; and checks to buy healthy foods. The ARC WIC team consists of nutrition counselors, Registered Dietitians, and Certified Lactation Educators to help our diverse community embrace healthy lifestyles.
The American Red Cross WIC Program assists over 37,000 clients per month at 20 locations throughout San Diego County, including 8 military sites. For more information about the American Red Cross WIC program, please call 800-500-6411 or visit www.sandiegowic.org .
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San Diego, October 5, 2009 - This month, the American Red Cross Women, Infants & Children (ARC WIC) program was part of a historic change to provide healthier foods to over 110,000 people in San Diego County. As of October 1, WIC families can now purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat and non-fat milk, and soy products with their WIC checks.
These changes, established by the United States Department of Agriculture, reflect the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which are in place to help combat obesity and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
“The changes to the WIC food package not only positively impact WIC families, but they also bring healthier foods into grocery stores and communities who have never had access to fruits and vegetables and whole grains. We are so excited that these new WIC foods truly have the potential to reshape our community” says Ann Leisenring, Director of ARC WIC.
The WIC food packages were first designed in 1974 to address the nutritional needs of that time – hunger and anemia. These foods were rich in nutrients (calcium, Vitamins A and C, and protein) known to be lacking in the diets of low-income pregnant mothers, infants and children. Today’s nutritional needs are vastly different. This is the first time significant changes have been made to the WIC food packages in WIC’s thirty-five year history.
“Because WIC administrators and local providers have planned carefully and leveraged these historic changes with strategic partnerships, we believe that the implementation of the new WIC food changes will result in dramatic health improvements in communities most impacted by the obesity epidemic,” says Laurie True, executive director for the California WIC Association.
For more information, please visit:
WIC Division, California Department of Public Health
www.wicworks.ca.gov
California WIC Association
www.calwic.org
USDA Food and Nutrition Services
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
The American Red Cross WIC Program helps pregnant women and children - up to age five - eat well, stay healthy and be active. WIC is a federally funded program and is administered by the California Department of Public Health. WIC provides nutrition classes and counseling; breastfeeding support; referrals to community services; and checks to buy healthy foods. The ARC WIC team consists of nutrition counselors, Registered Dietitians, and Certified Lactation Educators to help our diverse community embrace healthy lifestyles.
The American Red Cross WIC Program assists over 37,000 clients per month at 20 locations throughout San Diego County, including 8 military sites. For more information about the American Red Cross WIC program, please call 800-500-6411 or visit www.sandiegowic.org .
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