Published: January 12, 2009 08:04 am      

WIC to promote healthier choices

Madison County WIC (Women, Infants and Children) food program participants could eventually see changes in their food packages, but a date for the transition has not been set, according to a spokesperson from the Madison County Health Department.

Kentucky is working to upgrade the well-known family assistance program to improve nutrition and discourage obesity.

The state should be the second state to get on the bandwagon after New York, according to an Associated Press report.

New York is among the first states in a national effort to offer healthier food choices to low-income mothers and their young children.

All states will be required to meet new WIC food program requirements by October 2010.

The state health department used guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Healthy People 2010 Objectives set by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will follow the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for infants.

The dietary changes include recommendations to eat less fat, more fiber, fewer overall calories, fewer sweetened drinks and more vegetables and fruits.

“I think one of the big problems with children’s’ diets anywhere in the U.S. is that we are not always aware of the amount of sugar that’s in the diet,” said Christie Green, administrative services manager for the Madison County Health Department. “We’re really looking forward to the opportunity to make more healthy choices with the food vouchers.”

The WIC program provides food for pregnant and postpartum women and children younger than 5. It was started in 1974 to prevent child hunger, low birth weight, under-nutrition and iron-deficiency anemia.

Since the program was created, dietary recommendations changed, but WIC offerings had not.

WIC provides vouchers that can be redeemed at grocery stores for food staples like milk, eggs and peanut butter. Eligibility hinges on income, pegged at $3,269 per month or less for a family of four.

“We have seen an increase in WIC participation here in Madison County,” she said. “It’s been going up steadily in small increments since 2005.”

Other changes include the availability of foods like whole grain cereals and breads, canned or dried beans

and jarred baby foods. WIC also will offer cash-value checks for vegetables and fruits.

There will be new limitations on whole milk — it will only be given to children between 12 and 24 months. All women and children over the age of 2 will be able to buy skim or 1 percent milk.

The Madison County Health Department provides WIC services in both Richmond and Berea clinics.

“Last year, we provided WIC services to a total of 3,700 women, infants, and children,” Green said. “That’s a 7-percent increase over the 2006/2007 service year. We’re expecting an even greater increase as the 2008/2009 service year winds up, and we’ve already noticed an increase in participation this year during our quarterly audits.”

The WIC program provides vouchers that will purchase approximately $40 to $60 worth of groceries each month depending upon the package issued, and women who are not breastfeeding can get vouchers for formula.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@ richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.