WIC Food Packages Time for a Change (2006) / Chapter Skim
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7 Recommendations for Implementation and Evaluation of the Revised WIC Food Packages
7 Recommendations for Implementation and Evaluation of the Revised WIC Food Packages
Pages 166-179
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From page 166... ...
With the revised food packages, consumption patterns may change in intended and in unintended ways, leading to changes in food choices and the distribution of usual nutrient intake. Moreover, the revised food packages could increase or decrease the incentive of different groups to participate in the WIC program, and they could increase or decrease 166
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From page 167... ...
Impacts of the revised food packages need to be examined among diverse groups of WIC participants, with documentation of the influence of the mother's age, ethnicity/race, previous breastfeeding experience, education, employment status, and possibly other characteristics. Among the broad range of implementation issues and dietary impacts that could be addressed through studies, some recommended changes in policies relating to WIC food packages and their contents are particularly important to examine in pilot tests before full-scale implementation.
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From page 168... ...
Thus, the committee recognizes the complexity of the infant-feeding choices faced by the postpartum women of the WIC program. The committee intends for the revised WIC food packages and policies to be supportive of breastfeeding.
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From page 169... ...
Despite these considerations, the committee's interpretation of the evidence provides a sound basis for the WIC program to provide complementary foods beginning at 6 months rather than at 4 months of age. To understand the impacts of delaying the offering of complementary foods in WIC food packages for infants, however, the committee recommends that pilot studies and randomized, controlled trials examine the impact of this proposal on infant-feeding practices, food choices, and nutrient intakes.
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From page 170... ...
· Only fat-reduced milk would be provided for women and children two years and older. Such changes to the WIC food packages need to be accompanied by creative, effective, and culturally sensitive nutrition education that helps participants understand why the consumption of these foods is healthy for them and their children.
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From page 171... ...
FLEXIBILITY AND VARIETY Food and Nutrition Service A hallmark of the set of revised food packages is the increased flexibility to be offered to the WIC state and local agencies and the increased variety and choice to be offered to WIC participants. Flexibility provides a valuable means of responding to the needs of persons of different cultures and food preferences and/or with limited cooking facilities, skills, or time.
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From page 172... ...
The committee carefully considered feasible mechanisms for providing fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the WIC food packages. At present, the only relevant activity that has been published is related to the experience of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program in which cash-value vouchers are issued for WIC participants to obtain fresh produce at specified farmers markets (NAFMNP, 19962003)
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From page 173... ...
(For clarification of definitions of WIC food instruments, see Box 4-1 in Chapter 4 -- Revised Food Packages.) In consideration of the perishable nature of fresh fruits and vegetables, small denominations are needed so the participant can obtain small amounts of fresh produce at various times during the month.
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From page 174... ...
Breastfeeding advice and support are important for all new mothers, regardless of their participation in the WIC program. An analysis of data from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey found that, compared with the breastfeeding initiation rates of income-eligible nonparticipants, the initiation rates of WIC participants were lower only among those who did not receive breastfeeding advice (Schwartz et al., 1995)
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From page 175... ...
that the current enhanced Food Package VII is not attractive enough, compared to WIC food packages for the partially breastfeeding mother and infant. Therefore, in addition to intensive breastfeeding education to promote breastfeeding, the committee recommends a comprehensive approach that involves: · enhanced food packages for both the fully breastfeeding mother and infant, ages 6 months and older; · reduced maximum amount of formula that is provided to all partially breast-fed infants and to the formula-fed infants ages 6 months and older; · policy change of not routinely providing formula in the first month postpartum to breast-fed infants; · policy change of not providing juice in the first year after birth; · policy change of not providing complementary foods before 6 months of age; and · provision of breastfeeding counseling to breastfeeding mothers who request formula in the first month postpartum.
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From page 176... ...
Feeding Infants and Young Children · Breastfeeding, in particular full breastfeeding, provides benefits for both infant and mother; food packages for mother/infant pairs are designed to encourage breastfeeding, in particular full breastfeeding; · When and how to introduce semisolid foods into the infant's diet; · Guidance on appropriate types and amounts of foods and fluids for infants and young children, including foods to offer beyond those provided by the WIC program and the importance of quenching thirst with water; and · Encouragement to make appropriate choices among the variety of allowed fruits and vegetables to introduce infants and children to a varied diet that includes both fruits and vegetables. Shopping · Characteristics of good quality fresh fruits and vegetables; · How to use cash-value vouchers for fresh produce -- determining how much they can obtain with the cash-value vouchers they have and identifying best buys; and · How to identify allowed processed fruits, vegetables, and other new food choices when shopping.
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From page 177... ...
To realize fully the potential of the revised food packages to improve the nutritional status of the WIC population, a revised system for providing nutrition education may be needed that includes greater frequency and intensity of nutrition education efforts. The committee also recommends that the FNS support demonstration projects to foster the development of educational approaches and materials to promote effective use of the revised food packages by WIC participants.
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From page 178... ...
to retain, and possibly expand, the flexibility proposed for the revised food packages, so as to allow state and local agencies to adapt the packages to the needs of their WIC populations. It further recommends that state agencies aim for the maximum variety and flexibility in allowable food selections consistent with foods available in their area and with cost containment.
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From page 179... ...
, improve breastfeeding promotion and support, and effectively relate nutrition education to the revised food packages. Adoption of the plan to increase flexibility, variety, and participant choices described in this report is integral to meeting the criteria used by this committee in the redesign of the WIC food packages.
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