|
WIC
provides free health screenings to all participants to establish
nutritional risk. A nutritional risk is any problem that is
connected to diet, growth, or medical diagnosis that might impact
nutritional status.
Examples
include anemia, underweight, overweight, history of pregnancy
complications or poor pregnancy outcomes. Nutrition risk is
determined by a health professional such as a nutritionist,
physician, or nurse by measuring height and weight, doing a simple
blood test and reviewing each participant's medical history and
dietary intake.
WIC
local agency nutrition staff provides nutrition education and
services to help participants learn how to choose nutritious foods
to improve their health and their family's health. Some topics
commonly discussed with WIC clients include the following: Benefits
and techniques of breastfeeding, healthy food choices and portion
control, weaning baby to a cup, introducing solids to baby, the
importance of iron in the diet, and how to manage picky eaters, to
name a few.
WIC
Nutrition Services are important because:
-
WIC
monitors height, weight, and blood iron to make sure infants and
children grow up normally and pregnant women deliver healthy
babies.
-
WIC
nutrition staff meets with each WIC participant individually to
assess their diet, identify nutritional needs and provide
individualized counseling to address those needs.
-
WIC
clients receive a monthly prescription of nutritious foods
tailored to supplement their dietary needs.
-
The
foods are specifically chosen to provide nutrients that have
been scientifically shown to be lacking or needed in extra
amounts in the diets of the WIC population.
-
WIC
supports breastfeeding. If a woman chooses not to breastfeed,
then iron-fortified formula is provided as the best alternate
source of essential nutrients for her infant.
-
Healthy foods help children grow and develop normally.
-
Good
nutrition helps to protect your whole family against health
problems.
-
WIC
helps your community by building strong, healthy families.
-
Nutrition counseling helps parents to make healthy choices on
food and life style.
WIC
Foods Help Kids Grow Healthy!
Healthy foods are important to a growing child because:
-
WIC
cereals are high in iron needed for proper brain growth. The WIC
cereals your child eats now will help him do well in school
later on and may reduce the chance of behavior problems.
-
WIC
juices contain vitamin C to help fight infection and promote
wound healing.
-
Eggs, peanut butter, and beans provide protein and minerals for
muscle and brain growth.
-
Milk
and cheese are high in calcium, protein, and vitamin A to build
strong bones and teeth.
Nutrition Services State Initiative
The Pennsylvania WIC Program has developed a series of modules for
use with all children ages 2 years and older. The modules are
described as Obesity Prevention Modules internally among WIC staff,
but are presented as guidelines for developing healthy eating habits
to WIC clients. Included with the modules are flyers that can be
distributed to participants, and staff reference sheets. These
modules focus on providing clients with concrete and practical
suggestions in order to facilitate behavior change.
Topics
include the importance of family mealtimes, the need to increase
physical activity, increasing fruit and vegetable intake, decreasing
fats in the diet, limiting juice intake, choosing fast foods wisely
and healthy snacking.
For more
information visit the following website:
www.nal.usda.gov/wicworks/Sharing_Center/statedev.html.
|
