ERIC Number: EJ966600
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1499-4046
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Revised WIC Food Package Improves Diets of WIC Families
Whaley, Shannon E.; Ritchie, Lorrene D.; Spector, Phil; Gomez, Judy
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, v44 n3 p204-209 May-Jun 2012
Objective: To explore the impact of the new Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food package on WIC participant consumption of fruit, vegetables, whole-grain food, and lower-fat milk. Design: Telephone surveys of cross-sectional samples of California WIC families before and after the changes to the food package. Participants: Random samples of pregnant or postpartum women and/or caregivers of children enrolled in WIC: 3,004 in September, 2009; 2,996 in March, 2010. Main Outcome Measures: Consumption of fruit, vegetables, whole-grain food, and lower-fat milk. Analysis: Comparisons of outcome variables were made by examining the differences by time point, adjusted for sociodemographic variables, using ANOVA (for means) or logistic regression (for percentages). Results: Following the changes to the WIC food package, consumption of whole-grain food increased by 17.3 percentage points, a 51% increase over baseline. Caregivers and children who usually consumed whole milk decreased by 15.7 and 19.7 percentage points, respectively, a 60%-63% reduction over baseline. Accompanying increases in lower-fat milk consumption were demonstrated. Small but significant increases in consumption of fruits and vegetables were also observed. Conclusions and Implications: Federal policy changes to the WIC program had the intended effect of increasing consumption of the prescribed food items. (Contains 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Females, Nutrition, Caregivers, Telephone Surveys, Food, Pregnancy, Program Effectiveness, Surveys, Comparative Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Observation, Educational Policy, Federal Legislation, Health Education
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

Peer reviewed
Direct link
