WIC Food Packages

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (the WIC program) has promoted the health of low-income families for more than 30 years by providing nutrition education, supplemental food, and other valuable services. The program reaches millions of families every year, is one of the largest nutrition programs in the United States, and is an important investment in the nation's health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture charged the Institute of Medicine with creating a committee to evaluate the WIC food packages (the list of specific foods WIC participants obtain each month). The goal of the study was to improve the quality of the diet of WIC participants while also promoting a healthy body weight that will reduce the risk of chronic diseases. The committee concluded that it is time for a change in the WIC food packages and the book provides details on the proposed new food packages, summarizes how the proposed packages differ from current packages, and discusses the rationale for the proposed packages. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary 1 Introduction and Background 2 Nutrient and Food Priorities for the WIC Food Packages 3 Process Used for Revising the WIC Food Packages 4 Revised Food Packages 5 Evaluation of Cost 6 How the Revised Food Packages Meet the Criteria Specified 7 Recommendations for Implementation and Evaluation of the Revised WIC Food Packages 8 References Appendix A Comparison of Current and Revised Food Packages Appendix B Nutrient Profiles of Current and Revised Food Packages Appendix C Nutrient Intake of WIC Subgroups Appendix D Evaluating Potential Benefits and Risks of the Revised Food Packages Appendix E Cost Calculations Appendix F Supplementary Information Appendix G Biographical Sketches of Committee Members Appendix H Open Sessions Appendix I Acronyms and Abbreviations Index